than 2,400 miles. This binational resource is composed of the five Great Lakes, the connecting channels of the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River, and the gulf of the St. Lawrence. The U.S. portion of the system includes 140 harbors (60 commercial, 80 recreational), two operational locks, 104 miles of breakwaters and jetties, and more than 600 miles of maintained navigation channels. In addition, the Great Lakes Navigation System connects to several other shallow-draft waterways (Illinois Waterway, New York State Barge Canal, etc.) to form an important waterborne transportation network, reaching deep into the continent. The Great Lakes handle 175 million tons of commodities on average each year. Major commodities included iron ore (42 percent), coal (19 percent), and limestone (19 percent). • The Ohio River System (main stem and tributaries) provides 2,600 miles of navigable waters and enables 245 million tons to ship
annually, equating to nearly 30 percent of the country’s domestic waterborne commerce, with the main commodity being coal. • Flood risk management protects people and the economy. The division manages: 84 dams and reservoirs for flood risk reduction, water supply, environmental stewardship, and recreation in cooperation with local water supply managers and stakeholders; 539 miles of levees and more than 100 local flood protection projects that include walls, levees, and channel improvements; helps fight during flood conditions and repair certified levees that are damaged by storms; and manages 1.5 million acres of land and water, including 756 recreation areas at 100 lake and river sites. These areas receive more than 80 million visitors annually and generate 27,000 jobs within local communities. Recreation sites include parks, campgrounds, marinas, swim areas, hiking trails, and a host of other recreational activities and areas for outdoor enthusiasts.
COASTAL RESILIENCY CONCEPTS: AN ONGOING PRACTICE FOR USACE BUFFALO DISTRICT BY SHAINA SOUDER, Buf falo District
PHOTO BY CHRISTINE CARDUS
W
ith unprecedented levels of precipitation during the spring and summer of 2019, both Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, along with other Great Lakes, are experiencing record water levels, leaving many people asking questions about how to protect their shoreline from flooding and anticipated erosion. In response, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District is taking proactive efforts to incorporate coastal resiliency concepts into infrastructure projects along the Great Lakes’ shorelines. “We want to make sure that our actions will take care of the largest freshwater resource our nation has while reducing the risk associated with these extreme water events,” said Lt. Col. Jason Toth, Buffalo
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District biologist Kathleen Buckler, along with a team of biologists from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, performed pre-construction wetland assessments on 12 acres of an existing wetland as part of the Port Clinton Ecosystem Restoration Project, Oct. 3, 2018.
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