Honeoye Lake Shoreline Stabilization Project

With funding from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Water Quality Improvement Project Grant Program, Ontario County Soil & Water Conservation District, and the Ontario County Water Resource Council, the Town of Richmond installed a natural shoreline stabilization project using coir wrapped soil lifts that incorporate native plant materials. The rock placed in front of the project is necessary to reduce wave energy and ice scour seen at the north end of Honeoye Lake. Existing trees and shrubs were kept in place to keep the shoreline protected and over three dozen additional plantings as well as live stakes were added to promote deep rooted vegetation to further stabilize the shoreline. The NYS DEC promotes the use of natural materials to stabilize shorelines rather than hardened structures such as retaining walls and gabion baskets. A naturally vegetated shoreline helps reduce erosion, filters excess nutrients from entering the lake and provides habitat for fish and wildlife. Ontario County SWCD was able to obtain funding through the NYS Sea Grant to pay for the engineering and design work for this project. This stabilization project can be seen in Sandy Bottom Park, adjacent to the public swimming area.