NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Environmental Protection Agency its federal partners have shared their updated five-year plan to protect and restore the Great Lakes, an initiative that began in 2010.
Under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the EPA and its partners will continue to work on environmental problems at an accelerated rate, focusing on improving water quality and boosting local and regional economies.
Some of the plan's long-term goals are controlling invasive species, preventing new self-sustaining invasive species, and making sure fish are safe to eat.
Cory Hewitt of Niagara Falls said he's been fishing for about 15 years, and said the quality of the water here has come a long way.
"I think is pretty good, compared to stories that you heard 20 years ago, 30 years ago, maybe 50 years ago when industries were just freely dumping chemicals," he said. "Any time I've seen the water there's been clarity, real natural-looking."
But he said the plan would definitely be good for the city's economy.
"You get a lot of out-of-towners - I know from experience and different locations - that target big game fish or any game fish. People come from all around to this destination because you're fishing in Niagara Falls," he said.
