For Release: Friday, June 20, 2008
Lowey, Grannis and Local Officials Announce Agreement on A New Study to Reduce Flooding in Mamaroneck
In the wake of the devastating floods of 2007, a new federal, state and local initiative is underway to develop a plan of action to reduce the damage cause by storms impacting the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake rivers, especially in the Village of Mamaroneck, Westchester County.
The announcement was made today by Congresswoman Nita Lowey, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis, Westchester County Executive Andy Spano, State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer, and Assemblyman George Latimer. This important partnership of county, state, federal and local agencies was spearheaded by Congresswoman Lowey's involvement in securing federal funding and will be a critical step in reducing flood damages in the future.
"Since the floods of 2007, we have made steady progress in developing federal, state, and local cooperation to determine the causes of regional flooding and implement solutions," Congresswoman Lowey said. "I am pleased that this study will commence and that we are a step closer to mitigation projects that will prevent damage in the future. I will continue to work with all stakeholders to protect Westchester County residents and business-owners."
"The floods of 2007 were just the most recent of the flooding that seems to continue to grow in severity, causing substantial environmental and economic impacts," Commissioner Grannis said. "Congresswoman Lowey approached DEC to get support for this important evaluation and we agreed that it is a high priority. She is to be commended for her efforts to assure funding for the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct this study and for the continued partnership of the Army Corps, New York State and Westchester County as this project moves forward."
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has agreed to conduct an evaluation of the hydrologic, environmental, and economic factors present in the area. The report will examine flood damage reduction opportunities including channel modification, levees, floodwalls, detention, diversion, as well as non-structural measures such as flood-proofing, floodplain connection and stream restoration. The Army Corps of Engineers estimates that the study to identify a recommended plan will take approximately 30 months after it signs the partnership agreement with DEC. DEC is partnering with the Army Corps of Engineers and Westchester County to fund the study, at a cost of approximately $6.5 million.
Col. Nello Tortora, commander of the Army Corps of Engineers' New York District said: "We look forward to a cooperative partnership with the DEC and Westchester County. This is a significant step towards bringing solutions to the water resources problems within the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake Rivers Basin, specifically in the Village of Mamaroneck."
Senator Oppenheimer said: "Special thanks go to Congresswoman Lowey, Governor Paterson, Commissioner Grannis, and County Executive Spano in coordinating the efforts of each level of government to move these efforts forward. It is vital that flood mitigation planning be coordinated closely in order to make the progress we need to achieve in Mamaroneck and throughout Westchester."
Assemblyman Latimer said, "What happened in the spring of 2007 could happen again. Therefore, all levels of government are committed to joint action to reduce the likelihood that a future rainstorm would ever have such terrible impacts on our homes, stores and our lives."
Westchester County Executive Andy Spano said: "The communities in the Long Island Sound area were among the most devastated in the storms of April 2007. The increased number and intensity of storms we have all been experiencing is a wake-up call for every level of government to work together to minimize the impacts of such storms on all our residents. This project dovetails perfectly with the types of projects we are attempting to undertake with municipalities throughout Westchester County using the $10 million/year that we put into the County's capital budget for flood mitigation. Congresswoman Lowey has been a true ally in working to address this problem and in finding funds, not just for more study, but for real solutions."
A preliminary study conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers over 30 years ago sought to determine the potential for flood damage in the Mamaroneck/Sheldrake Basin and how to prevent it. There were many reasons the recommendations were never implemented - from the extremely high costs of potential solutions to issues of economic feasibility and potential environmental effects that might have resulted.
In recent years, Westchester County has experienced a greater number of storms and many of these with greater overall intensity. There has been an approximate 10 percent rise in flows over the past 20 years. The increased number and intensity of storms, combined with historic patterns of development that have encroached natural floodways, have resulted in more flooding and more damage throughout Westchester County. The study announced today builds on much of the analysis that has been done over the last 30 years, with a focus on the development of options to reduce the potential for flood damage.
