Washington, DC - Congressman John Hall (D-NY) and Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today announced that they secured the House Appropriations Committee's approval of $835,000 for the continuation of a flood mitigation study in the Upper Delaware River Watershed and for the development of a flood alert system for the region. Hinchey and Hall worked to secure $600,000 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to continue its ongoing comprehensive study in identifying ways to preventing future flooding of the Upper Delaware River Watershed. Hinchey also obtained approval of $235,000 for the Delaware River Enhanced Flood Warning System, which will be used to improve the basin's flood warning system.
The flood study funds are included in the Energy and Water Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2009 and the flood warning funds are included in the Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2009. Both measures still have several legislative steps to go, but having the funds included in the original version of the bills is considered a critical step in the process. The funds may also face a challenge from President Bush who has said he opposes the inclusion of funding for such projects.
"Based on the increased frequency and intensity of severe storms in the past few years, it is now more pressing than ever that we work to mitigate future flooding throughout the Upper Delaware River Watershed in order to prevent it from threatening and destroying both properties and lives," Hinchey said. "These funds will allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to continue analyzing flood mitigation alternatives and determine what can be done to help limit the risk of future flooding. These funds will also enable the creation of an advanced flood warning system so that the public can be more prepared for possible evacuations."
"Repeated and devastating flooding over the last several years has made it clear that serious flood control is a high priority in the Upper Delaware watershed,” said Hall. “This study is going to help determine the best ways to protect communities in Orange and Sullivan counties from destructive floods."
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study consists of an investigation of the Upper Delaware River Watershed to identify opportunities for flood damage reduction and environmental restoration that could minimize the impacts of future flooding and prevent further losses of life and property. Specific high-priority areas along the Little Beaverkill Creek, such as the hamlet of Livingston Manor in the Town of Rockland, will get special attention from the Army Corps to address chronic and repetitive flood devastation from major flood events over the past several years, which in some cases have caused the loss of life. These major floods caused severe and repeated damage to thousands of structures and disrupted the lives of thousands of people. The flooding in recent years was the worst since the record flood of 1955. Hinchey and Hall worked to secure $700,000 for the study last year.
This study expands upon the Army Corps Reconnaissance Study that was completed for the Upper Delaware River, which addressed flood damage reduction, ecosystem restoration, water quality control, and comprehensive watershed management The Army Corps is currently negotiating a feasibility cost share agreement with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for the commencement of the first phase of the study, which will analyze flooding along the Little Beaverkill, a tributary to the Delaware River. The study is in response to major floods that have occurred in the past few years and caused severe and repeated damage to thousands of structures and disrupted the lives of tens of thousands of people.
Funds going to the Delaware River Enhanced Flood Warning system project will assist the Delaware River Basin Commission's efforts with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to enhance the basin's flood warning system, which is currently in place. These funds will help evaluate and improve existing precipitation and stream gage networks and develop additional NOAA flood forecast points in both non-tidal and tidal stream reaches. The enhancement will also include the merger of GIS and Doppler radar technology to improve flash flood warning capabilities for smaller watersheds.
