FLOOD MITIGATION IN THE VILLAGE OF MAMARONECK

The Village of Mamaroneck has had a long and frustrating history of flooding followed by proposed flood mitigation plans that seem to never be implemented. These plans include several decades of old studies by the Federal Government, through the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE), without conclusion or implementation because of costs or simple delay. Most recently, after the 2007 disastrous floods in the village and surrounding areas, the residents once again appeared to be destined to another round of picture taking and politicians wringing their hands without any definitive local village plans to be put into effect, with the continued excuse that we (the village) cannot take its own action because it will interfere with the ACE study and jeopardize potential Federal projects.

This, in fact, proved to be false and was underscored by my direct questioning of the ACE to that very point. The ACE told the village that we may certainy go ahead with local flood mitigation projects. Further, the reality is there most likely would not be any local project which would interfere with their study and their eventual conclusions for flood mitigation in the Village of Mamaroneck.

There is now a very effective working team that includes the ACE, New York State, The Village of Mamaroneck Flood Mitigation Committee and the Village Board of Trustees/Administration that finally instituted an active local flood mitigation program to include local clean-ups and, primarily, dredging of the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake Rivers.

The first of the dredging programs recently took place in the Mamaroneck River at the Barry Avenue Extension by the EMS building, the Route 95 overpass by Grove Street and the Sheldrake River by the Route 95/Fenimore Road exit. It appears that this dredging program had a direct effect on the flood mitigation in the village during the numerous heavy rain storms during the past several months. This, in conjunction with alerts from Westchester County and the key administrative coordination between Village Manager Richard Slingerland and Town Adminstrator Steve Altieri to control the water level during the heavy rain storms, helped result in no flooding in the village. 

The areas that were dredged are also subject to new buildup of silt and upstream debris, which must be continuously monitored as part of an annual ongoing implementation of dredging and clean-up.

There are other actions that have been identified which may have a direct effect on the flooding in the Village of Mamaroneck. They include the replacement bridge at the Jefferson Avenue Extension by Columbus Park, the removal of the Winfield Avenue Bridge by the Westchester Joint Waterworks (WJWW) and the partial removal of Glendale Road, better known as the "Road to Nowhere."  Each of these projects has a high cost for completion and the consideration for any of these projects must be balanced with the taxpayers in mind as well as the financial effect which the continued flooding causes to home and business owners.

The removal of the "Road to Nowhere" was initially started by the Town of Harrison, as it is within their jurisdiction, even though the flood effect and damage is within the Village of Mamaroneck. Subsequently, the Town of Harrison stopped the partial removal due to financial constraints. This is one of the specific programs that we consulted with the ACE on, about local action, and were given the O.K. to proceed. Unfotunately, like Harrison, the village was leery because of the estimated cost of $150,000.

Recently, however, the Village of Mamaroneck was contacted by a local resident and contractor who offered to complete this primary flood control mitigation for $35,000 as his contribution to the general welfare and safety of the village and continued progress of the village's flood mitigation programs. The first step in realizing this program to be accomplished is to have an Inter Municipal Agreement (IMA), which has been drafted by both the Village of Mamaroneck and Town of Harrison attorneys.

The IMA and this particular project will be discussed at the Village of Mamaroneck Board of Trustees meeting on May 9, 2011. I am in favor of this project moving forward and I invite all residents to atend the meeting to listen and also participate in the discussion and make their opinions known, whether favorable or not. This a process that the village must continue to bring to the forefront to discuss methods of flood mitigation before the fact and maintain a very proactive policy to seek the prevention and damages of flooding in the Village of Mamaroneck. I look forward to a healthy and positive continuation of flood mitigation in the village.

Respectfully,                                                                                                                                                    Norman S. Rosenblum, Mayor, Village of Mamaroneck