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Erie Canal Neighbors Association
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#Post#: 2332--------------------------------------------------
NYS Canal Corporation has the FINAL word on Erie Canal
Embankment Integrity
DIR By: Doug K
Date: November 22, 2022, 7:44 pm
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That is the question on many Erie Canal Neighbor's minds, and
the short answer is VERY SOON.
The ECNA has it from a very "good source" that the new Canal
Integrity work will be starting soon. The Earthen Embankment
Integrity Program (EEIP) paperwork for SEQR Environmental Impact
is due to be released anyday on the NYS DEC Website. That
release will "green light" the start of more canal embankment
maintenance, earthen dam maintenance that is now 75 years
overdue.
[attachimg=3] [size=18pt]
HTML https://www.nyscanalintegrity.org/
So who is our "good source" you ask? Why it's the Canal
Corporation Job Board... they just posted the Job for Earthen
Embankment Assistant Engineer. Pays quite well at $60 -
90K[/size]
[attachimg=1]
And here's a PARTIAL list of job responsibilities, we have
highlighted two words here:
[attachimg=2]
It's not that hard to put two and two together here, NYPA is
going forward with the Earthen Embankment SAFETY program that is
fixing their longstanding Earthen Embankment INTEGRITY issues.
They wouldn't be wasting time and money hiring full time
Engineering support if they didn't have a plan to START working
on embankments very soon.
#Post#: 2334--------------------------------------------------
NYS Canal Corporation has the FINAL word on Erie Canal
Embankment Integrity
DIR By: Doug K
Date: December 7, 2022, 5:34 pm
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Finally, after 18 agonizing months waiting for the NYS Canal
Corporation "dinosaur management team" to make a step forward
they have released their entire NEW and FINAL Earthen Embankment
Integrity Program (EEIP) documentation package.
The SEQR Study Released November 30th on the State's DEC
Website... it basically said that SAFETY is STILL driving the
EEIP work. That should NOT be a surprise to anyone who
understands how public safety projects are run by NYPA
SEQR documentation for EEIP is in a nice little statement here:
HTML https://www.dec.ny.gov/enb/20221130_not0.html
All of the released SEQR documents are found on the NYS Canals
Embankment Integrity Website:
[attachimg=1]
HTML https://www.nyscanalintegrity.org/program-and-maps
And the best read is the 1066 PUBLIC comments made during this
whole EEIP process, and how still today many people are
dissatisfied with the final answer... that TREES are NOT as
important as the possible LOSS of HUMAN LIFE in a Canal
Embankment Breach.
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/Earthen_Embankment/FGEIS/DGEIS_Comment_Responses.pdf
And if the Earthen Embankments, that retain water along the
Canal are NOT cleared, the possibility of a flood looms larger
each passing day... that is simply the truth that was supported
by years of SEQR study and experts in the field of Hydrology
and Dam Science that were used to validate that SEQR work on
Canal Embankment Dams.
So that final word on this whole Canal Embankment Program is
this -
SAFETY
Anyone who can't understand the final word on this program is in
need of some serious mental health help.
And unfortunately for many using social media those folks are
most likely whining about it now on a Facebook right now, in a
local denialist group called Stop the Canal Clear-cut.
The members of this group are still in "dam denial". Many
members still cannot understand the Canal is "man-made".
The group still believes that talk of embankment safety is
"fear-mongering". The Group's LEADER is the biggest proponent of
that misinformation.
This Facebook group has many members who vocally support Crazy
Canal Corporation Conspiracy theories about kickbacks, contracts
and land use... still to this day.
And they are all very upset that their group, their leadership
and their "grassroots effort" did absolutely nothing to change
the minds of NY State agencies that "scenery & shade" for their
walk along the top of these Erie Canal Dams on the Empire Trail
was more important than the lives and safety of those living
below.
Go figure...?
Of special note and interest... it's FULL STEAM AHEAD CAPTAIN...
as the Canal Integrity Program gets set to run it's new
INSPECTION solution for finding and clearing seeps, leaks and
areas of "invasive vegetation" along the 100 miles of Earthen
Embankments they still need to clear.
Here's their brand new page on Embankment Inspection using
Drones. This is something that many have asked for, WHERE are
the dams, HOW bad is their condition and WHAT is the HAZARD
RATING based on the Embankment Inspection?
[attachimg=2]
HTML https://www.nyscanalintegrity.org/inspection
Finally, because MANY in our community seem to NOT understand
that when you ASK for transparency yo GET just that... here's
the Schedule of when Trees will be cleared, Tree Roots will be
removed, and Embankments will be restored... each step outlined
in the newly released Embankment Maintenance Manual.
[attachimg=3]
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/Earthen_Embankment/FGEIS/Final_Guide_Book_and_Attachments.pdf
While the Earthen Embankment Integrity Manual & Guidelines does
have solutions and best practices for many of the common types
of invasive species that frequent the Canal Embankments, and
specifically how do deal with irregularities and defects in the
outboard slope... the EEIP Guidebook has left out one critical
section to help Canal Employees deal with the most invasive pest
to date along the Erie Canal... a little humor to end the post.
[attachimg=4]
#Post#: 2358--------------------------------------------------
Re: NYS Canal Embankment Integrity - WXXI covers EEIP Highpoints
DIR By: Doug K
Date: February 3, 2023, 7:01 am
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Nice article and Audio Clip from PBS Broadcasting regarding the
recently released NYS Canal Corporation Embankment Integrity
Program.
Finally the news outlets are starting to understand the issue is
NOT about saving trees, its about saving the Erie Canal from a
slow, methodical decay of its Navigation Dams.
HTML https://www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2022-12-01/state-releases-new-guidelines-for-clearing-trees-shrubs-from-erie-canal-embankments
And the final word from the NYS Canal Corporation is this:
“This canal means a tremendous amount to communities like
Perinton, Fairport, Pittsford, Brockport, the city of
Rochester,” Mahar said, describing Monroe County as “the sweet
spot” or most scenic stretch of the canal system. “There is a
lot of economic activity and tourism that's generated here.
“We believe this program strikes that balance between dam safety
… and the community side of it.”
#Post#: 2368--------------------------------------------------
Canal Corporation SEQR Findings Statement has the FINAL word on
Embankment Safety
DIR By: Doug K
Date: February 6, 2023, 4:54 pm
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Just re-read the Earthen Embankment Integrity Program's FINAL
SEQR Enviromental FINDINGS Statement known as the EEIP EIS
HTML https://www.nyscanalintegrity.org/s/EEIP-Findings-StatementFinal.pdf
And this FINAL statement is a much more refined version of the
original Draft EIS, that all important Enviromental Impact
Statement. It's a good read but works hand in hand with the Full
SEQR review.
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/Earthen_Embankment/FGEIS/NYSCC_EEIP_Final_GEIS_BlackText.pdf
There is a single statement that was made in this document, that
summarizes WHY the EEIP program WILL move forward. It's found on
page 9, just before the Conclusion & Signature page, all
required by law, in this NYS Environmental Review process.
In considering the balance of the impacts described in the
Generic EIS with social, economic and other considerations, the
heaviest weight against these impacts and other alternatives is
that the EEIP reduces the risk for embankment failure. The
benefits to public safety outweigh the potential environmental
impacts identified
Read it again: EEIP reduces the risk for embankment failure AND
benefits to public safety outweigh the potential environmental
impacts
This should bring an end to discussion by those in social media
that still want to deny the "public safety" aspects of the EEIP
work, trying to call it "fear-mongering", but it probably won't.
#Post#: 2374--------------------------------------------------
Dear New York State Canal Corporation... get your Dam act
together.
DIR By: Doug K
Date: February 14, 2023, 8:12 am
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Dear NYS Canal Corporation,
Sending a couple ECNA posts, just for educational purposes...
One shows just how blind a group & certain individuals on social
media can be, regarding Erie Canal safety issues. And hopefully
should make you all wonder why you try so hard to appease
them... that's just wrong.
HTML https://ecna.createaforum.com/the-stop-the-clearcut-argument/i-had-to-chuckle!/msg2359/#msg2359
And another post shows that every time the Canal Corporation
believes they have a "solution" it will be viewed as something
very different by those opposing your public safety efforts...
an opening to suggest something even more bizarre than leaving
unsafe dams to their own demise.
HTML https://ecna.createaforum.com/general-discussion/a-conversation/msg2369/?topicseen#msg2369
And hopefully you now see that the ECNA understands your social
media adversary more than either NYPA or NYSCC does.
Sadly though you folks at NYS Canals put the ECNA in the same
category as this sad little Facebook group... a hindrance not a
helper.
NYPA is now holding special private meetings with the STCC just
to gain agreement? Shame on you all, for hiding that from the
general public.
Does social media set the policy now for "public safety" in the
Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor?
You make your problems worse by NOT standing up to denial &
misinformation from this group, but that doesn't seem to matter.
It's called being complicit... read this.
HTML https://ecna.createaforum.com/the-stop-the-clearcut-argument/why-should-the-ecna-care/
And frankly, I'm not sure if the ECNA should support the Canal
Corporation's Embankment Integrity efforts any further, they
have been just as wrong as these social misfits on how to handle
a NY public safety issue.
Every single opportunity that NYS has had, to put the truth
forward about public safety, has been badly handled by a group
in Canal Leadership who's worried about how they might look to a
misguided, social media group.
It's so sad watching a public safety program become nothing more
than a "popularity contest".
And its also wrong for NYS employees to be leading that
effort... and risk the safety for New Yorkers who also happen to
be Erie Canal Neighbors, living below a Canal System that should
probably be closed until further notice...due to infrastructure
concerns.
The SAFETY of New York State residents has taken a backseat to
appeasing this misguided social media group.
Sadly the ECNA has higher moral & ethical standards than the NYS
Canal Corporation or NY Power, and we can't tolerate those who
aren't working in the best interest of all New Yorkers.
Read the posts and share with your managers... that's the best
we have to offer to a group that's lost its way.
Please, do the right thing here...
Douglas Kucmerowski
Co-Founder Erie Canal Neighbors Association
#Post#: 2387--------------------------------------------------
What does GOOGLE say about trees growing naturally on Erie Canal
Embankments?
DIR By: Doug K
Date: February 27, 2023, 6:02 pm
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This should be a SIMPLE question to understand... Whether trees
should be allowed to grow in a forest, next to the Erie canal.
The term forest is used loosely but is a concession made to get
to the SIMPLE TRUTH. And next to the Erie Canal means that 100
miles of those tress will be growing on earthen dam crests &
slopes. Because much of the Erie Canal consists of man-made
dams.
So we were thinking, here at ECNA Headquarters, that just maybe
Google has the answer to the age old question that is plaguing
the New York State Canal Corporation and their Earthen
Embankment Integrity effort
Should a forest of TREES grow on an EMBANKMENT dam?
Lately the local Fairport social media opposition to the NYS
Canal Corporation Embankment work, has been throwing around the
term "natural forest". Of course the NYS Canal Corporation and
State Comptroller are calling it "missed maintenance", and NYS
DEC defines it as woody invasive vegetation when it's growing on
any earthen structure that is IMPOUNDING WATER.
And a water impoundment is also known as a dam... that's the
definition.
So we made a concession on using the term forest, to describe
invasive vegetation, and we will use the term dam, and it's made
of earth.
So let's ask GOOGLE, after all, we trust Google to find us the
best deal on socks, shirts and such at Amazon. And everyone
knows that Google has GREAT MAPS, right? And they now handle
just most if not all web-based analytical data in the US. Any
guess what the answer will be?
[attachimg=1]
Please note the websites that were scoured for these keywords.
Google AI came up with one and a half MILLION hits and these
were the very first ones. FEMA, NYDEC... these are the
recognized experts on the topics with known publications used
country-wide.
What you did not see... any links to social media, including a
Facebook Group promoting the idea that these are "not trees on
dams". And that website promoting this preposterous idea... it
was actually on Google.
HTML https://sites.google.com/view/eriecanalclearcutting/home
As always, we encourage an active discussion about Erie Canal
Embankments, that will always include the SAFETY of the entire
NYS Canal System.. from Lock to Embankment.
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