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#Post#: 1463--------------------------------------------------
New York Canal Corporation moves forward with Erie Canal
Embankment Integrity Program
DIR By: Doug K
Date: April 28, 2021, 12:35 pm
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As the final earthen Canal Embankments are being restored, with
privacy screen planting along the Erie, west of Brockport, the
New York State Canal Corporation (NYSCC)is working on it's final
draft of the Embankment Rehabilitation Guidebook for future
earthen dam clearing though it's new EEIP effort.
EEIP, which stands for the Earthen Embankment Integrity Program,
will take over where their original work west of Rochester left
off with a notable exception. The new Integrity Program does NOT
have a 'blanket' restoration of larger vegetation like the
original EERP work did. Instead it will remove all undesired &
unsafe vegetation growing now on the canal embankments, and
replace with grass or a wild flower mix of vegetation. It's all
covered in their Lead Agency Letter that was sent to all
affected NYS agencies & municipalities that would be affected.
You can read the opening statement to each agencies director
below:
The New York State Canal Corporation (NYSCC), a subsidiary of
the New York Power Authority (NYPA), plans to implement a
comprehensive canal system Earthen Embankment Integrity Program
to restore, maintain and manage the integrity of earthen
embankments within the New York State Canal System, which
includes the modernized Barge Canal and other properties having
earthen embankments under NYSCC’s jurisdiction.
This requires the proper inspection and maintenance of the
embankments including any and all drainage, instrumentation,
vegetation, animal burrows, seeps, and concrete, masonry or
other features associated with the embankments. This program
aims to formally establish practices and guidelines for
management of earthen embankments, focusing on reducing the risk
of embankment failure, and supporting life safety, asset
preservation, and environmental protection.
The program will also identify reasonable alternative management
practices to tree removal in areas within close proximity to
recreational uses, parks, municipal, residential and commercial
areas.
Having a documented program will provide greater transparency in
decision-making.
NYSCC has classified the Embankment Maintenance Program as a
State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) Type I Action.
As such, pursuant to 6 NYCRR Part 617 and 21 NYCRR Part 461,
NYSCC has completed the attached Part 1 of the Full
Environmental Assessment Form (FEAF) and will conduct a
Coordinated Review among the potential SEQRA Involved Agencies.
To ensure no areas have been missed, the project area
contemplates all lands in and along the canal system where there
may be embankments.
NYSCC has identified your agency as a potential Involved or
Interested Agency. If you believe that your agency has
discretionary authority over any aspect of the proposed action,
as described in the attachments, and you concur that NYSCC
should act as the Lead Agency, please sign below and return this
form within thirty days of the date of this letter to NYSCC’s
consultant at:
Bergmann
Attention: NYSCC Earthen Embankment Integrity Program
280 East Broad Street, Suite 200
Rochester New York 14604
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/Earthen_Embankment/SEQR%20Lead%20Agency%20Letter.pdf
It's all covered on the NYSCC Embankment Integrity website
[attachimg=1]
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/Earthen_Embankment/Environmental_Assessment_Form.html
#Post#: 1544--------------------------------------------------
EEIP Embankment Guidebook Released - Public Input to Follow
DIR By: Doug K
Date: June 22, 2021, 3:00 pm
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It's Official. The Earthen Embankment Integrity Program, EEIP
for short, has a new Guidebook.
[attachimg=1]
Erie Canal Embankment Maintenance wasn't "stopped" by a local
Facebook Group, the new EEIP Guidebook has been released, and
explains EVERYTHING someone might want to know about what, where
when and how Canal Earthen Embankments will be cleared. It's
extensive, thorough, and has a few Appendix items like a "Best
Practices Guide
You can read the EEIP Guidebook here:
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/Earthen_Embankment/DGEIS/2021-03-09_DRAFT_FINAL_Embankment_Maintenance_Guidebook.pdf
And here's the link to Best Practices:
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/Earthen_Embankment/DGEIS/Attach1_Final_Draft_Embankment_Maintenance_Best_Practices_2021.03.10.pdf
Be sure to READ the PREFACE - It sets the tone of the document
and also DEFINES what an "EMBANKMENT" is... and WHY they need to
be cleared.
[attachimg=2]
And for those who are interested in discussing YOUR ideas about
the EEIP Embankment Guidebook and how to BEST help the New York
State Canal Corporation handle the task of making these earthen
dams safer, extending the life of the NYS Canal System, you are
welcome to join a VIRTUAL Meeting to discuss the Guidebook and
your thoughts on Canal System Maintenance & Safety on July 14,
2021.
[attachimg=3]
Signup information is in the link below:
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/Earthen_Embankment/Registration.html
#Post#: 1545--------------------------------------------------
EEIP Guidebook Virtual Meeting Information
DIR By: Doug K
Date: June 22, 2021, 3:17 pm
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For those interested in attending the VIRTUAL meeting for the
NYS Canal Corporation EEIP Guidebook Review (via Zoom)
You will need to sign-up using the NYS Canal Corporation Form if
you would like to SPEAK at one of the two sessions, be sure to
pick one:
[attachimg=1]
HTML https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=zASMaftw_kOueb2vp4eHjQVp3p8elQFLpFHBitNFo9BUQjdWQzFXV09DOFNFWDRORUpYMlk3WEdUNy4u
You may need to try the link on the virtual meeting information
page - to update your version of Zoom.
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/Earthen_Embankment/Registration.html
[attachimg=2]
Once you are done with the Zoom Update, you should see a pop-up
alert for the time of the meeting on July 14
[attachimg=3]
Hope to "see" you at the meeting, the ECNA will be sitting in
BOTH sessions of this EEIP Guidebook Review and may be speaking
on behalf of several Canal Neighbors who will be affected by the
maintenance work from this Embankment Integrity Program, and
have approached us for help already.
Here's the link to the EEIP Guidebook Zoom Meeting, tentatively
scheduled for July 14, 10 am & 7 pm
HTML https://nypa-gov.zoom.us/j/84562401069
#Post#: 1561--------------------------------------------------
New Erie Canal Environmental Impact Statement Simulates Flood
Inundation Zones - Brockport Greece & Hulberton
DIR By: Doug K
Date: June 27, 2021, 1:25 pm
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Sometimes it's the "devil in the details" that show the REAL
STORY, and the recently updated NYS Canal Corporation Earthen
Embankment Integrity Program, known as EEIP, is no exception.
With the new EEIP Package just released, there is a long awaited
mapping of Flood Inundation Areas (FIA) for some of our local
Towns & Villages. These maps would show WHERE flooding would
occur over a two-hour long event, and how HIGH the flood waters
would rise in a given area around that simulated breach.
The news is NOT good for places like Greece & Brockport.
First, you should go and read the Generic Environmental Impact
Statement (GEIS) for the EEIP work, especially Appendix B, which
is where the following information was taken from. There's much
more to read in detail, we are only showing the overview of what
went on in the background to get the information released. This
is all part of the required State Environmental Quality Review
process that the Canal Corporation has completed as a first step
to getting more canal embankments cleared of hazardous
vegetation and replaced with grass coverings.
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/Earthen_Embankment/DGEIS/NYSCC_EEIP_Draft_GEIS_2-5-2021_Appx_B.pdf
Here's the First page of the Risk Exposure Statement, laying out
what will be covered
[attachimg=1]
Follow up pages will cover the assumptions modeled to get the
Flood Inundation Zones mapped, including variables that matter
most
[attachimg=2]
This page details why unwanted, woody, vegetation is a major
issues for Erie Canal Earthen Embankments, and their health &
safety, long with that of it's neighhbors.
[attachimg=3]
And finally the Second Part of this Appendix B shows the Breach
Analysis Flood Mapping for several areas in the western section
of the NYS Canal System.
[attachimg=4]
Here's the Flood Inundation Map for Brockport & Hulberton...
Brockport is most alarming as the Canal Corporation chose the
High Hazard Dam at the Smith Street Spillway Embankment section
as the starting point for the Breach Simulation. That particular
area is already on the NYS Dam Registry as a "problem" that
needs to be fixed.
You can read more about this impounding structure here:
HTML https://ecna.createaforum.com/general-discussion/t762/msg1294/#msg1294
[attachimg=5]
Just wanted to add this as well, it's a section DIRECTLY from
the GEIS for the Embankment Program and spells out EXACTLY WHY
this work is needed. From EEIP Environmental Statement Appendix
B Page 7:
Canal embankments, many of which are covered with trees and
difficult to inspect, likely have a higher failure probability
than grass-covered embankment dams. It can be assumed that the
probability of failure due to seepage or a poorly maintained
earthen canal embankment is at least double that for a
well-maintained embankment dam.
The presence of tree roots in the embankment, and the hindrance
to full inspection caused by the presence of vegetation, both
increase the seepage failure probability in the canal
embankment.
Therefore, the combined probability of failure for a
well-maintained embankment dam that is full all the time would
be the same as for a poorly maintained canal embankment that is
full for half the year
#Post#: 1562--------------------------------------------------
Re: EEIP Flood Inundation Zones - Greece NY Residents Beware!
DIR By: Doug K
Date: June 27, 2021, 1:33 pm
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Yes, we do have Flood Inundation maps for some of the Greece NY
area, these are specifically showing a pair of Canal Breaches in
and around the Elmgrove Rd - Ridgeway Ave area. As you will see
in the images, the amount of NEW homes built in the Flood Zone,
compared to earlier mapping, is amazing.
Even more amazing, most likely NONE of the people, who's houses
would be surrounded by 4-6' of canal water in the event of a
breach, even know they are in possible danger...which may be the
biggest tragedy of all here. Some do not even think the Canal
water can reach their neighborhoods, but the only need to drive
UPHILL to the canal to see that it's true.
We have to post this map separately due to image constraints in
the Forum... please share with canal neighbors you may know in
this area.
[attachimg=1]
#Post#: 1568--------------------------------------------------
NYS Canal Corp updates Embankment Integrity Program Schedule
& FAQ Webpage
DIR By: Doug K
Date: July 1, 2021, 7:40 am
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And of course, right on cue, the newly released EEIP Guidebook
PACKAGE has also prompted an update to the NYS Canal
Corporation's EEIP website, specifically the Projected Schedule
of Milestones and the Frequently Asked Questions page... or
FAQs. May want to take a read of both.
The latter item is of SPECIAL NOTE, as anyone who wants to
discuss changes to this Guidebook needs to insure that the
Question 3 is addressed (Safety of Erie Canal Neighbors &
communities) as well as Question 6 ( Scientific Evidence
Supporting Earthen Dam Remediation).
[attachimg=1]
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/Earthen_Embankment/FAQ.html
[attachimg=2]
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/Earthen_Embankment/Project_Timeline.html
As a closing note, the ECNA will be attending the July 14th
Guidebook meeting, to represent Canal Neighbors and give them
insight and a voice to what happens as a result of Embankment
Repair & Maintenance.
And for those who may be attending simply to "disrupt" these
EEIP Review Meetings, like a particular Facebook Group in the
past...
Just because someone may not like the answers in the EEIP
Guidebook, or doesn't believe Canal Embankments are unsafe or
might disagree with the "science" around Earthen Embankment
Safety, those don't make that person "right" in their
assumption...
It only means that those individuals are narrow-minded, and most
likely self-serving in their pursuit to IGNORE PUBLIC SAFETY,
and keep the Erie Canal System lined with unsafe, overgrown and
highly hazardous earthen embankments.
Remember what they say about people that "assume"...
And remember one important FACT... Until the EEIP program clears
unwanted vegetation along these earthen structures, those UNSAFE
EMBANKMENTS keep Erie Canal neighbor's & communities, that are
living below the dams UNSAFE and in DANGER of potential floods.
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