| GENESEE RIVER HAZARD MITIGATION |
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Genesee River Hazard Mitigation sites in Amity and Belfast are continuing to migrate toward NYS Route 19. In addition to this threat to Route 19, the level of
threat and costs to protect the WNY and Pennsylvania Railroad, natural gas wells, business locations, and homes continues to increase. There are no readily
established or safe alternative routes for traffic if NYS Route 19 at Amity is compromised. A major realignment would be required in Belfast. Runoff events during
May of 2007 were gauged at a moderate 5 year storm level, however, an average of 10 feet of bank was lost. The combined erosion to the sites, over winter
2006-07, resulted in the loss of an estimated 54,000 tons of soil. The corner of one business location is now undermined, which puts the building in imminent
danger of collapse into the River. The Genesee River is continuing to advance toward NYS Route 19 at both project sites.
PROJECT STATUS
The project applications have been accepted and reviewed by SEMO, passed the Benefit/Cost ratio analysis, approved for funding and forwarded to FEMA for
environmental review. FEMA has issued Project Part I approvals to authorize expenditures for final engineering, archeology, wetland determinations, and additional
environmental analysis, needed to advance to final FEMA contracting as well as DEC and COE permitting. Twenty thousand ($20,000) in Finger Lakes-Lake
Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance (FL-LOWPA) and $6,000 in State Conservation funding are being utilized through the Soil and Water Conservation District to
provide the initial local share for engineering and environmental work. The updated estimated total project cost is $3,063,178. The grant will be a 75%
reimbursement of eligible expenses by FEMA with a 25% State and or local contribution. The 25% local share is $765,795. Senator Cathy Young is sponsoring
State funding of the $765,000 local share. NYS DOT has established a tracking account and is also anticipating providing funding/match assistance.
Priority is given to construction of the bypass channels which will serve to reduce pressure within the system and slow migration of the river toward Route 19. The
Soil and Water Conservation District is assuming long term responsibility for maintenance of the projects. Design packages and requests for permits to contruct
have been forwarded to NYS DEC and US Army Corps of Engineers.
July 2008 - Bid packages were mailed out in late May and a site showing was held on June 6th. Bid openings took place on June 16th and at the Board Meeting on
17th Manno Construction of Ridgeway, PA was awarded the bid for both sites. Equipment was moved in the first week of July and construction began on both
by-pass channels.
August 2008 - The bypass channels have been completed and the river has been turned into the bypass channels and work has begun on the main channel at both
sites.
September 2008 - Belfast is now complete and Amity is expected to be complete within 3-6 weeks.
The Genesee River Hazard Mitigation sites in Amity and Belfast are continuing to migrate toward NYS Route 19. In addition to this threat to Route 19, the level of
threat and costs to protect the WNY and Pennsylvania Railroad, natural gas wells, business locations, and homes continues to increase. There are no readily
established or safe alternative routes for traffic if NYS Route 19 at Amity is compromised. A major realignment would be required in Belfast. Runoff events during
May of 2007 were gauged at a moderate 5 year storm level, however, an average of 10 feet of bank was lost. The combined erosion to the sites, over winter
2006-07, resulted in the loss of an estimated 54,000 tons of soil. The corner of one business location is now undermined, which puts the building in imminent
danger of collapse into the River. The Genesee River is continuing to advance toward NYS Route 19 at both project sites.
PROJECT STATUS
The project applications have been accepted and reviewed by SEMO, passed the Benefit/Cost ratio analysis, approved for funding and forwarded to FEMA for
environmental review. FEMA has issued Project Part I approvals to authorize expenditures for final engineering, archeology, wetland determinations, and additional
environmental analysis, needed to advance to final FEMA contracting as well as DEC and COE permitting. Twenty thousand ($20,000) in Finger Lakes-Lake
Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance (FL-LOWPA) and $6,000 in State Conservation funding are being utilized through the Soil and Water Conservation District to
provide the initial local share for engineering and environmental work. The updated estimated total project cost is $3,063,178. The grant will be a 75%
reimbursement of eligible expenses by FEMA with a 25% State and or local contribution. The 25% local share is $765,795. Senator Cathy Young is sponsoring
State funding of the $765,000 local share. NYS DOT has established a tracking account and is also anticipating providing funding/match assistance.
Priority is given to construction of the bypass channels which will serve to reduce pressure within the system and slow migration of the river toward Route 19. The
Soil and Water Conservation District is assuming long term responsibility for maintenance of the projects. Design packages and requests for permits to contruct
have been forwarded to NYS DEC and US Army Corps of Engineers.
July 2008 - Bid packages were mailed out in late May and a site showing was held on June 6th. Bid openings took place on June 16th and at the Board Meeting on
17th Manno Construction of Ridgeway, PA was awarded the bid for both sites. Equipment was moved in the first week of July and construction began on both
by-pass channels.
August 2008 - The bypass channels have been completed and the river has been turned into the bypass channels and work has begun on the main channel at both
sites.
September 2008 - Belfast is now complete and Amity is expected to be complete within 3-6 weeks.
| (Looking North East) Genesee River Hazard Mitigation Amity (Before) (Overhead View) |
| (Looking West) Genesee River Hazard Mitigation Belfast (Before) (Overhead View) |
| (Looking South) (Looking North) Genesee River Hazard Mitigation Amity 09/22/08 |
| (Looking South) (Looking North) Genesee River Hazard Mitigation Belfast 09/22/08 |
Severe meandering of the Genesee River at Amity and Belfast has put State Route 19 in imminent danger of being destroyed. The estimate to repair these
sites is $3,063,178. The Soil & Water Conservation District has secured 75% of the funds necessary for repair from FEMA under the Hazard Mitigation
Grant Program. The 25% matching share was requested from the NYS Capital Projects budget for 2008 and approved. It took over a year to get the
applications to Hazard Mitigation funding, survey, design, construction estimates, benefit cost ratios, archeology and environmental assessments completed.
The Soil & Water Conservation District preformed this work in collaboration with the local Office of Emergency Services, US Army Corps of Engineers,
NYS DEC, Senator Cathy Young, NYS DOT, SEMO and FEMA.
| Amity Site taken from a Hot Air Balloon October 2008 |
| Planting Trees Amity Site June 2009 |