Sept. 08, 2008

As Westchester’s flood task force continues its focus on giving financial help to local governments with flooding problems, the county government is beginning a significant effort to address  flooding issues through improvements on county-owned properties that would also have area wide benefits

Acting at the initiative of County Executive Andy Spano, the Board of Legislators Monday approved a $2 million bond act to study and design a comprehensive program to reduce flooding on certain county properties where the impact can be felt downstream in other locations.

“We are looking at things we can do on county-owned property to ease flooding where the effect will be felt elsewhere,” said  Spano. “For example, if we construct a dam on one of our properties, will it help reduce flooding not only at that site but downstream as well?”

The sites that will be the focus of the effort are: Tibbett’s Brook Park, Scout Field, Crestwood Lake, the Grasslands Reservation, Garth Woods and the Westchester County Center. The goal is to determine what improvements can be made to these properties that will help neighborhoods in nearby cities, towns and villages. 

This effort comes as the county’s Flood Task Force continues to review 10 flood mitigation projects that so far have been submitted to it for possible county financial assistance. Spano has committed $50 million over five years to that effort. Proposed projects range from stream bank widening to the construction of stormwater detention facilities and control structures that will help reduce the impacts of flooding within watersheds throughout the County.

Municipalities that have not submitted applications are reminded to go to check out Flood Action Plan for information and  preliminary application.