SCHUMER ANNOUNCES OVER $620,000 IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CRITICAL FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT FOR THE AUSABLE WATERSHED PROJECT WILL REDUCE FLOOD RISK, LOWER COMMUNITIES MAINTENANCE COSTS & RESTORE ECO-SYSTEM IN CLINTON AND ESSEX COUNTIES
With Funds from the Schumer-Led Sandy Relief Bill, Department of Interiors Sandy Coastal Resiliency Competitive Grant Program Supports Projects That Reduce Vulnerability to Storms & Benefit Waterfront Communities, Fish and Wildlife
Ausable Watershed Project Will Replace 3 Culverts This Will Help Restore 25 Miles of Fish Passage, Promote Long-Term Resiliency, Mitigate Future Flooding & Reduce Communities Maintenance Costs
Schumer: This Federal Funding Will Make Commun
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced over $620,000 in funding to replace three culverts in the Ausable Watershed in Clinton and Essex Counties, which will enable fish to gain access to over 25 miles of streams, mitigate future flooding around Lake Champlain and reduce the cost of maintaining the culverts. Schumer explained that these culvert upgrades are needed for drainage purposes and to create passages that allow for water to easily flow, which will help limit future flooding and the resulting damages. The funding for this project comes from the Sandy Coastal Resiliency competitive grants program, administered by the Department of Interior (DOI) and funded by the Hurricane Sandy Relief Bill that Schumer authored.
"This funding is great news for the communities surrounding the Ausable Watershed. These new culverts will enable them to more effectively manage floodwaters and better weather the next storm that comes our way," said Schumer. "This is exactly the type of project we should be supporting - one that makes communities safer and more resilient over the long term and I'm pleased that the Department of Interior has recognized this."
This funding will strengthen the lake's ecosystem by replacing three aging culverts. The new culverts that will be constructed as part of this plan will help make the area more resilient to future flooding by enabling water to flow more easily through the aqueducts. The new culverts will also help the environment, giving local fish access to 25 miles of streams.
The DOI's Sandy Coastal Resiliency Competitive grant program supports projects that reduce communities' vulnerability to the growing risks from coastal storms, sea level rise, flooding, erosion and associated threats through strengthening natural ecosystems that also benefit fish and wildlife. Communities affected by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee are also eligible for this funding.
