SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND, ENGEL ANNOUNCE SENATE COMMITTEE CLEARS BILL THAT WILL AUTHORIZE MAMARONECK AND SHELDRAKE RIVER BASIN PROJECT; PROJECT IS VITAL TO PROTECT MAMARONECK RESIDENTS’ HOMES & BUSINESSES WHICH REMAIN AT RISK OF BEING FLOODED

Inclusion Of Project In The Senate Water Resource Development Act (WRDA) Is Next Big Step Forward; Reps Say More Must Be Done To Address Flooding 

Schumer, Gillibrand, Engel: Village Of Mamaroneck Residents Must Be Protected From Future Flooding

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, and U.S. Representative Eliot Engel today announced they were successful in securing an authorization for the Mamaroneck-Sheldrake River project, in the Water Resource Development Act (WRDA), which Senator Gillibrand voted in favor of advancing out of the Senate EPW Committee. The federal representatives said that without progress on this project residents and business owners in the area remain at risk of severe flooding.

“Making sure the Village of Mamaroneck is protected from future flooding is critical for public safety and property preservation of homes and businesses,” said Senator Schumer. “Floods have hammered this area before and we can’t wait any longer before we implement a better flood protection plan for the whole community, which is why I, along with Senator Gillibrand and Representative Engel, fought so hard to have the project authorized in the WRDA bill. Now with the authorization moving forward, we can work to make sure the project stays on track, so we can finally break ground on this vital project that is essential to saving lives and protecting the Village of Mamaroneck from the storms of the future.”

“I am pleased that Congress is one step closer to authorizing this study so that the Army Corps of Engineers can quickly begin the next phase to design and construct the flood risk management project for the Village of Mamaroneck. The lives and livelihoods of New Yorkers are at stake, and we must be proactive to ensure that protections are in place to prevent another major flood.” said Senator Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “I am proud to have fought alongside Senator Schumer and Congressman Engel to secure this provision in this year’s Water Resources Development Act and I will continue to do all I can in the Senate to make sure this project is completed to shield the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake River Basins against future flooding.”

“This is an issue we have long dealt with in Mamaroneck, so I am pleased Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand and I have been able to work together to move the ball forward on this vital project,” said Congressman Engel. “Persistent flooding has plagued Mamaroneck residents and businesses for far too long, destroying property and costing millions in flood damage. In order to solve this problem, the community and federal officials worked diligently with the Army Corps of Engineers to develop the Mamaroneck-Sheldrake River project, and today that much needed flood mitigation project is one step closer to becoming a reality.”

Senators Schumer, Gillibrand, and Representative Engel, who announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), at their urging reviewed and approved the Chief’s Report, said Congressional authorization of the project will allow USACE to move forward with the design and construction of the project to reduce flood risk for the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake River Basins, and thus protect residents and business owners from future flooding. The project, once complete, will include the construction of retaining walls and a diversion culvert, and will enable the deepening and widening of river channels, structure elevation, and the removal/replacement of 2 vehicular bridges that constrict flood flow.  According to the reps, the recommended plan is estimated to reduce average annual damages by approximately 87 percent and will help reduce the risk of loss of life.  The Senators vowed to see this project through to completion.

Senators Schumer, Gillibrand, and Representative Engel explained that in April 2007, a nor’easter storm produced record flooding in the Village of Mamaroneck, equivalent to the one percent flood event. The 2007 event caused over $50 million in damages and impacted over 50 percent of total structures within the study area. The storm resulted in floodwaters peaking on the Mamaroneck River in approximately four hours, and in approximately six hours on the Sheldrake River. As such, the evacuation time for approximately 19,000 residents in the Village of Mamaroneck was severely restricted and created a high-risk situation. Over 40 percent of Mamaroneck residents required evacuation assistance prior to floodwaters peaking, including a large population of children that attended a school located within the epicenter of the severe flooding. However, this was not the only flood event in the basin. Additionally, two deaths have occurred as a result of flooding in the project area in the last 25 years, most recently in 2007.

A copy of Schumer, Gillibrand, and Engel’s original letter appears below:

Dear Lt. Gen. Semonite,

We write to urge you to promptly review the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s Chief’s Report on the flood risk management for the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake River Basins in the Village of Mamaroneck, New York. As you know, it has been recommended to authorize a plan to reduce flood risk through the construction of retaining walls and a diversion culvert, the deepening, and widening of river channels, structure elevation, and the removal/replacement of 2 vehicular bridges that constrict flood flow. The recommended plan is estimated to reduce average annual damages by approximately 87% and will help reduce the risk of loss of life. It is our hope that once the report has been reviewed, you will promptly sign and recommend the plan to reduce flood damage in the Village of Mamaroneck for Congress to authorize and fund the project.

In April 2007, a Nor’easter storm produced the flood of record for the Village of Mamaroneck, equivalent to the one percent flood event. The 2007 event caused over $50 million in damages and impacted over 50 percent of total structures within the study area. A one percent flood event, the storm’s resulted in floodwaters peaking on the Mamaroneck River in approximately four hours and in approximately six hours on the Sheldrake River. As such, the evacuation time for approximately 19,000 residents in the Village of Mamaroneck was severely restricted and created a high risk to life safety. Over forty percent of residents required evacuation assistance prior to floodwaters peaking including a large population of children that attend a school located within the area of the most severe flooding. However, this was not the only flood event in the basin. Two deaths have occurred as a result of flooding in the project area in the last 25 years, most recently in 2007.

We urge you to ensure the Chief’s Report on the flood risk management for the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake River Basins is promptly reviewed and signed so the project may move to the phase where Congress can act to authorize and fund this project.  As you know, a final Chief's Report must be approved in order for this project to move forward. A swift review of this project will help ensure continued commitment to the life safety of the residents of the Village of Mamaroneck, New York. Should you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact our offices.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer 

United States Senator   

Kirsten Gillibrand                                                               

United States Senator 

Eliot L. Engel                                                                         

Member of Congress

 ###