Thank you everyone for a productive discussion at Monday night’s FAC meeting. Meeting notes are copied below. The next FAC meeting date has been set for Monday, September 16 at 6:00 pm. Please note the earlier than usual start time. At that meeting we will run through the LFA recommendations for consideration and discussion by FAC members.
Mark Carabetta, PWS, CFM
Senior Project Manager, Environmental Science
Notes to Halcott Flood Advisory Committee
Milone & MacBroom, Inc. Halcott LFA FAC Meeting #2 August 21, 2019
5197-16
A second meeting for the Halcott Local Flood Analysis (LFA) was held on the evening of August 19, 2019 at the Grange Hall. In attendance were Mark Carabetta and Matt Trueheart from Milone and MacBroom (MMI), as well as members of the Halcott Flood Advisory Committee (FAC). FAC members included representatives from the Halcott, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) and the Delaware County Soil and Water Conservation District (DCSWCD). A sign-in sheet and the presentation slides are appended.
The purpose of the meeting was to:
Review the study area and project objectives
Present preliminary hydraulic modeling results
Solicit feedback regarding proposed alternatives
Discuss next steps in the LFA process
The meeting began with introductions and MMI’s presentation of the results from modeling of several culverts using HY8 hydraulic modeling software, and 2-dimensional HEC-RAS modeling of the complex flow dynamics in Vly Creek at the Ursum Way crossing and upstream floodplain.
Following the presentation, members of the committee discussed their thoughts and local knowledge regarding the viability of proposed alternatives, suggested additional possible solutions, and requested additional analysis. MMI staff collected information and took detailed notes, which are summarized below.
A request was made for a structural inspection of the CR3 culvert over Brownell Creek.
A request was made to expand the project scope to encompass additional structures outside the
hamlet boundary; this cannot be accommodated as part of the LFA but may be possible in the
future.
A request was made for a representative of the Greene County Highway Dept. to attend the next
FAC meeting. Alan Reynolds will make contact with Greene County and extend an invitation. Several questions were asked, and a discussion ensued regarding securing funding for culvert replacements and a means by which to prioritize replacements or upgrades. These shall be addressed in the LFA Report. Culverts conveying Brownell Creek, Elk Creek, and an unnamed tributary were evaluated for their capacity, and more hydraulically adequate crossings were outlined as necessary.
The following alternatives were presented by MMI for discussion, for the Ursum Way crossing of Vly Creek:
o Replace existing bridge and culvert with one large bridgeo Secure alternate access via Fairbairn Drive (private road)
If Ursum Way culvert washes out, do not replace
Widening channel at culvert would reduce flooding Access to community gardens can be maintained
May require improvements along Fairbairn Drive
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Halcott LFA FAC Meeting | Page 2 August 21, 2019
o Implement floodproofing of highway garage building Barriers, elevate utilities, chemical storage, etc.
o Relocate highway garage building on same parcel
o Relocate highway garage to new parcel
• In discussing alternatives for the town highway garage and access via Ursum Way, the following
information was gleaned:
o Permanent access via Fairbairn Drive is not practical due to the tight, steep, sharp
intersection with Elk Creek Road (difficult or impossible for tractor-trailers). Also, a right turn from Elk Creek Road headed west to Route 3 headed north is very sharp.
o The parcel acquired by the town for an emergency services facility is likely not large enough to accommodate a relocated highway garage as well. Regardless of proposed alternatives at Ursum Way, it was suggested that the town of Halcott secure access to the town garage via Fairbairn Drive for use in future emergency situations.
Additional alternatives were suggested and discussed:
o Relocation of the highway garage to higher ground, and reclamation of the parcel for use as a floodplain.
o Relocation of both the highway garage and salt shed off-site, and strategic abandonment of the Ursum Way crossing.
o Lowering the grade of Ursum Way to provide additional overtopping relief in flood flows and reduce backwater inundation flooding.
o Relocating the Vly Creek channel to a more natural position in the floodplain, thus improving alignment with the Ursum Way crossing. This would also require replacement of the Spring Brook culvert with a larger structure.
• The Town Clerk will provide MMI with the parcel number for the property that is being considered for siting of a satellite emergency facility.
The next FAC meeting date was set for Monday, September 16 at 6:00 pm. At that meeting MMI will run through its LFA recommendations for consideration and discussion by FAC members.
