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Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District
Stream Restoration Program
West Kill Stream Restoration Project
Flood Hazard
Mitigation Project
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Emergency Stabilization work along CRT 6
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The GCSWCD is currently developing an application under FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). The HMGP focuses on providing federal funds to mitigate future costs to FEMA as the result of flood events. The District has been successful in obtaining these funds in the past, securing $485,000 for the Village of Hunter Melodywood Project after the 1996 flood. To qualify for HMGP funds, the projects must demonstrate a positive benefit:cost ratio, and availability of a local match of 25% of the over all project costs.
As a result of flood events in January 1996 and September 1999, two reaches of the West Kill were significantly impacted, with the adjacent roadway suffering costly damage. In the period of 3 years, FEMA and County funds spent on these two sections of road have exceeded 2.5 million dollars. The problems exhibited by the stream channel have a very high probability to extend in an upstream and upstream and downstream direction from the repaired sections threatening other sections of the road in the future. County Route 6 is a dead end road into the valley, and when it is damaged by the creek hundreds of homes have no access.
As such the District prepared an application under the HMGP for approximately $350,000 in funds to undertake improvements to the stream channel and protect the road from future damages. In May 2000, the project was ranked #1 out of 115 applications received by SEMO and the District has received tentative approval for the engineering component of the project with construction funds available upon approval of the final designs by FEMA. In addition, the Greene County Legislature approved $50,000 in matching funds in the 2001 budget, and the District will also be using matching funds from NYCDEP, NYSDEC, National Wish & Wildlife Foundation and others. The District hopes to begin construction of Project Area #1 in 2001. The following is a brief description of the two project areas.
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Project Area #1
The first of the two project areas submitted to FEMA involves a road failure site located near the bottom of Spruceton valley. This area involves both measures to stabilize the stream channel, as well as floodplain improvements to eliminate the flooding of two structures which suffer repetitive losses to flood waters.
Red Zone:
At least 3 time in the last 10 years, the West Kill has left its banks just below Graff's bridge causing extensive damage to CRT 6 and 2 homes near the West Kill Community Center. Preliminary strategies for addressing the flooding problem in this area will focus on improvements to the floodplain. The GCSWCD proposes to improve flood routing across the floodplain, as well as develop a low set-back levee to keep the waters on the floodplain and off the roadway. The GCSWCD is currently outreaching to the new property owners to discuss improvements to the floodplain which could include improved flood routing, a set-back levee, ponds and constructed wetland areas.
Orange Zone:
In the area marked in orange at the left, the project will focus primarily on development of a stable stream channel and stream banks. This entire reach of stream is experiencing severe stream degradation, with the channel incised into the landform as much as 6-8 feet after the last 2 floods. Both upstream and downstream of the recent FEMA funded repairs, the entire stream channel is characterized by exposed clays on the channel invert, with active degradation occurring. In addition, both upstream and downstream of the FEMA repairs, the channel planform is exhibiting signs of lateral adjustments in the meander pattern.
Under this project, the GCSWCD proposes to establish grade control, make corrections to the streams planform and provide structural as well as vegetative protection for the streambanks. The GCSWCD proposes to develop a channel design which will provide a stable profile, and cross sectional area through the project reach.
In the Aerial photo at the Left, Long Road Bridge is seen crossing the stream at the lower portion of the yellow box, while Graff's bridge is seen in the area between the red and orange box
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Photo of clay exposure in stream bottom. These materials are easily eroded, promote stream channel down cutting and present a significant water quality problem.
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Project Area #2
The second reach of the West Kill to be addressed under the HMGP application is the area both above and below Shoemaker Road. This area is experiencing basically the same problems as the stream reach described above, with active meander adjustments and stream channel degradation (down cutting) occurring.
Project reach #2 will involve the construction of a new stream channel starting at a point approximately 1,200 feet below Shoemaker Road bridge and extending past the recent work to the private bridge upstream from Shoemaker Road.
In both project areas, the District will be designing a new stream channel with an appropriate geomorphic form, with a strong emphasis on reestablishing a stable profile. and using a series of rock structures such as cross vanes and rock vanes to provide to provide grade control and bank protection.
The District strongly supports the use of Natural Channel Design principles due to their long term stability once established as well as their habitat and water quality value. As the District progresses with the project, check back to this site for additional details.
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