Governor Hochul Announces Completion of Flood Resiliency Projects in Orleans County
November 25, 2021
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of a $1.7 million resiliency project on Lakeshore Road in the Town of Carlton, Orleans County, as part of the State's Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI).
Past ice pressure and severe storm damage has eroded the bluff adjacent to Lakeshore Road, which not only created hazardous situations on the road, but also posed risks to public utilities and nearby private property. To remedy this, the project addressed erosion issue and strengthened shoreline protection, through the installation of an onshore riprap revetment system with regraded slope. In addition, the area between the revetment and the slope was vegetated to minimize potential erosion loss and protect the toe of the bluff. Improved stormwater collection and landscaping along the roadway will also help to reduce flooding during extreme precipitation events.
"Many shoreline communities along Lake Ontario bore the brunt of climate change's effects through more severe storms and historic flooding events, and through New York's REDI program, we are making strategic investments in these communities to make the region safer for its residents and visitors," said Governor Kathy Hochul. "As we look to the future, protecting the people who live in these communities is my top priority, and shoreline resiliency projects like this one will help mitigate flooding, enhance safety, and create sustainable infrastructure."
Additionally, Governor Hochul announced the completion of a $261,000 resiliency project awarded to the town of Carlton, also through the REDI program. Flood resiliency measures undertaken in this project include the construction of a new access road and installation of riprap stone along the shoreline to protect the public water line during future high-water events. The shoreline along Lakeside Park Road, which runs along a peninsula between Lake Ontario and Johnson Creek, has experienced degradation due to repeated flooding events. The shoreline erosion caused the access road to become unusable, resulting in the loss of land protecting homes, and approximately 300 linear feet of public water line at risk of being exposed and compromised. The completed project mitigates future flooding risk and reduces the erosion of the Lakeside Park Road, while ensuring safe access for residents and emergency responders, and protecting critical infrastructure.
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner and REDI Co-Chair Basil Seggos said, "Through REDI investments, New York State is partnering with local governments across the Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River region to advance projects that will protect shoreline communities historically susceptible to flooding from severe storms. Community leaders identified the critical need to fortify the shoreline along Lakeshore Road to ensure access for residents and visitors in the town of Carlton, and today marks a significant milestone in the progress of this project."
State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, "The impacts of our changing climate continue to adversely affect shoreline communities and our transportation infrastructure. Erosion and flooding have repeatedly made Lakeside Park Road impassable, which in turn caused delays and hardships for both residents and emergency personnel. The New York State Department of Transportation, along with our local and state partners at the REDI Commission, is unwavering it its commitment to making our infrastructure more resilient, and that's exactly what this project helps to support."
State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, "New York State continues making progress to safeguard Lake Ontario communities from future storms and flooding. This latest collaboration with the town of Carlton will help protect vital public infrastructure and private property, while slowing further shoreline erosion."
In response to the extended pattern of flooding along the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, New York State established REDI to increase the resilience of shoreline communities and bolster economic development in the region. Five REDI Regional Planning Committees, comprised of representatives from eight counties (Niagara and Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Cayuga and Oswego, and Jefferson and St. Lawrence) were established to identify local priorities, at-risk infrastructure and other assets, and public safety concerns. Through REDI, the State has committed up to $300 million, to benefit communities and improve resiliency in flood prone regions along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.
Since the creation of the State's REDI program in the Spring of 2019, 134 REDI funded local and regional projects are underway, including 82 projects in the design phase, 19 projects in the construction phase, and 33 projects completed.
For additional information, project profiles and REDI news, click here.
New York Pressroom
November 24, 2021