Village of Fleischmanns East Branch Flood Commission Meeting

May 19, 2014

The first public meeting for the Village of Fleischmanns LFA was held on Monday, May 19, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. at the Skene Memorial Library with the East Branch Flood Commission. The purpose of the meeting was to present an outline of the project, gather public input about flooding, and collect ideas for flood hazard mitigation options with emphasis on those that can be evaluated in HEC-RAS using the FEMA hydraulic model. Tropical storms Irene & Lee caused massive damage in 2012. Our challenge is to manage and reduce the risk of flooding and erosion in Fleischmanns.

Presenters from Milone & MacBroom, Inc. (MMI) were David Murphy, P.E., CFM [Certified Floodplain Manager] and Mark Carabetta, CFM, PWS [Professional Wetland Scientist]. Present were: Mayor Todd Pascarella, Deputy Mayor Benjamin Fenton, Village Trustee Harriet L. Grossman, and Graydon Dutcher and Rick Weidenbach from Delaware County Soil & Water. The Public included Bud Sife, Bob Makara, Herb Finch, Susanna Finch, Fred Woller, Bill Birns, Roy Todd, Roman Kossak, Irene Zola, H. Henry Hermann, Gloria Zola-Mulloy, and others.

One approach is to maintain the ability of streams to move water, sediment, and debris through populated areas while using the natural capacity of floodplains to store water and reduce hazards in the stream system. There may be potential to excavate certain areas of floodplain in order to increase their ability to convey high flows, thereby reducing flooding in flood prone areas of the village. Bridges that are acting as hydraulic constrictions and contributing to flooding will be identified.

Discussion was held about mitigation strategies to reduce potential exposure and losses, the mitigation planning approach, area mitigation goals and objectives.

Subjects discussed were modeling concepts, LFA process, flooding & damage, flood meeting measures and an evaluation of the costs and benefits of various flood mitigation scenarios.

Comments and ideas from the audience included the following:

Comment that there is a plan in place for a new pedestrian bridge at Bridge Street over Bush Kill. Graydon Dutcher stated that he will provide MMI with the plans for the new bridge. Attendees asked if the bridge will be above flood levels.

Statement that recently constructed EWP projects will remain in place. Attendees asked if any of the alternatives will evaluate removing or modifying EWP projects.

Statement that the Main Street bridge over Emory Brook is undersized and causes flooding.

Potential to make use of old Lake Switzerland to slow flows, store water or sediments. If the lake were always full, it would not help reduce flooding. However, it used to control sediment migration and debris transport. It’s possible the former lake can be used to catch floodborne debris before it reaches the village. However if this option were pursued, the lake would need ongoing maintenance which would have costs going forward.

Depot Street bridge creates flooding problems even during smaller storm events. The bridge opening may need to be increased in size/capacity.

Potential to create bypass channel from Vly Creek to Emory Brook. Potential to put Little Red Kill back to its former location (it used to flow straight

where it now takes a sharp bend at Bridge Street). Potential to manage floodplains with a goal of more open (less treed) vegetation to

reduce roughness. Potential to move fire station (which was flooded by Irene) and DPW garage to new

location near water treatment plant and use the area as restored floodplain. The 1996 flood did not reach the fire house.

Aside from the fire station, there are no specific areas that were mentioned for relocations or removal of buildings. However, the evaluation may consider:o Potential for removal of other structures from floodplain.

o Potential to elevate floodprone structures.o There is concern that removal of other structures would result in loss of tax base.

Potential floodplain creation across from Evergreen Restaurant where there is village infrastructure for water system.

In general, attendees prefer to make floodplains and floodplain benches without moving buildings.

For example, the floodplain can be lowered between Vly Creek and Emory Brook behind the school where the land is relatively vacant.

Flood channels through the lumber company yard may allow the company and its buildings to remain in that location.

Attendees would like the modeling to demonstrate how far (upstream) the constrictions have typically caused flooding. For example, the backwater from the Route 28 bridge seems to be severe but may only be about 1,000 feet.

Consider temporary and other types of non-traditional bridges. Consider additional cross vanes to control flow.

Additional ideas can be forwarded to Todd.

Attendees asked how many homes are in the current buyout program. Seven homes may be included. The Delaware County Planning Department can provide addresses. Those areas would provide immediate locations for lower floodplains.

Prior evaluations have demonstrated that removing the Mill Street bridge and lowering the floodplain there could reduce the 10-year flood water surface elevation by three feet. It is possible that there may be notable reductions in the water surface elevation for some flood events and not others.

MMI showed examples of the new FEMA mapping of the stream channels through Fleishmanns, which will be used for the hydraulic modeling analysis.

Graydon Dutcher showed a video of a successful floodplain enhancement project that helps mitigate flooding from a 10-year storm.

Rick explained that programs like the CWC and the buyout program can help, and new programs such as the one that keeps a property owner in the community will maintain the tax base.

Attendees were concerned about the time that the LFA and the recommended projects could take. What is a 10-year storm were to occur soon? Graydon explained that some projects could likely be done soon, like reconnecting some floodplains to the streams. Bridge replacements will take longer.

Phil noted that depth mapping can be used to analyze how flood depths vary across the building stock. This could be used to show how homeowners can be helped by different projects.

The 1996 flood surrounded the home at 45 Bridge Street but the structure was not flooded. Irene caused more damage in that area.

Graydon noted that climate change is affecting flood discharges. The flood discharge of Vly Creek is up 67%. Phil explained that FEMA’s analysis must use the hydrologic record of past peak discharges.

There will be a follow-up public meeting where the results of MMI’s analysis will be presented. Date of the meeting is TBD.

All were encouraged to attend the open house on May 27 in the Middletown Town Hall to review the new FIRM that will be adopted in 2014 or 2015. Phil indicated that the new FEMA modeling was validated with the peak flood from Irene.