Costly, Lengthy Flood Prevention Project Upsets VOM Residents

Mamaroneck residents will have to endure a few more submerged basements before the village's flooding problems are solved.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers held a public meeting Tuesday at the Emelin Theater to discuss the progress of the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake Rivers Basin Flood Risk Management General Reevaluation Study. The Corps' study will continue for five years—and after its conclusion in 2015, construction to prevent flooding might begin.

The study costs approximately $6.5 million; the village will likely shoulder 17 percent of the total cost, or about $1.1 million dollars.

"There's always going to be the risk of a flood in the future," said John Beldin, the project manager with the Corps. But flood risk management can save lives and reduce economic losses, he added.

The study is a collaborative effort between federal and non-federal organizations to assess flooding problems within the village of Mamaroneck—currently, the Corps of Engineers is studying watersheds and water diffusion.

The village and Corps began a similar study in 1977, and planned to undertake channel work, bridge replacement on the Mamaroneck River and a diversion tunnel. Due to economic strains, however, the project was abandoned.

But when flooding disrupted Mamaroneck in March and April of 2007, the plan came back into focus.

"We've initiated a reevaluation to update previous [flood] information," said John Beldin, a project manager with the Corps. "In March of this year the Corps of Engineers and county signed an agreement, and received federal backing from Congress. We've been working since March collecting data and moving forward with study."

The study consists of three major analyses: engineering, environmental and economic.

"We need to find the most cost-effective solution," Beldin said. "We need to study potential environmental impacts and how we can prevent them."

Engineering may eventually include channel improvements, diversion tunnels, flood proofing, structure raising and more. The Corps is required to compare all approaches and select the option that provides the most aid for the least amount of money.

But the project's long-term time frame and study's high cost has several residents upset, and a handful of them expressed their concerns at the meeting.

"I've been in my building 18 years and had four major floods," said one resident at the meeting. "I had to change out every bit of plumbing and electric during the last flood. I don't get why we're studying this for another five years, instead of fixing these things now."

"It's just too slow," she added. "If you could do anything to speed up the progress we'd be very grateful."

Beldin replied that although the study will remain long-term, the Corps appreciates any information and feedback that can make the study more comprehensive.

Mayor Norman Rosenblum also voiced a desire to begin action sooner.

"While the study is going on, the pragmatic approach is allowing the Village of Mamaroneck to do what it can on its own," he said. "Machines are available that can go into the river [and lower the water level]. Other municipalities can help."

Beldin noted the Corps likely would not interfere with such actions.