Governor Kathy Hochul introduced as of late the of entirety of a chain of resiliency initiatives in the city of Hamlin and city of Webster, Monroe County. Together, the finished initiatives have been awarded just about $10.4 million in grant investment throughout the State’s Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative. Now entire, those REDI initiatives will assist mitigate the affect of long run high-water occasions by way of bettering and protective crucial public water infrastructure from inundation and disruption, assist stay common public areas like Sandbar Park open, and make sure protected uninterrupted shuttle alongside Lake Road.
“Many shoreline communities along Lake Ontario bore the brunt of climate change’s effects through severe storms and historic flooding events of 2019, but through New York’s REDI program, we are making strategic investments to make the region safer for its residents and visitors,” Governor Hochul stated. “As we look to the future, protecting the people who live in these communities is a top priority, and shoreline resiliency projects like the ones completed in the town of Webster and Hamlin will help mitigate flooding, enhance safety, protect public recreation spaces, and create sustainable infrastructure.”
In 2019, Lake Ontario noticed listing excessive water ranges ensuing in devastating flooding in communities that decision the lakeshore house. These occasions compelled emergency highway closures, brought about degradation of public infrastructure, inundations and disruptions of septic programs, and limited public use of common vacationer locations, which negatively impacted public protection and native economies.
Today’s announcement contains:
- Lakeshore Septic Systems, city of Hamlin, award $7,900,000 – Residents alongside the city of Hamlin lakeshore rely on on-site sewage disposal programs, or leach box programs. During sessions of flooding those programs are rendered useless and pose a possible threat of contamination to Lake Ontario. To mitigate well being dangers to customers and destructive affects to the surroundings, this venture incorporated the development of a brand new public wastewater assortment device. The city of Hamlin put in 60,000 linear toes of sanitary sewer power major and related appurtenances (together with person grinder pump stations) which attached over 290 houses alongside Lake Ontario to a public sanitary sewer device and in the long run to the Monroe County Northwest Quadrant Wastewater Treatment Facility for remedy and disposal.
- Lake Road (West End), city of Webster, award $1,500,000- Lake Road is the one approach of get entry to to greater than 70 houses and native companies. The roadway was once missing an good enough hurricane sewer device and flooded all over hurricane occasions and sessions of excessive lake ranges. Flood mitigation measures for this venture incorporated elevating and realigning roughly 2,000 linear toes of Lake Road and putting in a closed drainage device with shops to Irondequoit Bay. The finished venture will make sure persevered protected passage for each citizens and guests, in addition to emergency responders.
- Sandbar Park, city of Webster, award $748,000- Sandbar Park, a town-owned park positioned on Lake Road with waterfront get entry to to each Lake Ontario and Irondequoit Bay, is a well-liked vacation spot, drawing in each native citizens and guests from around the State. This venture incorporated the set up of a masonry flood wall and dwelling coastline embankment stabilization. The finished venture will permit for persevered use of the park all over instances of excessive water, selling the native vacationer economic system.
- Sandbar Wastewater Pump Station (WWPS), city of Webster, award $250,000- The Monroe County Department of Environmental Services (MCDES) Division of Engineering Sandbar wastewater pump station regulate development, together with a standby generator built at an elevation at risk of water intrusion from Irondequoit Bay all over instances of flooding. To mitigate long run flooding, a brand new masonry flood wall was once built across the pump station to stay water from without delay flowing into the development and destructive electric and mechanical apparatus.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos stated “Throughout the REDI process, New York State has deployed the technical expertise and assistance needed to rebuildshoreline communities smarter and stronger than before, setting the bar for state and local collaboration. Today marks a significant milestone for these projects and affirms Governor Hochul’s commitment to helping prepare Lake Ontario communities for future climate-driven extreme weather.”
New York State Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez stated, “The Towns of Hamlin and Webster experienced significant flooding in 2019 that caused tremendous damage to their vital shorelines and public infrastructure. Through these completed projects funded through the State’s REDI program, we have not only repaired this damage, but we’ve built back these lakefront communities better and more resilient than they were before. These projects also complement the Department of State’s longstanding engagement with the Town of Webster through our Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, including a $2.4 million grant for improvements to Sandbar Park.”
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight stated, “The Monroe County flood resiliency projects are the latest of many successful REDI sites that are helping to protect waterfront communities from damaging floods. Governor Hochul’s REDI Commission is proud to be boosting Monroe County businesses that are dependent on a vibrant tourism industry by completing projects that include elevating of a roadway to protect from flooding, improving a park, and upgrading a pump station to prevent damage from flood waters.”
New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez stated, “The ever-present impacts of climate change mean that now, more than ever, the health and well-being of our communities are tied to the resiliency of our infrastructure, and today we have helped ensure Monroe County’s future success. Communities along Lake Ontario’s southern shores know all too well the devastating impacts flooding can bring. That is why, under the leadership of Governor Kathy Hochul, the REDI program continues to deliver investments that bolster our infrastructure, protect residents, and secure the long-term vitality of our regional economies.
New York State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, “Outdoor recreation is vital to tourism and the quality of life in Lake Ontario communities. I applaud the town of Webster and our state agency partners for working together on projects to make sure Sandbar Park is accessible and reliable for the community.”
New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “I thank Governor Hochul for her continued support of the flood recovery of Lake Ontario shoreline communities. By investing in infrastructure, we are ensuring that communities can stand strong during future natural disaster events.”
State Senator Robert Ortt said, “One of the many reasons the district I represent is so special are the unique and quaint communities along Lake Ontario’s shoreline. Ensuring that these communities receive crucial infrastructure and investment is essential to ensure that they are fortified from future water level rises and threats to public health as we saw in recent years. I am proud to have helped secure this funding so that these communities and their residents can remain safe from future natural disaster events.”
State Senator Samra Brouk stated, “As our community continues to feel the effects of climate change, it is vital that we continue to make investments that can protect our communities from the results of extreme weather events. The projects that are being celebrated today are important parts of that ongoing work, and I look forward to continuing my work with my partners in government to ensure that New York remains a leader in combating climate change.
Assemblymember Stephen Hawley said, “I’m glad to see the completion of this REDI project in Hamlin. I’ve seen firsthand the damage caused by flooding in the region and the public health issues it creates. These upgrades to the sewage disposal systems were much needed and will go a long way toward protecting our community.”
Assemblymember Brian Manktelow said, “These projects are a serious step forward in improving the infrastructure around Lake Road in the town of Webster. I applaud Supervisor Flaherty and the Town Board for prioritizing these projects which will help improve public safety and the local economy by reducing flooding and promoting tourism. This is a major step in helping the citizens of Webster forget the flooding of 2019 and fight to make sure we do not experience it again.”
Monroe County Executive Adam Bello said, “Mitigating the impacts of climate change by reinforcing our infrastructure is the right thing to do,” said Monroe County Executive Adam Bello. “Our shoreline communities deserve first-class facilities and infrastructure that can be resilient during storms and the most extreme water levels on Lake Ontario and Irondequoit Bay. Thank you to Gov. Hochul and our State agency partners for recognizing these needs in Webster and Hamlin and making thoughtful investments to protect Sandbar Park, Lake Road and the Sandbar Wastewater Pump Station and extend public sewer service along the Lake Ontario State Parkway.”
Hamlin Town Supervisor Steve Baase said, “The Lakeshore Septic Sewer project was a big haul made easier by the partnership with New York State and with the help of the REDI Team. The new infrastructure will be stronger and more reliable during times of flooding, which is critical to the health and wellbeing of our residences along the lake’s shoreline.”
Webster Town Supervisor Tom Flaherty said, “The upgrades and enhancements made to the Sandbar Park location will receive advantages all the neighborhood for future years. The intent to create a ‘destination’ in Webster has been completed in the remaining two years. Flooding will not be a priority and the accessibility to all the park will permit, for any person who needs to talk over with, the chance to benefit from the surroundings of each Lake Ontario and Irondequoit Bay.”
In reaction to the prolonged development of flooding alongside the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, New York State established REDI to extend the resilience of coastline communities and bolster financial building in the area. Five REDI Regional Planning Committees, comprised of representatives from 8 counties (Niagara and Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Cayuga and Oswego, and Jefferson and St. Lawrence) have been established to spot native priorities, at-risk infrastructure and different belongings, and public protection considerations. Through REDI, the State has dedicated as much as $300 million, to learn communities and toughen resiliency in areas alongside Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.
Since the introduction of the State’s REDI program in the Spring of 2019, 134 REDI funded native and regional initiatives are underway, together with 28 initiatives in the design section, 30 initiatives in the development section, and 76 initiatives finished.
In addition to the REDI awards, the city of Webster was once awarded $2,282,859 in grant investment from DOS throughout the 2021 Environmental Protection Fund Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (EPF LWRP) to be applied for Sandbar Park enhancements. On the Lakeside of the park, new parking, public restrooms, a public accumulating area, and a youngsters’s herbal play house, attached by way of a lakefront prom will likely be built. On the bayside, new floating docks, an out there kayak release, open garden spaces, and new parking amenities will likely be built. All of those enhancements will supply enhanced get entry to and create a welcoming area for citizens and guests alike.
DOS in the past awarded the city of Webster an EPF LWRP grant award for $118,000 to finish design of Sandbar Park enhancements.
For further information, venture profiles and REDI news, click on right here.
New York State Water Quality Investments
In addition to REDI, New York State is making different listing investments to toughen water infrastructure and build up water high quality. The 2023-24 Enacted Budget contains $500 million in blank water investment, bringing New York State’s general funding in blank water infrastructure statewide to $5 billion since 2017. In the New York’s Great Lakes Basin, investment – essentially thru State Environmental Facilities Corp. – supplied roughly $2 billion in each grants (from the Water Infrastructure and Improvement Act and Intermunicipal Grant price range) and low cost financing to 615 distinct initiatives of New York State. DEC supplied any other $258 million for greater than 280 initiatives in the area.
In addition, New York electorate authorized the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act in November 2022. Governor Hochul and the State Legislature higher from $3 billion to a record-setting $4.2 billion to make it the biggest environmental bond in state historical past and the primary in New York since 1996. The Bond Act advances historical ranges of investment to replace getting older water infrastructure and give protection to water high quality, fortify communities’ talent to resist serious storms and flooding, cut back air air pollution and decrease climate-altering emissions, repair habitats, keep out of doors areas and native farms, and make sure fairness by way of making an investment a minimum of 35 %, with a function of 40 %, of assets in deprived communities.
In the 2023-24 State of the State, Governor Hochul additionally introduced Community Assistance Teams this 12 months to amplify the State Environmental Facilities Corporation’s technical help program and assist small, rural, and deprived communities leverage this investment to deal with their blank water infrastructure wishes.