NYS Seeking Proposals for Flood Control Projects

Cuomo: "NY Works Projects Will Provide Critical Improvements to Our State's Flood Control Infrastructure"

New York State is seeking proposals for an estimated $355,000 in survey work on eight NY Works flood control projects.

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will award the work to a qualified firm upon completion of the contract letting process.

The boundary survey projects include Binghamton (Broome County), Endicott (Broome County), Vestal (Broome County), Johnson City (Broome County), Corning (Steuben County), Canisteo (Steuben County), Gang Mills (Steuben County), and Montour Falls (Schuyler County).

Projects include surveying 30 miles of flood protection project boundaries.

"NY Works projects will provide critical improvements to our state's flood control infrastructure," Governor Cuomo said.

"As a result of the NY Works program's expedited procurement process, work can begin immediately on vital repairs that will rebuild our municipalities and put New Yorkers back to work. The state’s flood control projects will receive much-needed repairs as a result of the NY Works initiative. Work is underway to ensure these projects perform as designed and protect New Yorkers and infrastructure well in the future."

"Surveying work is important to bring the state's flood control projects into compliance with federal standards. The NY Works program has provided the means to ensure all of these projects are brought into good repair," stated DEC Commissioner Joe Martens.

Scoping sessions for prospective contractors are scheduled for August 28 in Binghamton.  

Visit http://www.nyscr.org/Public/Index.aspx, the New York State Contract Reporter, for more information. Users must register. 

Surveying the boundaries of these flood control projects enables DEC to properly maintain them in accordance with the federal government's criteria under the oversight of the Army Corps of Engineers.

Projects need to maintain a clear right of way to provide access to prevent floods and for maintenance.

These areas also need to be maintained free of trees and other vegetation which could harbor burrowing animals and create root systems which could allow flooding waters to migrate through and weaken the earthen levees and cause a breach in the levee.

In addition, trees too close to flood control projects can fall over and pull up soil that is part of the levee. This could compromise the integrity of a levee or floodwall.

Also, fallen limbs could cause an obstruction in a waterway which could increase the likelihood of flooding.

NY Works is the centerpiece of Governor Cuomo's jobs program, reinventing state economic development with an innovative new strategy to put New Yorkers back to work rebuilding the state's infrastructure.

The program is designed to create tens of thousands of jobs by coordinating comprehensive capital plans, overseeing all investment in infrastructure projects, and accelerating hundreds of critical projects across the state.

DEC maintains 106 flood control projects, of which 91 have been rated "minimally acceptable" or "unacceptable" by the Army Corps of Engineers.

The NY Works Funds will designate $56 million to perform maintenance of flood control facilities such as levees, pump station and flood gates.