New York s Flood Response

Transcription

1 Preparing for the next and ever-increasing 100-year storm event Post-storm Emergency Stream Response training opportunities August September 2011 August 28: Tropical Storm Irene September 7: Tropical Storm Lee June 12, 2012 Massive flooding New York s Flood Response Flood Response Triage Rescues Immediate Emergency Items High Priority Items Assessment/Repair Documentation and Further Needs 1

2 Significant infrastructure impacts Dramatic loss of property Disrupted stream systems Immediate Priority Items During or right after a flood some things must be done, including, but not limited to: Opening clogged bridges Opening closed roads Keeping important installations functioning: Fire Stations Rescue Centers Hospitals Water Wells & Systems Power Plants Sewage Treatment Plants High Priority Items High priority items are those items that are necessary for the first part of the cleanup process This includes getting channels back into some acceptable condition by: Opening clogged channels Putting avulsed channels back in place Temporarily Stabilizing actively eroding streambanks & landslides Return the channel to a condition such that the natural processes of streams can begin to return it to its natural state Assess the Stream Channels To decide where to work and where not to work To decide where to work first To identify the equipment and work force that will be required To identify reaches that require technical assistance 2

3 Intervention Needs Proper channel size and shape Restore proper channel size and shape Re-connect floodplains BF Width FP Width BF Depth Bottom Width Project Benefit A well-informed emergency response will: Reduce negative environmental impacts Reduce future flood risks React quicker and more effectively Save time and money Preparations for the next event Need to develop capacity for responding to storm events Changing climate will result in more intense storms more frequently Post-storm Stream Response Outreach and Training Post-storm Stream Response Outreach and Training Goal: To develop capacity in New York municipal officials, contractors, and agency staff to properly respond to storm impacts to streams and adjacent and associated infrastructure. 3

4 Project Objectives Project Objectives Develop a trained municipal employee and contractor base Present science-based emergency post-flood stream repair techniques Use this knowledge to mitigate/repair flood damaged streams Spread this knowledge to other municipal employees and contractors Develop protocol for emergency post-flood stream intervention training Pilot post-flood intervention training Post-storm Stream Response Outreach and Training New York s Department of Environmental Conservation and the Department of Transportation have committed to working with communities and their contractors to prepare for future storm events. Post-storm Stream Response Outreach and Training This is only a first step in a long-term commitment to outreach, education and capacity building for living with streams. Need to address: better land use planning proper implementation of flood plain management improved stream corridor management comprehensive habitat conservation Three-prong approach to Capacity Building Awareness building uses existing events to provide literature and/or staff presentations to raise awareness Education actual education of municipal officials and heavy equipment operators Information Provide basic technical information for interested publics Awareness Building Raise awareness of: How storms affect streams and associated infrastructure How typical post-storm responses actually exacerbate flood risks and habitat loss Simple steps that communities can take to properly respond to future storm events. 4

5 Awareness Building Example of events to be attended by DEC and DOT staff to reach municipalities and public: Education How to properly respond to stream impacts after the flood developing local capacity. Association of Towns meeting Association of County Highway Superintendants Cornell Highway School Environmental Management Council Association of General Contractors Others? Suggestions? Coordinate and facilitate the replication of the Delaware County Soil and Water Conservation District training for communities. Include a component to develop better understanding by DEC and DOT staff about what worked (or not) in the 2011 and earlier flood events. Education Trained Individuals Contractors 61 Municipal Leaders 73 Agency Staff 51 Watershed Assoc. Members 30 Training Goal Provide municipal employees and private contractors with science, skills and techniques to address immediate poststorm stream issues. Total Trained 215* Education Training Course developed Based on stream mechanics Takes advantage of the self-stabilizing tendencies of streams Is easily applied in the field Post-Storm Response Training What it is not: Stream restoration Flood prevention or mitigation A fix for every possible flood-caused problem in streams Can be applied throughout New York 5

6 Bankfull Hydraulic Geometry vs. Drainage Area for Selected Drainage Areas Construction Dimensions channel D. A. Bankfull Bankfull Bankfull Min bank (sq. Area Width Depth side D 3D X TW FP mile) (sq. ft) (ft) (ft) slope (ft) (ft) (ft) (ft) (ft) : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : *From USGS Scientific Investigations Report Instructions: 1) Select the table for the drainage basin that your project is in. 2) Select the drainage area (D. A.) in the selected table that most closely matches the D. A. at your project site. 3) Under "Construction Dimensions" read the channel dimensions tabulated. 4) Build the channel to these "approximately bankfull" channel dimensions. C L min. FP TW 3D X X 3D D D T0900 Baker NYDEC PRST 6/2012 Post-Storm Response Training As a pilot, facilitate and support training by the Upper Susquehanna Coalition in the Upper Susquehanna River watershed, including the Chemung River sub-basin. Post-Storm Response Training Course held on three non-consecutive days Day 1: classroom training Day 2: field visit to view work in progress Day 3: field visit to view finished construction; class room review of methods applied Information Further develop the DEC web gateway to increase public access to information regarding flood protection and stream restoration. Provide a half-hour Powerpoint presentation on the DEC website to identify the basics, let people know that they need more information, and where to get more information. Information Develop a one-page Do s and Don ts that will be available as a quick reference to those in the streams. Also post on the website. Continue networking with other agencies (ie. DOT, Ag and Markets, other states) that are involved in the issue to get the best information and resources to the publics that need them. Next Steps: Print manuals, develop regional stream channel geometry tables Develop watershed maps Provide train-the-trainer training to SWCD Pilot Susquehanna with USC Get materials on the web Develop incentives SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN Permitting Emergency Stream Intervention provides an opportunity to streamline post flood permitting. 6

7 For Further Information Contact: Questions? Mark Woythal Instream Flow Unit Leader Div. of Fish Wildlife & Marine Resources Phone (518) Getting into the Weeds.. Regional Tables After a flood the channel dimensions have often been changed too big or too small Sometimes it is difficult to determine the original size of the stream Use regional stream channel geometry tables to get reasonable bank-full dimensions Regional Curves Channel dimensions and fish habitat Geographic regions of New York Proper width and proper depth Too wide and too shallow 41 7

8 *From USGS Scientific Investigations Report channel bank side slope T0900 Baker NYDEC PRST 6/2012 Regional Regression Analyses 10,000 Development of Bank-full Hydraulic Geometry Tables Bankfull Channel Dimensions Depth(ft), Width(ft), Area(ft 2 ) 1, MAR<2.3 A bf = 7.01*DA 0.93 R 2 = 0.95 MAR<2.3 W bf = 8.05*DA 0.60 R 2 = 0.94 MAR<2.3 Dbf = 0.87*DA 0.33 R 2 = ,000 Drainage Area (mi 2 ) Find Bank-full Channel Dimensions SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN Bankfull Hydraulic Geometry vs. Drainage Area for Selected Drainage Areas Construction Dimensions D. A. Bankfull Bankfull Bankfull Min (sq. Area Width Depth D 3D X TW FP mile) (sq. ft) (ft) (ft) (ft) (ft) (ft) (ft) (ft) : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Instructions: 1) Select the table for the drainage basin that your project is in. 2) Select the drainage area (D. A.) in the selected table that most closely matches the D. A. at your project site. 3) Under "Construction Dimensions" read the channel dimensions tabulated. 4) Build the channel to these "approximately bankfull" channel dimensions. C L min. FP TW 3D X X 3D D D Tables provide the suggested construction dimensions in the Training Manual There is a table for each of the major drainage basins in New York Some counties contain more than one drainage Find Size of Drainage Basin at Work Site Using the maps prepared by DEC and provided to the Town Highway Departments; Archived maps will be on DEC website Find Size of Drainage Basin at Work Site On the internet: 8