WHITNEY POINT LAKE, N.Y. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers invites the surrounding communities to attend a public meeting on April 2 to review, submit feedback and comment on the draft Whitney Point Lake Master Plan and draft Environmental Assessment (EA).
The public meeting on April 2 will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Mary Wilcox Memorial Library located at 2630 Main St., Whitney Point, New York. The format of the meeting will include an open house discussion with project team members from 6 to 7 p.m. A formal project presentation and question and answer session will begin at 7p.m. followed by another open house discussion from 8 to 9 p.m.
The draft master plan and draft EA can be found on the Whitney Point Lake Master Plan revision website, will be available at the public meeting and is available at the Mary Wilcox Memorial Library.
The public can provide comments and feedback regarding the draft EA and draft master plan until April 30, 2019 to Major Terrence Harrington at (410) 962-1846 or at terrence.g.harrington@usace.army.mil. Additionally, questions can be mailed to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Planning Division, Subject: Whitney Point Lake Project, 2 Hopkins Plaza, Baltimore, MD 21201.
All updates regarding the Master Plan revision, public meeting information and ways to submit comments or questions may be found on the following site: https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/WPL-Master-Plan-Revision/
About the Whitney Point Lake Master Plan Revision
Whitney Point Lake has prevented an estimated $733 million in flood damages to the surrounding communities since the project’s operational completion in 1942. Located on the Otselic River in Broome County, New York, Whitney Point Lake controls a drainage area of 255 square miles. The Whitney Point Lake project was authorized by the Flood Control Act of June 22, 1936, as amended by the Flood Control Act of June 28, 1938. The project is primarily operated for flood control, but is also used for recreation and upland wildlife management. The project provides flood damage reduction for the valley along the lower Tioughnioga River, the lower Chenango River, and the Susquehanna River downstream of Binghamton.
The primary goals of the Whitney Point Lake Master Plan revision are to improve infrastructure and utilities, enhance existing recreation sites and amenities, expand recreational opportunities in key areas and invest in key operational and support facilities. The revised Master Plan will be a project-centered document designed to provide a framework for consistent, responsible decision-making for the next 15 to 25 years for Whitney Point Lake.
Master Plans have no set timeframe for revisions, but they are developed to have an effective lifespan of 15 to 25 years. The current Master Plan for Whitney Point Lake dates back to 1961. The revision is also a part of a larger, Corps-wide effort to bring master plans up to date across the country.
The Master Plan revision will not change the technical operations of the lake as related to its primary missions of flood risk management, low flow augmentation, recreation and environmental stewardship.
– 30 –