All Interested Parties: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) conducted a feasibility study under a resolution of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the U.S. House of Representatives, adopted Sept. 24, 2008, for the Upper Susquehanna River Basin, New York. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) was the non-federal sponsor and partner for this study. The study was initiated on July 8, 2016. Based on compiled and collected data, technical evaluations, and analyses, no viable flood risk management (FRM) alternatives were identified at this time under the aforementioned authority that met the necessary criteria of being in the federal interest based on the USACE evaluation of economic, engineering, and environmental criteria. The study has identified various other projects that may be viable under other USACE authorities, or through the authorities and programs of other state and federal agencies. Therefore, USACE, Baltimore District, has terminated the Upper Susquehanna River Basin, Comprehensive Flood Damage Reduction, New York - Feasibility Study (USRB Study). The final USRB Study Completion Report will be posted on the Baltimore District website after the date of this notice.
The USRB study investigated the feasibility of structural and non-structural FRM measures to manage flooding in areas with high relative flood risk throughout the 4,520 square-mile watershed. The study activities were aimed at addressing flood risk to populations, infrastructure, and property with the end goal of identifying one or more areas for the implementation of a potential USACE FRM project. USACE conducted preliminary analyses of FRM alternatives for 17 areas with high relative flood risk identified during a watershed-level screening. USACE completed extensive modeling of the USRB using the Hydrologic Engineering Center’s River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) to support the evaluation of problems and alternative plans to address flood risk. Following a meeting with local stakeholders in March 2018 and a field investigation by USACE experts, USACE developed potential viable alternatives for four high relative flood risk areas (Binghamton, Endicott-Johnson City-Vestal, Oneonta, and Owego). These alternatives included raising the existing Binghamton and Endicott-Johnson City-Vestal structural (levee and floodwall) FRM projects and construction of new structural FRM projects in Owego and Oneonta. Additionally, USACE completed preliminary analyses of non-structural FRM measures for the 17 areas.
The economic evaluations accomplished within USACE’s three-year time limit for study resulted in no benefit-to-cost ratios greater than 1.0, the criteria that must be met in a USACE feasibility study, for the primary structural alternatives examined. This means the cost to construct and maintain the project(s) outweighed the national economic development benefits the project(s) would provide if implemented. The economic evaluations were completed using risk-informed decision-making and the level of necessary analysis differed in the four high relative flood risk areas.
USACE has concluded that the criteria for a FRM project has not been met and construction of a federal FRM project is not recommended under this study authority at this time. However, USACE has compiled a list of recommendations for potential work by USACE through other authorities and programs, such as technical assistance via USACE Floodplain Management Services or Planning Assistance to States, as well as by other federal or non-federal stakeholders. The USRB HEC-RAS model and floodplain mapping completed in the study are also available to enhance future FRM efforts in the watershed. Past USACE technical assistance have supported FRM in the watershed and include the Flood Risk Management Analysis for the Village of Sidney. In addition, six potential local projects and one general regional need were identified for potential further action as follows:
- Village of Owego - further analyze the feasibility of proposed levee and floodwall construction, and raising of an existing berm.
- City of Oneonta - address the need for a closure at the Main Street Interstate 88 underpass and install automatic check valves where needed on culverts through the Interstate 88 embankment to prevent backflow from the Susquehanna River.
- Village of Endicott – resolve issues with a drainage structure between South Street and the Susquehanna River that is part of a federal FRM project.
- Village/Town of Bainbridge – address stream bank erosion issues at Clinton Park and Chenango County Road # 39 along the Susquehanna River, and address shoaling at the confluence of Yaleville Creek and the Susquehanna River.
- Village of Afton - evaluation and design of culvert improvements under the Interstate 88 access ramps east of NY Route 41.6.
- Village of Greene – address stream stabilization and issues related to shoaling downstream of the existing federal FRM project, along Birdsall Creek. Evaluate the feasibility of actions to reduce flooding and erosion on the west side of the Village of Greene.
- Perform additional analysis and evaluation of non-structural measures in relative high flood risk areas. Non-structural measures can be evaluated under USACE’s technical service programs and have the potential to be implemented through existing programs including FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and USACE’s Continuing Authorities Program.
In addition to the seven items detailed above, the potential exists that other implementable projects could be identified for the above or other communities in the basin if future studies are undertaken.
More information on technical assistance programs can be found on Baltimore District's Technical Service programs.