Control Project Stops Rensselaer, N.Y. Flooding

A flood control project completed three years ago in the City of Rensselaer, New York has reportedly spared residents of the city’s “hollow” their traditional spring flooding, even during the early-April storms this year that led to Rensselaer County’s inclusion in a federal disaster declaration.

Working together, local, state and federal agencies solved the perennial flooding problem by using the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program administered by the State Emergency Management Office (SEMO) and funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The grant program assists state and local governments in efforts to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from natural disasters.

The Rensselaer project involved construction of a flood retention structure that temporarily impounds water from Quackenderry Creek and allows its gradual release. The creek is the primary drainage feature of a watershed that begins in neighboring East Greenbush and North Greenbush, an area that has seen significant development over the past three decades.

Residents along the creek historically experienced flood damage during high-water periods

“There used to be severe flooding in that neighborhood called ‘the hollow.’ Since the project was completed the flooding has stopped,” said City Planner Marybeth Pettit. “I would say it’s been very successful.”

The project involved installation of concrete anti-scour pads upstream and downstream of an outlet control structure, a steel pad in the creek bed and stone riprap around the control structure.

Total project cost was about $536,000, of which the federal share was $402,000.

“Mitigation activities such as these are a smart way of doing business by expending monies now to lessen the threat on communities before an event occurs in the future,” said SEMO Director and State Coordinating Officer James Tuffey.