Schumer Urges Feds to Develop Ice Control Plan for West Seneca to Limit Future Ice Jams, After Repeated Flooding; Will Also Push Marines to Bring Ice-Breaking Vehicle to Western New York

Press Release

In the wake of severe flooding in West Seneca, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today urged the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to work with West Seneca to develop an ice control plan, and to prioritize funding for projects that could help limit flooding caused by future ice jams in Buffalo Creek. Schumer said that the Army Corps has done this successfully in Cazenovia Creek with steel and concrete pylons, and pointed to options like spring debris and sediment removal, and bank stabilization projects -- all of which could be helpful in preventing ice from building up and jamming in future years. Schumer also urged the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) to consider bringing and permanently storing an amphibious vehicle, which can be useful in ice-breaking, in Western New York to help offer a more immediate solution this winter. The vehicle could be used to break down the remaining ice in Buffalo Creek and limit the potential damage of future ice jams in waterways throughout Western New York.

"The time is now to get federal funding flowing to Buffalo Creek to deal with these dangerous and unpredictable ice jams," said Schumer. "Many residents along Buffalo Creek have had to deal with flooding all winter long, and for far too long projects that could help mitigate flooding from ice jams have been frozen in the design phase. There are many ice control measures that have been proven to work on other waterways, and it is time for the Army Corps to work with West Seneca to implement some of these same measures along Buffalo Creek in order to help prevent this type of flooding from happening again."

Schumer continued, "Once an ice jam occurs our options become very limited -- which is why the Army Corps top priority must be working to control ice in Buffalo Creek before jams form. However, some ice jamming is just an inevitable part of Mother Nature which is why we also need to have local tools at our disposal to deal with those dangerous situations when they arise. I am asking the U.S. Marine Corps' to station one of its amphibious vehicles right here in Western New York for winters to come, so that we can be ready to break-up ice in emergency situations."

"The Town of West Seneca, our partners in local government, and our residents have worked tirelessly to clean up from this winter's floods and we have taken steps to prevent further flooding this year. However, we cannot let our efforts end there -- we now must work together to do everything possible to prevent future ice jams and flooding in the winters to come. As we move through this process with the Army Corps of Engineers and other federal agencies -- I could not be more grateful to have Senator Schumer on our team, fighting on our behalf" said West Seneca Town Supervisor Sheila Meegan.

"I thank Senator Schumer for being in West Seneca in an effort to help to provide federal assistance to prevent future flooding. It is important that all levels of government work together on behalf of the citizens we serve to find and provide solutions. I will continue to work with Senator Schumer and West Seneca officials to provide necessary assistance to those effected by the recent floods," said State Senator Pat Gallivan.

Ice jams are formed after chunks of ice build up in a river or creek following an inordinately long stretch of freezing temperatures. These ice chunks come together to form a dam-like structure that causes flooding upstream, and then eventually causes flooding downstream when the ice jam breaks. These ice jams have been a major problem for many communities in Western New York this winter, and have led to particularly severe flooding in West Seneca along Buffalo Creek. West Seneca town officials estimate the damage done to homes along the creek could exceed $700,000 and emergency sandbags, and pumps have had to be put into place to help prevent additional flooding.

Schumer is urging the USACE to work with West Seneca to develop a plan to install ice control measures that have been successful at preventing ice jams and flooding along other Western New York waterways. These ice control measures include the steel and concrete pylons that USACE installed in nearby Cazenovia Creek, spring debris and sediment removal, and bank stabilization projects. Schumer said all of these options should be on the table for Buffalo Creek and West Seneca in order to prevent ice from jamming and causing flooding in future years.

"There are a number of potential engineering solutions that the Town of West Seneca is considering that would help mitigate future ice jams and flooding along our local creeks and waterways. However, as we consider our options it is critical that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers work hand-in-glove with us to identify solutions and potential sources of funding to pay for those solutions. Cooperation is key, and that is why it is so important that Senator Schumer is pushing Army Corps Headquarters to make sure this project, and the Town of West Seneca, remains on the front burner for decision makers in Washington, DC" said Town of West Seneca Engineer Rick Henry.

Schumer explained that, in the past, USACE has used funding provided by Congress for its CAP Section 205 program -- a program that conducts studies, planning, design and construction aimed at reducing flood damage -- to advance projects like the West Seneca ice-jam mitigation project Schumer is proposing. Schumer wants USACE to prioritize ice mitigation projects like the ones he is proposing in West Seneca for funding in their Section 205 program, given the extreme winter we've experienced. To qualify, programs must be under $7 million total. CAP Section 205 would allow the Army Corps to cover 100% of the study of a project, up to $100,000, and 65 percent of the total planning, construction and implementation cost. In addition to this program Schumer is also pressing FEMA, and DEC to consider allocating funds from their federal and state Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to help support projects in Buffalo Creek.

Schumer pointed out that while he is confident the local Army Corps office will work closely with the Town of West Seneca on the development of a project - it is going to take an all-hands-on-deck approach to ensure that Army Corps leadership prioritize funding for the project from unspent dollars this year, and next year.

In addition to calling for a long-term plan to stop ice jams from forming, Schumer is calling on USMC to look into permanently storing one of the amphibious vehicles it has in its fleet in Western New York. Historically, amphibious vehicles from the WWII War era had been used to help break up ice jams in Western New York waterways -- but those vehicles are no longer operational. According to Schumer the USMC has amphibious vehicles, that could be used to successfully break up ice jams before they lead to flooding; and if moved quickly could also help break up any remaining ice jams that may cause flooding in Western New York this spring. Once stored in Western New York, this vehicle could be used to help prevent ice jams from forming along the region's waterways in future years.

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