Join Your Neighbors & Support Vegetation Removal From Erie Canal for Safety

Join Your Neighbors & Support Vegetation Removal From Erie Canal for Safety

Started
February 3, 2018
Petition to
Public Engagement, New York State Canal Corporation Senior Director
Signatures: 419Next Goal: 500
Support now

Why this petition matters

Started by Mike Caswell

PLEASE NOTE We ran another petition which has 108 votes, which are counted when we advertise our petitioner numbers. You can see this closed petition here  -https://www.change.org/p/oxbow-lake-dam-repair

The NY Power Authority (new owners of the canal) have instigated a vegetation remediation program for HIGH HAZARD RISK areas of the earthen embankment dams along certain areas of the canal between Brockport and  Fairport. These areas have been classified as being a great risk of embankment failure by The US Corps of Engineers, FEMA, Association of State Dam Safety Officers, NYDEC and others, likely to cause loss of life and property damage.

The Rizzo Engineering Co. listed these dams as Class C, High Hazard, unable to completely inspect due to vegetation. Recommended total removal. Here is one report.

The Canal Authority has been unable to show much evidence of inspections of these structures over the past twenty years, but for most of that time, the canal was controlled by the NY Thruway Authority, who were the main instigators of the neglect.

A walk along the towpath between Fairport and Bushnell's Basin will show you that the amount of vegetation, scrub, brush and  trees make it impossible to carry out a professional safety inspection of these structures.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHdYVszQ5qU

The slopes of these embankments are dangerously steep and they are already leaking, which is a potential recipe for disaster.

The  embankments were constructed with the  sweat of 50,000 laborers, horses & carts, there were no building codes or specifications on safe earthen dam construction, and all the 'engineers' were amateurs. From bitter experiences of many past dam failures, we now have specific design criteria and regulations, but our canal dams simply do not measure up and need to be brought up to code.

Much of the vegetation growing here is classified as invasive, regulated or illegal by NYDEC.

If you are concerned about the safety of folks, their property, and the children in Jefferson Avenue School, all living under the shadow of these very dangerous embankments, please add your name to our growing list of concerned citizens by scrolling to the top of this page.

Thank you

PLEASE NOTE We ran another petition which has 108 votes, which are counted when we advertise our petitioner numbers. You can see this closed petition here  -https://www.change.org/p/oxbow-lake-dam-repair

Additional reading --

https://eriecanalfacts.wordpress.com/

To learn about why DAMS are so dangerous please read the NYDEC document   https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/4991.html

Problems with trees on dams
https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/67062.html

Erie Canal Neighbors Association  http://www.ecna.us

 Hazard Creep Zone of a Dam

Check to see if you live in a high risk area here.

NYDEC invasive plants document.

 

 

 

Support now
Signatures: 419Next Goal: 500
Support now
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Decision Makers

  • Senior DirectorPublic Engagement, New York State Canal Corporation