Directs the canal corporation to create a chart to identify, map and model normal and flood water flows in the Oswego river basin and the Mohawk river basin and report on the completed chart by July 1, 2025; requires the updating of such chart every five years to account for any changes in the normal and flood water flows.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7999
SPONSOR: Stirpe TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the canal law, in relation to directing the canal corpo-
ration to create a chart to identify, map and model normal and flood
water flows in the Oswego river basin and the Mohawk river basin
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to require the canal corporation, in consul-
tation with the department of environmental conservation, to create a
chart of the Oswego river basin and the Mohawk river basin.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of this bill would require the canal corporation, in consulta-
tion with the department of environmental conservation, to create a
chart of normal and flood flows of the Oswego river basin and the Mohawk
river basin, which shall mean a watershed in the state of New York
comprised of all rivers, streams, creeks, lakes and the surrounding land
areas or other drainage, including but not limited to canals, that
drains or flows via the Oswego river into Lake Ontario and a watershed
in the state of New York comprised of all rivers, streams, creeks, lakes
and the surrounding land areas or other drainage, including but not
limited to canals, that drains or flows via the Mohawk river into the
Hudson river, respectively, using Hydrologic Engineering Center River
Analysis System (HEC-RAS), bathymetric and/or Light detection and Rang-
ing measurements, which would be updated every five years, made avail-
able to the public and delivered to the Executive and Legislative lead-
ers.
Section 2 of this bill provides that the effective date shall take
effect immediately.
JUSTIFICATION:
It is evident from decades of flooding and mountains of documented lived
experiences that updates are needed to control, prevent and mitigate
flooding in the Oswego River and Mohawk River Basins. Due to their work
on the Upstate Flood Mitigation Task Force Report, the Canal Corporation
is uniquely suited to place boots on the ground to survey the Oswego and
Mohawk River Basins and create a first-of-its-kind chart using modern
HEC-RAS modeling technology. The basins are often battered by horrific
weather events that inundate homes and businesses with torrential flash
flooding. For example, in July 2023, heavy rainfall entered the lakes,
streams and rivers of the Oswego River Basin which created floods that
devastated local communities in the basin.
HEC-RAS modeling is used by the Army Corp of Engineers to inform deci-
sion making in flood prone areas. This type of modeling is only used by
the federal government for flood damage in limited circumstances under
narrow requirements; however, this bill would require the use of the
HEC-RAS model for the Oswego and Mohawk rivers - which due to the narrow
federal requirements have rarely or never mapped. The State will be able
to model hypothetical floods, educate dam owners and localities on the
rippling effects of each lock and dam, identify where additional
wetlands are needed, and lay the foundation for a potential alert system
for property owners and businesses in flood-prone areas with a modern
chart using the HEC-RAS model.
As stated by the Upstate Flood Mitigation Task Force Report, the Mohawk
River Basin drainage area covers approximately 3,460 square miles from
Central New York to the Capital Region. The total length of the Mohawk
River from its headwaters in the Adirondack Foothills to its confluence
with the Hudson River is 155 miles long. Additionally, the Oswego River
Basin drainage area covers approximately 5,122 square miles in Central
New York and the Finger Lakes Region, which is an area larger than the
state of Rhode Island and encompasses, wholly or partially, sixteen
counties in the state. Furthermore, both basins comprise large portions
of the Erie Canal, which often runs parallel to or collocated with
portions of both river basins. The Erie Canal is collocated with or runs
parallel to the Mohawk River for 130 miles. There are also 285 miles of
Canal within the Oswego River Basin, including in Oneida, Cayuga and
Seneca Lakes.
The Upstate River Basins Chart will protect property owners and busi-
nesses in the Oswego and Mohawk river basins, and is the first step in
mitigating the effects of flood events. This bill would require the
canal corporation, in consultation with the department of environmental
conservation, to create a chart of the Oswego river basin and the Mohawk
river basin.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is a new bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7999
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
September 1, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. STIRPE -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the canal law, in relation to directing the canal corpo-
ration to create a chart to identify, map and model normal and flood
water flows in the Oswego river basin and the Mohawk river basin
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The canal law is amended by adding a new section 135 to
2 read as follows:
3 § 135. Upstate river basins chart. The canal corporation, in consulta-
4 tion with the department of environmental conservation, shall, by June
5 thirtieth, two thousand twenty-five, create a chart to identify, map and
6 model normal and flood water flows in the Oswego river basin and the
7 Mohawk river basin, which shall mean a watershed in the state of New
8 York comprised of all rivers, streams, creeks, lakes, reservoirs and the
9 surrounding land areas or other drainage, including but not limited to
10 canals, that drains or flows via the Oswego river into Lake Ontario and
11 a watershed in the state of New York comprised of all rivers, streams,
12 creeks, lakes, reservoirs and the surrounding land areas or other drain-
13 age, including but not limited to canals, that drains or flows via the
14 Mohawk river into the Hudson river, respectively. The chart shall be
15 created with the Hydrologic Engineering Center River Analysis System
16 (HEC-RAS), and bathymetric and/or light detection and ranging (LiDAR)
17 measurements, as applicable. The chart shall, in addition to such other
18 data as the canal corporation may determine to be included, consist of
19 the chart as created and required by this section, together with other
20 available data on basins, whether assisted by the state of New York
21 under a provision of the laws of the state of New York, or assembled by
22 federal or local governmental or private agencies, all of which such
23 information shall be assembled and integrated, as applicable, into a map
24 and model of the Oswego river basin and the Mohawk river basin. Addi-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11979-04-3
A. 7999 2
1 tionally, the canal corporation shall update the chart every five years
2 and shall periodically review such chart to ensure that it effectuates
3 the purposes of this section. As soon as practicable, the canal corpo-
4 ration shall make the chart available to the public for inspection and
5 examination at every division office of the canal corporation located in
6 a county in which the Oswego river basin or the Mohawk river basin is
7 wholly or partially located in and on the corporation's website. Digital
8 files of the chart, including the map and model, shall also be made
9 available, upon request, to the clerk of each county, city, town or
10 village in which the Oswego river basin or the Mohawk river basin or a
11 portion thereof is located. The canal corporation shall, by July first,
12 two thousand twenty-five, submit a report of the findings of the chart,
13 including normal and flood flows, to the governor, the temporary presi-
14 dent of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the minority leader of
15 the senate and the minority leader of the assembly.
16 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
