Flood studies underway for the Boquet and Ausable rivers will outline mitigation projects that could be eligible for new state grants. Explorer file photo.
State officials last week announced a trio of new grants, with $40 million earmarked for flood resiliency projects identified in watershed-specific studies conducted on flood-prone rivers across the state.
Environmental engineers commenced a pair of those studies last summer on the Ausable and Boquet rivers. Those studies will narrow in on teach river’s most flood-prone areas and suggest ways to reduce flood risk. Those proposed projects can include dam removal, stream and wetland restoration and buyouts for properties located in floodplains.
Timing of the flood studies could be key as grant applications are due in June and grant documents specify the flood studies must be completed before funds are awarded. Will they be ready for two of the Adirondacks’ flashiest rivers?
Enlarged culverts like this one in Ausable watershed help larger storms pass through local streams with minimal damage to roads. Explorer file photo.
Old housing, bigger storms
Even when you can find a house in the Adirondacks, you probably have plenty of costly projects to take on — and the region’s growing storms aren’t making life easier for the region’s homeowners.
Tim Rowland, our resident housing expert, reports on the challenges faced by many cash-strapped residents dependent on an aging housing stock beset by catastrophic storms and flood risk:
“These incomes are so low that our housing stock is deteriorating, and (homeowners) are not at all prepared for any emergency like flooding,” said Rachel Child, community development specialist for the Franklin County Economic Development Commission.
State programs, such as Resilient Retrofit, are available to help beef up homes in flood-prone areas, but because it’s half grant, half loan, Child said, it’s a nonstarter for families that can’t afford the loan component.
These financial strains also leave people underinsured and vulnerable to storms that are hitting with greater ferocity. “Business and homeowner insurance is not covering flooding or natural disasters,” said Christine Pouch, economic development manager for Indian Lake. “It ends up leaving owners cash-strapped and unable to make the necessary repairs.”
The region’s housing stock is old and needs work. Floods won’t make things easier. Explorer file photo.
Advocates noted a tension between quantity and quality of Adirondack housing. Houses built to more rigorous standards are more expensive, which tend to be unaffordable for average residents.
And houses with structural problems or lead and asbestos issues are ineligible for weatherization programs or other state help unless these often cost-prohibitive repairs are made. “it really feels like a disservice to those homes, because they’re the ones that need the most assistance,” said Sunita Halasz, ACORN’s project coordinator.
Asked to identify the three most pressing challenges to sustainable housing, advocates picked contractor availability, income-restricted homeowners and flooding.
Photo at top: Flood studies underway for the Boquet and Ausable rivers will outline mitigation projects that could be eligible for new state grants. Explorer file photo.
This first appeared in Zach’s weekly “Water Line” newsletter. Click here to sign up.
Note to readers: Starting the week of March 16, you’ll see some changes coming to this newsletter. We’ll be streamlining three of our topical newsletters (Adirondack Report, WaterLine, and Climate Voices) into one weekly installment. This move is to cut down on the number of emails we send out a week and to make it easier for readers to catch up on all our environmental news in one place.
State unveils new flood grants
State promises funding to reduce flood risk
New state grants funded with $80 million of the state’s $4.2 billion environmental bond act could align nicely with flood resiliency studies currently underway on the Ausable and Boquet rivers.
State officials last week announced a trio of new grants, with $40 million earmarked for flood resiliency projects identified in watershed-specific studies conducted on flood-prone rivers across the state.
Environmental engineers commenced a pair of those studies last summer on the Ausable and Boquet rivers. Those studies will narrow in on teach river’s most flood-prone areas and suggest ways to reduce flood risk. Those proposed projects can include dam removal, stream and wetland restoration and buyouts for properties located in floodplains.
Now, those projects will have a new source of state funding.
Timing of the flood studies could be key as grant applications are due in June and grant documents specify the flood studies must be completed before funds are awarded. Will they be ready for two of the Adirondacks’ flashiest rivers?
Read the whole story here.
Old housing, bigger storms
Even when you can find a house in the Adirondacks, you probably have plenty of costly projects to take on — and the region’s growing storms aren’t making life easier for the region’s homeowners.
Tim Rowland, our resident housing expert, reports on the challenges faced by many cash-strapped residents dependent on an aging housing stock beset by catastrophic storms and flood risk:
“These incomes are so low that our housing stock is deteriorating, and (homeowners) are not at all prepared for any emergency like flooding,” said Rachel Child, community development specialist for the Franklin County Economic Development Commission.
State programs, such as Resilient Retrofit, are available to help beef up homes in flood-prone areas, but because it’s half grant, half loan, Child said, it’s a nonstarter for families that can’t afford the loan component.
These financial strains also leave people underinsured and vulnerable to storms that are hitting with greater ferocity. “Business and homeowner insurance is not covering flooding or natural disasters,” said Christine Pouch, economic development manager for Indian Lake. “It ends up leaving owners cash-strapped and unable to make the necessary repairs.”
Advocates noted a tension between quantity and quality of Adirondack housing. Houses built to more rigorous standards are more expensive, which tend to be unaffordable for average residents.
And houses with structural problems or lead and asbestos issues are ineligible for weatherization programs or other state help unless these often cost-prohibitive repairs are made. “it really feels like a disservice to those homes, because they’re the ones that need the most assistance,” said Sunita Halasz, ACORN’s project coordinator.
Asked to identify the three most pressing challenges to sustainable housing, advocates picked contractor availability, income-restricted homeowners and flooding.
Read the entire story at this link.
Photo at top: Flood studies underway for the Boquet and Ausable rivers will outline mitigation projects that could be eligible for new state grants. Explorer file photo.
This first appeared in Zach’s weekly “Water Line” newsletter. Click here to sign up.
Note to readers: Starting the week of March 16, you’ll see some changes coming to this newsletter. We’ll be streamlining three of our topical newsletters (Adirondack Report, Water Line, and Climate Voices) into one weekly installment. This move is to cut down on the number of emails we send out a week and to make it easier for readers to catch up on all our environmental news in one place.
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