Although it is a bit hard to see because of blog photo size limitations, look carefully at the photo on the bottom of this post. It is a good indication of how bad the bank is getting. Notice the people standing down by the edge of the stream. This will give you an idea of how dramatically the bank above is washing away. The top yellow line is Woodland Valley Road. The trees you see leaning on the edge are just off the side of the road. This photo is great because, unless you actually get into the stream below, you don't realize how serious the situation is getting. You certainly can't see it when you are driving. So Cory has provided us a good opportunity to get a idea of what needs to be fixed and how important it is that they do it before the next flood washes that part of the road out.
Here is what Cory had to say:
My name is Cory Ritz and I work for Ulster County Soil and Water Conservation District. I am helping to coordinate the Woodland Valley near Fawn Hill stream project. Compete repair to the stream bank will be a cooperative team effort from NYC DEP, Ulster County Soil & Water Conservation District, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County and the Town of Shandaken. I just read the blog update on Woodland Valley View. I don't have too much to add but if you wanted more info please see below or give me a call.
- We are working with the town and hopefully we'll be selecting a contractor this week.
- I suspect the real work i.e. road interruption, won't begin until September.
- The project consists of a stacked rock wall at the base of the hill, and a bio-engineered wall above it. This still leaves a fairly large section at the top of the slope that will be planted normally with trees, shrubs and grass. Our NRCS engineer modeled the 25yr, 50yr and 100yr floods to help determine the size requirements for the walls. Most likely, residents will only ever see the trees at the top of the road as they drive by. Also, we are working hard to ensure the pool at the base of the rock wall is not changed by our activities.
- The failing bank is approx. 8 ft away from the road. Unfortunately, it is migrating towards the road. I believe the property owner, Ed Twerdack, and former highway supervisors have been keeping their eye on it over the years but it seems like it's time has come (see attached photo).
- Mostly likely, we will not get the 75% matching FEMA funds (as you mentioned in your update). As it stands today, the funding will come from the Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program Implementation Fund (http://ashokanstreams.org/). Cornell Cooperative Extension maintains these funds and CCE has committed their support to this project. Also, for clarification, NYC DEP Stream Management Program is the ultimate funder for the Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program and they have been supportive with assisting towns with their priority stream projects.
- Cory
Cory Ritz
Stream Project Manager
Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program
(845)-688-3047
