Trustees and Residents Review Stormwater Mitigation Plans for Heathcote

According to Seneca Road resident Neil Tucker, "when you're facing a potential flood on your property, every day is a bad day." Tucker and his neighbors were at Village Hall on May 14 to hear a third proposal from Robert DeGiorgio of Dvirka and Bartilucci Engineers on how to mitigate flooding in the Sheldrake River Basin near Fenway Golf Club.

This most recent proposal focuses on improving water flow from Cayuga Pond into the open watercourses along Cayuga and Canterbury Roads to the culvert at Canterbury Road. Cayuga Pond would be converted from a recreational pond into a storm water detention basin to manage excess stormwater runoff. This conversion will allow the pond to retain water during heavy downfalls and to release it slowly over time. Engineers also proposed the removal of accumulated silt and debris from the pond that now prevents maximum water retention. This, along with a modification to the spillway, will create 11 acre-feet of storage in the pond, which allows for the collection of three million gallons of water. Another crucial aspect of this modified plan is improvement of the culverts (drain pipes that allow water to flow under roads) on Cayuga and Canterbury Road. These improved culverts would allow for better water flow and balance through the piping systems.

The overall benefits from this plan are:

• A reduction in flooding impact across the entire Sheldrake flood plain during storm events
• Proportionate mitigation in high intensity events
• Reduction and staggering of peak water run off rates
• Ease of culvert maintenance and observation
• Elimination of outflow from Cayuga pond in less intense storm events
• Significant improvements to channelization of water flow

The Village first retained engineers Dvirka and Bartilucci (D&B) in 2004 following a Storm Water Drainage Condition Survey. They were asked to address storm water issues in the Sheldrake River Basin which extends from Cushman and Sheldrake Roads to Fenway Golf Course flowing down to the Scarsdale Middle School, onto the Scarsdale Medical Center and into New Rochelle.

In order to mitigate flooding upstream, D& B formulated the 2009 Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan, which proposed certain modifications to the current drainage structure. The modifications primarily focused on improving the Sheldrake River Drainage Basin and reducing the excessive water runoffs during precipitation-heavy storms that cause devastating flooding for Scarsdale residents in these flood-prone areas.

The 2009 plan identified six critical sub-drainage areas, three of which were within the Sheldrake Drainage Basin. These three areas, labeled "SR 2", "SR 3" and "SR 5" correspond to the Garden Road Area, the Fenway Golf Club Area, and the Brookby Road Area, all of which have their own distinct flooding issues. The low-lying portions of these areas, such as the Fenway Golf Club area, have been designated as FEMA Flood Plains and homes in this area have been damaged during major storm events. During a storm in September, 2011 several homes in this area were inundated and residents have been awaiting a solution ever since.

Much of the improvement plan needs to be implemented on private property and restrictive deeds and covenants obligate the homeowners to underwrite a portion of the project. The Village is proposing that the 19 homeowners whose homes border the pond or waterway foot the cost for the work to the pond and watercourse. The total cost is estimated at $1,195,00 and the Village would assume 86% of the cost or $1,030,000, and apply for government grants to fund it. The 19 affected homeowners would pay the remaining 14% or $166,000 with the seven who live around the pond bearing the responsibility for $108,000 of the $166,000 tab. The Village would create a special benefit district and property owners could pay for the project over a twenty-year period. Following the project, homeowners would be responsible for maintaining the pond and the village would maintain the open watercourse. According to Rob DeGiorgio the maintenance is "the most critical aspect of storm water management." Residents could either hire their own contractors to remove the silt or the Scarsdale Department of Public Works could handle it and add the cost to the resident's tax bills. The Village hoped to have agreements in place by September 1, 2013 and have the work done in 2014-15.

However, the residents who attended the meeting questioned whether all of the homeowners bordering the pond would be willing to share in the cost and also speculated on the ability of the plan to relieve flooding. They feared that those who were not affected by the flooding, would not contribute. Alissa Kanowitz of Seneca Road said, "It is difficult to persuade homeowners. It is only natural that you are going to have some disgruntled residents when you knock on their door and tell them that we are converting your pond to a drainage facility, and oh, by the way, you owe $18,000." According to Doug Ulene, who also lives around the pond, this scenario has essentially "pitted neighbor against neighbor." After years of watching water engulf his neighborhood he has become something of an expert on Scarsdale's water problems. According to Ulene "In a perfect world, the Village would enlarge all of its stormwater infrastructure. That's an expensive proposition and the process would be complicated because of the potential impact on downstream communities." Assuming that the village will take a more measured approach, Ulene encouraged them to "focus on projects that improve outflow," such as "making culverts, and other locations that become clogged, easier to clean." Because "there is a limit on the amount of water any area can hold, it's best to make sure that the water leaves as quickly as possible."

Though the deed to the properties around the pond require the homeowners to maintain the pond, Ulene contends that the Village is "privatizing a quintessentially government function." Saying that residents "don't rely on their neighbors for gas, electricity, water, sanitary sewers and telephone service" he questions why the Village left this flooding issue up to residents to solve.

Homeowners at the meeting also noted that the water level in the pond has already dropped – due to the fact that the spillway is locked in the open position. They argued that it might not be necessary to de-silt the pond and proposed that if the Village fixed the spillway and culverts and cleaned the watercourse it would clear up "90% of the problem."

Robert DeGiorgio responded by saying "I wish there was an easy solution," but told the group that "it is dead flat from the pond to the watercourse," and therefore improving the flow would not be simple.

Frustrated with the lack of progress, Tucker said, "Cayuga residents want to get the water out of their neighborhood." Richard Kanowitz said, "in a large storm or snow melt, I could kiss my house goodbye."

At the conclusion of the meeting Alissa Kanowitz asked if the Village could establish a working committee with residents and "not wait another six months for the next meeting. Mayor Steves said "I will commit to a schedule that will move this along and take this to a logical conclusion as quickly as we can." Village Manager Al Gatta asked the residents to "tell us what is adequate so that we can move forward. If we fix the culverts and it works, Mr. Kanowitz will be crowned for being right."