WASHINGTON – Hudson Valley Congressmen Maurice Hinchey and Congressman John Hall announced that they secured final congressional approval of $331,000 for a pending flood mitigation study in the Upper Delaware River Watershed and for the enhancement of the existing flood alert system for the region.

The two Democratic lawmakers worked to secure $96,000 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide additional support for the pending comprehensive study to mitigate future flooding in a number of areas within the Upper Delaware River Watershed. Hinchey also obtained approval of $235,000 for the development and implementation of a Delaware River Enhanced Flood Warning System, which will be done along with the Delaware River Basin Commission. The funds are included in the Omnibus Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2009, which passed the House.

The Army Corps studies will investigate and identify opportunities for flood damage reduction and environmental restoration in a number of areas in the Upper Delaware River Watershed. The studies will seek to minimize the impacts of future flooding and prevent further losses of life and property.

The studies will include specific high-priority areas along the Little Beaverkill Creek, such as in Livingston Manor and along the Callicoon Creek. These areas have experienced chronic and repetitive flood devastation from major flood events over the past several years, which were the worst since the record flood of 1955 and resulted in the loss of life and the substantial loss of property. Hinchey and Hall worked to secure $700,000 for the study last year, to which this funding will be added.

The studies expand upon the Army Corps Reconnaissance Study that was completed for the Upper Delaware River, which addressed flood damage reduction, ecosystem restoration, water quality control, and comprehensive watershed management.

The Army Corps is currently negotiating a feasibility cost share agreement with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for the commencement of the first phase of the study along the Little Beaverkill, a tributary to the Delaware River. The study is in response to major floods that have occurred in the past few years and caused severe and repeated damage. The Army Corps is also partnering with Sullivan County to analyze mitigation opportunities along the Callicoon Creek and has recently begun initial data collection for the study.

Funds allocated for the Delaware River Enhanced Flood Warning system project will assist the Delaware River Basin Commission in its efforts with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Geological Survey and Army Corps to enhance the basin's flood warning system, which is currently in place.

These funds will help evaluate and improve existing precipitation and stream gage networks and develop additional NOAA flood forecast points in both non-tidal and tidal stream reaches. The enhancement will also include the merger of GIS and Doppler radar technology to improve flash flood warning capabilities for smaller watersheds.