DESCRIPTION: Recurrent flooding along the Saw Mill River has caused damages to residential structures, commercial businesses, and industries as well municipal infrastructure. The Saw Mill River was broken into five project areas. Construction has been completed on the Yonkers, Ardsley and Chappaqua projects and the Yonkers Tie-in/Nepera Park projects. The Elmsford/Greenburgh project is in the planning and design phase. The project area is located along the Saw Mill River Road in the Village of Elmsford and Town of Greenburgh in Westchester County, New York. Recent severe floods occurred in March and April of 1980, April 1984, and September 1999. The 1984 flood caused over $2,000,000 dollars (Oct 1996 price level) in damages to residential, commercial, and industrial structures in the Elmsford/Greenburgh area as well as causing traffic and business interruptions. Flooding from Tropical Storm Floyd in September 1999 and April 2007 Nor’easter caused significant damage.
AUTHORIZATION: The Elmsford/Greenburgh project was authorized in the Flood Control Act of 1965. A series of studies were conducted and in 1989 a draft General Design Memorandum was issued with a recommended plan. The recommended project consists of 2.7 miles of channel modification on the Saw Mill River, 713 feet on Mine Brook, and a 1,414-foot diversion channel with low flow weir. Several bridges would require removal; one would be raised, and 210 feet of retaining wall constructed along the Saw Mill River between the Saw Mill Parkway bridges. Aquatic habitat would also be preserved through the use of instream habitat structures and the banks will be landscaped.
STATUS: Upon completion of the draft General Design Memorandum dated June 1989, study efforts were halted due to marginal economic justification and budgetary constraints. Periodically, locals have indicated interest in the study. If the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), the potential non-Federal sponsor, formally request to restart the study and is willing to be a cost-sharing partner for the study, a budget request will be required. The study will be cost shared at 50% Federal and 50% non-Federal.
CONTACT:
Ms. Rifat Salim,
Project Manager
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District
Phone: (917) 790-8215, Fax: (212) 264-2924
E-mail: rifat.salim@usace.army.mil
Programs and Project Management Division, Civil Works Branch
26 Federal Plaza, Room 2127,
New York, NY 10278-0090
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: NY-17