Author Topic: Western Erie Canal Embankment Restoration - Day 1 (Read 207 times)

Michael Caswell · « **on:** December 15, 2018, 06:52:26 pm »

Apparently, this is a photo of ongoing work of an embankment dam in the Brockport area. It was posted on the STCC Facebook page, with comments such as "I'm reposting this picture from John 'Jack' Burris the level of embankment destruction is even beyond what we had imagined. This is going to be in people's backyards...."

and "Eileen Pavia How they have the nerve to say any of this doesn’t effect the environment is crazy!

Kevin Gallagher "I would say the CCs neg dec is dishonest and a gross violation of the public trust."

Typical STCC knee-jerk reaction as they desperately try to justify their existence. The photo just goes to show how dilapidated these embankments are.
This amount of work on an area that has little habitation below it, clearly demonstrates how committed the NYPA is to bring this canal into the 21st century. By the time they have finished, The Erie Canal will be a shining example of good sensible engineering practices, and be one of the safest canals in the world.

Doug K · « **Reply #1 on:** December 15, 2018, 09:18:48 pm »

Sadly the storyline has been the SAME thing over and over from "Stop the Safety Project" crew in Fairport, they ONLY share the "half" of a story that tries to prove their biased viewpoint. Of course if you show the BEFORE picture it will look terrible, it's a work in progress. Why didn't the person who posted this picture show the nicely groomed Embankment, freshly patched, covered with new straw covering and properly graded AFTER the work was completed?

Look here tomorrow for a picture of a recent Earthen Embankment Remediation Repair that shows EXACTLY how big these breaches could be if one were to burst. Once you see the size of the excavation compared to the Dam Slope it might make them think hard about a view like theirs, obviously missing the "forest for the trees". No before picture but surely it looked similar to the one shown.

Do these people REALLY believe that a properly repaired Embankment Dam is MORE devastating to the Environment than flooding hundreds of acres of land if the Earthen Dam gave way in a serious breach?

It sounds ridiculous but sadly is bordering on stupidly UNSAFE.

For those who REALLY want the truth about EERP, and Dam Repair.. take a look:

Here's the Image of the Final Work at Rt 260 Sweden walker Rd

This repair was made up of several patches, measures about 60' long

Here's what a newly patched stump pull looks like AFTER the work is done...nice huh?

This was taken from below the Embankment, looking at the patch that was made from slope TOP to the Toe drain, about 20' tall.

Can you see what happens when the STCC members continue to spread "false information"?
People like me have to go get our boots all muddy to make sure those who want the TRUTH have a place to find it.

Doug K · « **Reply #2 on:** April 03, 2019, 02:31:46 pm »

They are working behind our section of the embankment along the newly named Brockport East Dam...its about 6800' feet long from the East side of Park Avenue bridge to the end just past Sunflower Landing.

They have had to add quite a bit of dirt to reshape the embankments from about a 1:1 original slope. (1 foot drop per 1 foot length) to the required 3:1 Outboard Slope angle, 1 foot drop per 3 foot length. They also have had to tamp all of this to specifications that were measured each time the raised the height by a foot. There was about 6' of NEW earth needed to fix this OLD earthen dam slope.

If you notice one thing it's this... Tioga Construction knows what they are doing. This team has a smooth continuous flow of people & machines that seem to always be right there when needed, with dirt, or to grade or maybe to run the Soil Compression & Moisture Content tests. The grader works with the tamper, all of them help direct a couple folks in TerraMac dump vehicles on tracks...less ruts.

And as the pictures show, they are all working in simultaneously... and staying out of each others way in tight working areas. Talking with the site Engineer Ray, there will still be a top layer of topsoil added, then some straw blown over along with hydro-seed in about 6 weeks. Once that step is complete these brown embankments should turn a nice shade of emerald green over the Spring into Summer.

Michael Caswell · « **Reply #3 on:** April 03, 2019, 04:01:26 pm »

Very impressive Doug!

Doug K · « **Reply #4 on:** April 03, 2019, 06:35:19 pm »

Check back after sunset for the most impressive Before & After so far...they are still working here at 7 pm

Make hay while the sunshines...

Doug K · « **Reply #5 on:** April 04, 2019, 07:19:40 am »

Still waiting on the final grass covering but the Before & After pictures show what happens when unsafe Embankment Dams are restored back to recommended standards

https://ecna.createaforum.com/general-discussion/look-what-the-ny-canal-corporation-found-in-brockport/

If you folks haven't figured it out yet...what you ALL have been watching on the ECNA is simply what happens when an Erie Canal Dam is being repaired, seen first hand, from a very close "neighbors'" point of view.

No one can ignore ONE simple fact that when you look at the pictures you all say the same thing... "It looks like a Dam"

That folks is exactly what the National Dam Safety Laws intended...a recognition of DAMS among us and why communities need to recognize where they are and develop Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) to insure communities can react properly in the event of a breach or other flood related issue that people have with dams in their neighborhoods.