We just received an email from a resident who recently moved out of State.

A little advice, which I’m sure you already know, you’re dealing with a politically infected public servant. This guy will kiss butt where he has to. He is precisely why NYS is in the dumper and why people who give a hoot move out. Facts do NOT matter to this moron. Political pay, in favors, money or position motivate this guy and most of the political types.

Until one of these dams burst, you are wasting your time and energy.

Wish you well.

*********

Adam Bello writes to the NYPA


To read the entire letter - download this -

 Bello letter.pdf (259.2 kB - downloaded 3 times.)
And Mike Caswell's response --

Mr Bello Sir

I found a copy of your letter to the NYPA on the STCC Facebook page. As I read it, it soon became obvious you were parroting much of the rhetoric spouted by this radical group.

"Clinton's Ditch' was thrown together in a hurry by people who had no understanding of dam failures, they didn't understand how important slope angles had to be to ensure the Phreatic Line did not cause a breach. They certainly did not anticipate people would be so stupid as to let 150 feet tall Cottonwoods grow and infest the slope of these dams. Nor did they realise no one would be able to thoroughly inspect the slopes for leaks because of dense undergrowth.

You mention you support a 'bottom up' plan, but what exactly is that? What is your 'targeted plan'? Have you actually discussed this with any dam engineers, like the ASDSO, FEMA or USACE?  Because they ALL say - NO TREES ON A DAM!

You can't get around the fact that it is impossible to maintain these dangerous slopes with all the junk growing on them. In the event of a breach, heavy equipment could not get in fast enough to effect a repair and lives would be lost.

Did you realise that there are HUNDREDS of houses down in the Flood Hazard Zone below the canal? Have you no concern for those people and their property? Perhaps you should ask the Canal Corp for their Flood Inundation Zone maps?

It sounds like you are taking your advise from people like Elizabeth Agte & Virginia Maier, the STCC Founders, because what they are proposing is similar to your letter. They do not have a specific plan, never have had one!  They talk in romantic vagueries, about shade, squirrels, and oxygen. Good stuff for getting support - and votes, but no concrete alternative to the NYPAs's proposal.

As for your comment urging the NYPA to begin 'a meaningful engagement with residents of Monroe County', I must ask. Where have you been for the last four years? The NYPA have been dealing with this all this time, but when common sense and a complete lack of engineering skills from the residents and most politicians is missing, its very difficult to deal with.

Perhaps you should be considering the safety of the residents here. All the engineers say these dams are unsafe, and the vegetation must be removed. Rizzo Engineering reported in 2018 that they classified the Perinton Embankment dam  as Class C HIGH HAZARD - UNABLE TO INSPECT thoroughly, due to undergrowth and trees. But that doesn't fly well with the STCC, they'd rather not talk about THAT! There is so much they have glossed over, but you can get many facts to disprove much of what the STCC has spouted here- www.eriecanalfacts.wordpress.com

And please go and talk to some dam engineers, they have some really good ones at the NYPA. People could die without their EEIP plan being implemented.

Michael Caswell

Erie Canal Neighbors Association

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