Author Topic: Ms Maier pipes up - again --- but piping could be a problem here. (Read 148 times)

Michael Caswell · « **on:** April 08, 2022, 01:12:58 pm »

If this photo is from The Great Embankment then the sides of the canal would be encased in concrete, wouldn't they?

If that is the case, why are these saplings being allowed to grow on the inboard side of the canal, adjacent to the towpath?
Surely, this means there are cracks in the concrete, and that means the roots of these trees are penetrating the concrete and causing 'piping', a major cause of embankment failure.

That is a recipe for disaster. Why would anyone want that, or complain about their removal?

Ms Maier - just showing how illogical she is!

Doug K · « **Reply #1 on:** April 08, 2022, 04:28:10 pm »

And the view could look like this instead... but Ms. Maier does NOT want anyone to know that. This picture is from a RESTORED EMBANKMENT in Brockport

So what's the difference?

Tell me what you see that's so "terrible" that has caused Ms. Maier to get her panties in a twist over this small change?

People... wake up to the REALITY that Erie Canal Embankments will be "reconstructed" very soon. They will resemble themselves, as they were 95 years ago, when they had grass covering a year after being freshly built and filled with water from Lake Erie. They are not natural hillsides, they are man-made earthen dams that need repair now.

This isn't about scenery or shade, this is about SAFETY of the embankments, the canal system and the people who live near it and use it. The alternative is that somewhere a flood related to canal property will happen... it's all in the SEQR report filed by NYPA to perform the work needed, where it's needed most.. Perinton.

Do not fall for someone's OPINION on social media, when there are FACTS that support removing trees and restoring canal earthen navigation dams back to their desired state.

These earthen embankments must be brought back to conform with the Dam Safety Laws of New York State

Doug K · « **Reply #2 on:** April 09, 2022, 11:48:06 am »

Maybe it's time for a change in leadership at the STCC, someone who values the "truth" just a bit more?

Once again it's still more LIES and MISINFORMATION from one of the co-founders of the Stop the Canal Clear-cut group on Facebook.

This time it's Ms Virginia Maier stating a new fact, the new BIG LIE for the group... that ALL canal embankment issues are caused by "engineers messing around". Of course Ms. Maier's own words on Facebook, and those of her cohorts, will easily show why all this is yet another "mistruth" being spread around a group that has simply "lost it's direction" due to failed leadership.

If you have been reading our recent posts it appears this protest group has taken a new course of action, even for the STCC.

The two co-founders have now turned the STCCC, a group that was trying to stop canal embankment maintenance from being done, into a whole new meaning for those 5 letters...STCCC. They are now to be known as Start The Canal Corporation Criticism, as they have something to say about everything done on the Erie Canal, not just cutting trees anymore.

Of course, it didn't take long to "fact check" Ms. Maier's new claim. You simply need to look at what the group has been saying for the past few years. And you will immediately see that Ms. Maier says that ANY leak or embankment section being repaired, "where engineers were not messing around", are all "Fake Emergency Repairs"...some type of conspiracy by the NYS Canal Corporation no doubt.

https://ecna.createaforum.com/the-stop-the-clearcut-argument/will-she-rant/?message=1792

And who can forget the 2021 Macedon / Palmyra Embankment Breach, that co-founder Ms. Agte, stated was because the Canal Corporation did NOTHING to prevent it, they let the canal be filled, knowing the seep persisted.

So, with NO ENGINEERS "messing about" there was a significant embankment collapse, captured by Ms. Agte, who also came up with the last "Big Lie" for the group... The Canal Corporation is trying to break their own canal system.

Ms. Agte stated after that Macedon breach, and another "emergency repair" in Brockport, that the Canal Corporation was intentionally causing all the Canal Infrastructure issues and stop navigation.

https://ecna.createaforum.com/the-stop-the-clearcut-argument/facebook's-stop-the-canal-clearcut-founder-has-been-wrong-all-along-nothing-new/?message=1493

So is this how it works? One of the STCCC Co-Founders LIES, and the other co-founder POINTS and says we can all believe her?

Why?

Once again Ms. Maier and Ms. Agte are caught between a rock and a hard place as they say... old lies catching up with new ones perhaps.

The ECNA extensively fact checked the Macedon Embankment Collapse back in 2021, while this group tried hard to ignore the truth right in front of them.

You look at the picture below of what this Facebook group say is NOT an embankment failure, just an unattended leak, that wasn't caused by any Canal Employee messing about, and is most likely the result of some nefarious NYPA and NYS Canal Corporation "plot" to undermine the Canal System they are responsible for.

https://ecna.createaforum.com/macedon-palmyra-canal-discussion/macedon-palmyra-erie-canal-embankment-breach-you-decide/msg1521/#msg1521

And again, maybe you are shaking your head at our fact check of Ms. Maier's latest claims, that canal embankments ONLY fail because of "canal employee activities" you might want to ask why her group can't explain away a sinkhole in Royalton, along the canal trail, that appeared virtually overnight... no work going on there at the time.

https://ecna.createaforum.com/notices-from-the-canal-authority/notice-to-trail-users-detour-on-empire-erie-canal-trail-due-to-royalton-ny-sinkh/msg1830/#msg1830

Yes... I will say the words, since no one in Perinton or Fairport seems to be able to muster up the courage... If you see Virginia Maier or Elizabeth Agte today, please TELL them to STOP LYING about Erie Canal Embankment Safety.

Tell them BOTH to stop making up misinformation about canal integrity, when the facts and science do not support their Facebook disinformation campaign.

And while you are at it, tell them to stop their denial of the inherent Public Safety issues, that will result if neglected & overgrown canal Navigation Dams are not properly repaired to NYS Dam Safety Standards.

Tell them for your communities' sake, if it is located along the Erie Canal.

Or for the sake of your own home or your neighbors, if you live along the bottom of one of those earthen dams.

Or tell them because it's the right thing to do, for any civic-minded resident of New York State who doesn't want to see our state bankrupted by lawsuits from an Erie Canal flood disaster, "that could have been avoided" if more people stood up to the likes of Ms. Virginia Maier and Ms. Elizaberth Agte

Doug K · « **Reply #3 on:** April 09, 2022, 11:53:21 am »

For those wondering who covered the Macedon Embankment Area work... none other than Mr. Caswell.

https://ecna.createaforum.com/macedon-palmyra-canal-discussion/macedon's-embankment-dam/msg1731/#msg1731

Doug K · « **Reply #4 on:** April 09, 2022, 02:46:10 pm »

So it appears that now, Mr. Bill Maier HAS to comment on his wife's bogus claims about Canal Embankment Repair, proper vegetative covering, and her ridiculous statement that the NYS Canal Corporation is causing all the embankment issues, themselves.

Probably a case of "how best to shut-up the "un-happy wife"... perhaps.

So MR. MAIER, Virginia's better half we assume, is saying two things here:

1) By clearing Erie Canal navigation embankments, the NYS Canal Corp is "introducing new risk factors" to the canal system.

2) The Canal Corporation is trying to provide cost-effective, stabilizing, scenic & habitat providing ground cover for these earthen dams.

I guess it was the best he could muster, to come to the defense of his wife, who posted that ALL embankment issues are caused by the Canal Engineers messing about on these 100 year old dams.

That was sheer gormlessness in action... yet Bill had to play along.

So Mr. Maier is willing to IGNORE the fact that the NY Canal Corporation's recently published a SEQR filing on their Embankment Integrity Program, a State Required Environmental Quality Review, states the EXACT OPPOSITE of his statement.

https://www.canals.ny.gov/Earthen_Embankment/Guidebook.html

In fact, that SEQR filing says CLEARLY that the Erie Canal system is in danger from "natural vegetation" and that using the prescribed & approved methods of Earthen Dam Restoration, they will restore it to a safe, sustainable waterway and navigation dam system. Trees will be removed, vines will be cut, and turf grass will be established.

And Mr. Maier would also want everyone to ignore the new Canal Corporation Embankment Maintenance & Inspection Guidebook, that outlines how to deal with all of the dangerous conditions that currently plague the canal embankments, like trees and invasive growth.

And that keeps surrounding canal communities under the constant threat of a canal breach and flood, from possible tree uprooting or tree root-caused, dam failures

https://www.canals.ny.gov/Earthen_Embankment/DGEIS/2021-03-09_DRAFT_FINAL_Embankment_Maintenance_Guidebook.pdf

https://www.canals.ny.gov/Earthen_Embankment/DGEIS/NYSCC_EEIP_Draft_GEIS_3-12-2021_Combined.pdf

I guess we are NOW supposed to not only listen to the two co-founders of this STCCC Facebook Group, Ms. Agte and Ms. Maier, who have done nothing but serve up a plate of false facts & public safety denial...

But we have to now hear from their husbands as well, who only want to spread the same misinformation and conjecture, to relieve the constant pressure on their eardrums at home.

Sorry Mr. Maier, I believe you are LYING about Canal Embankment Safety, and about what purpose the vegetation provides to a safe earthen embankment dam.

The Canal Corporation isn't looking for "scenic covering", nor are they trying to "provide habitat" on their embankments. They have TOLD YOU THIS already when they stated they have to follow these FEMA guidelines regarding Animals & Plants around EARTHEN DAMS.

They are trying to provide a SAFE & APPROVED embankment dam vegetative covering, free of animal burrows.

https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-08/fema-473.pdf

https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-08/fema-534.pdf

And standard TURF GRASS is the ONLY approved Earthen Embankment covering, according to EVERY dam safety expert in the Country, including FEMA NYS DEC, and the Association of State Dam Safety Officials.

Not that these scientific resources or dam safety experts are people you would listen to on this subject

https://damsafety.org/dam-owners/ground-cover

How does the ECNA know that Mr. Maier won't listen to these expert resources for Earthen Dam Safety information?

Because his wife, Virginia Maier, Co-Founder of a Facebook group protesting all Canal Corporation work these days, told him THEY are wrong and only Elizabeth & her know the "real story... it's all a conspiracy".

Have you ever heard of anything so ridiculous? Any wonder why Mr. Maier has been steering clear of posting on his wife's Facebook page for the past few months until this week? I guess the shrill of the banshee broke him down finally.

Michael Caswell · « **Reply #5 on:** April 11, 2022, 04:49:00 am »

The shrill of the BANSHEE? Wow! Doug!

A banshee (/ˈbænʃiː/ BAN-shee; Modern Irish bean sí, from Old Irish: ben síde [bʲen ˈʃiːðʲe], "woman of the fairy mound" or "fairy woman") is a female spirit in Irish folklore who heralds the death of a family member,[1] usually by wailing, shrieking, or keening.

Her name is connected to the mythologically important tumuli or "mounds" that dot the Irish countryside, which are known as síde (singular síd) in Old Irish.[2]

Well! That reminds me of the three witches, Agte, Maier and was it Goldthorpe? We had some fun with that for a while!

Michael Caswell · « **Reply #6 on:** April 11, 2022, 05:01:53 am »

It really is quite amazing how all these folks in the STCC, especially the men, seem to be so knowledgeable about all things to do with dams, canal construction, and maintenance.

Bill Maier is a perfect example.

These guys spout on with all these theories without any formal training or practical experience of working on a canal. I guess they have walked the towpath, but that is hardly a qualification.

Folks! You need to regard Maier's comments as nothing less than pure drivel!

Doug K · « **Reply #7 on:** April 11, 2022, 09:43:34 am »

You are right Mr. Caswell, it's quite amazing how conjecture & disinformation seem to chart the course of this group

And even when one of the group's co-founders is "called out", by the New York Canal Corporation, after being caught in the act of spreading misinformation regarding Canal Embankment repair work, that group leader has chosen "silence" this time, which says it all... no comment.

Perhaps now realizing that she is unable to fight back the truth about Canal Embankment Restoration, with the group's continued "trail of lies".

Of course one person in that social media group, still wants to hear what their "speechless leader" has to say, even though he has told me personally, that he understands she is wrong about canal embankment safety. He confided to me some years ago, that he's there for the "entertainment value" of watching this group & what they say, like so many others in this group.

Hopefully Mr. Koelle has heard the New York State Canal Corporation loud & clear... highlights in these messages are my own.

ELIZABETH AGTE (April 2/3):
My message to the director of public engagement… We have been concerned since the start of this clear cutting that the earthen embankments could not withstand this level of heavy activity. We would like to have a tour of this area. When can this be arranged?

When I pointed out that heavy machinery on the embankments was probably not safe, her response was… that’s why we do when the canal is dewatered! Yes, of course, but damage by huge equipment can happen now, and not reveal itself until the canal IS watered. Why wasn’t this done when the ground was frozen and more supportive?

My guess is because NYPA doesn’t care, and never has, about the economic vitality of the canal based businesses...

But I do not believe that the original designers and engineers of the raised earthen embankments ever considered building the canal to withstand the tonnage of todays equipment. They were building it for donkeys dude.

REBECCA HUGHES (April 3):
Regarding the timing of communications about the project, a public announcement was precluded by several factors including issuance of a work permit by the US Army Corps of Engineers as well as outreach to the Town Supervisor and to our colleagues at the Empire State Trail, NYS Parks, Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor, and Parks and Trails NY regarding notifications to Trail Users.

Your note implied that the embankment restoration work was somehow caused by prior vegetation removal, which is false.

This area has long been prone to seepage and prior removal of vegetative undergrowth made it possible for improved monitoring and evaluation. Prior vegetation clearing also makes it possible for contractors to access the site and install filter blanket material to mitigate additional impacts, like subsurface erosion from seepage.

The technical team confirmed they have no concerns about the embankment's ability to support heavy equipment. Engineering calculations regarding the structural integrity of embankments, and their ability to support equipment, are made in objective terms, and drawing from engineering best practices.

Unfortunately we are not able to accommodate a site visit, in an active construction zone, due to safety concerns.

So there it is, one statement in plain English, in a typed letter to the FOUNDERS & MEMBERS of this Erie Canal Integrity protest group. But it won't help because group members & it's leaders', "won't believe it's true". Leaders have their humble opinions to fall back on, and members, well they only need to repeat whatever their two leaders say, like good little parrots.

Oh yea, those two leaders of the group, well they seem to be acting quite a bit like those "donkeys" that Ms. Agte claims the Empire State Trail was "built for". Donkeys are known to be stubborn and apparently still roam the Erie Canal today. You can see them along the Erie Canal Trail, dressed in yellow shirts, that say "Shade is Cool".

Michael Caswell · « **Reply #8 on:** April 22, 2022, 03:17:14 pm »

"Engineers messing about", Maddy Maier says! Now what would she know about any engineering?

Zip!

Couldn't tell a nut from a bolt!

Good grief!

News:

Author Topic: Ms Maier pipes up - again --- but piping could be a problem here. (Read 148 times)

Michael Caswell

Ms Maier pipes up - again --- but piping could be a problem here.

Doug K

Re: Ms Maier pipes up - again --- but piping could be a problem here.

Doug K

Re: Ms Maier pipes up again, more misinformation and the "new" Big Lie for the STCCC

Doug K

Re: Ms Maier pipes up again, more misinformation and the "new" Big Lie for the STCCC

Doug K

Now Mr. Maier has to pipe in with more inaccurate statements & opinions

Michael Caswell

Re: Ms Maier pipes up - again --- but piping could be a problem here.

Michael Caswell

Re: Ms Maier pipes up - again --- but piping could be a problem here.

Doug K

Re: Mr Maier pipes in, while one STCCC Facebook Group Founder chooses silence

Michael Caswell

Re: Ms Maier pipes up - again --- but piping could be a problem here.