Author Topic: We have a new DAM Engineer (Read 68 times)

Michael Caswell · « **on:** August 31, 2021, 11:23:58 am »

Canal leak examined by expert dam engineer.

A damming rebuke of the Canal Corporation.

In July 2021, I examined the site of the Perinton emergency. The cattails remain and water continues to flow from the seep. This is clear evidence that the CC does not understand how the embankments currently function nor how to distinguish between canal leakage and other sources of water near the embankments.

This was part of a letter written to the Perinton Town Supervisor, and posted on the STCC Facebook page Aug 30 2021 9.17am

And the name of this expert?

Wow! It's none other than Virginia Borden Maier! The biology teacher and STCC activist! I'm puzzled how this 'examination' by someone so poorly qualified as 'Ginny' can be taken seriously, when so many NYPA employees who have undertaken the Perinton situation, have all sorts of degrees and paperwork qualifications on Dam Engineering.

Really? Yes Really!

David Mellen
Accomplished leader with years of operational and engineering experience including design, construction, and maintenance; advanced degree in construction engineering and management; licensed Professional Engineer, State of New York

https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-r-mellen-p-e-62a33657

Adjunct Professor State University of New York College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry

Aug 2017 - Dec 2019 2 years 5 months Syracuse, New York Area

Course CME255 - instruct undergraduate college students about interpreting construction documents and cost estimating.

Education

Clarkson University Clarkson University Graphic
Clarkson University B.S.Civil Engineering

1985 - 1989

Activities and Societies: Division 1 Men's Hockey Team

Civil Engineering
State University of New York at Buffalo
State University of New York at Buffalo Graphic
State University of New York at Buffalo
MastersConstruction Engineering and Management

2004 - 2007 Construction Engineering and Management

Professional Engineer New York State Education Department Credential ID 072642

Here are many other 'top brass' members who, according to the STCC, don't know what they are doing.

Now! Who would you rather believe. a beekeeper (who thinks Japanese Knotweed is a useful plant) and a biology teacher (and not a very good one according to her students) or these folks?

--- https://www.canals.ny.gov/about/staff.html

Doug K · « **Reply #1 on:** August 31, 2021, 03:33:33 pm »

Engineering credentials do not seem to matter to this Facebook group. They do not think Dave Mellen is an expert on anything, except not listening to their crazy logic.

It's about the same for any other evidence or facts that support vegetation removal on Embankment Dams, those facts & truth about Canal Embankments are "all wrong" they say. Of course they have no experts to support their outlandish claims, unless you count a beekeeper, and a biology teacher as "Embankment Dam Experts.

Of course they should be correcting their members who STILL won't believe the words Unsafe or Embankment Dams if they were actually experts... because the replies to that "dam inspector report" from Ms. Maier are comical.

For the last time...here's what has been stated by the Canal Corporation:

For a total of approximately 125 miles of its 524-mile length, the Canal runs through built earthen embankments. These embankment structures exist at many non-continuous points along the Canal, but the concentration of high hazard large embankments is located between Lockport in Niagara County and Lyons in Wayne County (shorter stretches of high hazard embankments are found elsewhere). “High hazard” means that failure would likely result in, among other things, loss of life or widespread economic impact.

This is what Wikiworld has to say about Earthen Embankments:

Here's a great course on understanding Earthen Embankment Dams that even a 10 year old will comprehend:

Please, all of you in the Stop the Canal Clear-cut Group---> take a moment to at least understand what an EARTHEN EMBANKMENT is.. it's a Dam, holding back water, and these raised one along the Erie Canal are unsafe. You can refuse to accept the public safety aspect if you want, at your own peril, but you can't deny that these canal embankments are DAMS!

Well I guess you can, if you want to look totally absurd.

Go read the truth about what makes a dam

https://www.fs.fed.us/eng/dams/olt/index.html#!01-home

Michael Caswell · « **Reply #2 on:** September 09, 2021, 03:51:46 pm »

Yep! We're back to this, despite all the 'other' experts, who actually have degrees and letters after their names, telling us that these are indeed dams.

AND --- he doesn't understand what a levee is or does.

It's really incredible.

Michael Caswell · « **Reply #3 on:** September 14, 2021, 08:57:26 pm »

Yep! Chuck Jennings!

"These old growth trees do not threaten the canal banks!" he says.
Does he mean the canal embankments? If so, I'd agree with him. Or does he mean the embankment dams?

Hmm! OK! Chuck, tell us how you came to make that statement. Qualifications? Worked in this field as a dam engineer, hydrologist?
Or is this just a personal guess?

Doug K · « **Reply #4 on:** September 15, 2021, 10:40:05 am »

Hmmm. Pictures being shown of logs being loaded by a Prentice Log Loader in Medina. Why?

These pictures must be well over 3 years old now, and still a big part of the Big STCC Lie. That lie is that Erie Canal Earthen Embankment Maintenance results in total devastation of the canal and surrounding terrain.

And that these Earthen Dams somehow stays that way forever.

All of it untrue, go see what cleared Earthen Embankments look like now with these video links:

https://youtu.be/Nt35DbKYA_g

https://ecna.createaforum.com/erie-canal-embankment-integrity-program-(eip)/a-walk-along-a-safe-earthen-canal-embankment-dam-in-holley-ny/

https://youtu.be/vfffYuitLBs

https://ecna.createaforum.com/eerp-phase-3-discussion-board-evergreen-barrier-planting/official-eerp-restoration-announcement-from-nys-canal-corporation/msg1448/#msg1448

The STCC Facebook group will NEVER show pictures of the green turf grass growing on the outboard Embankment slopes, it doesn't fit their "needs".

They RARELY show pictures of the barrier restoration shrubbery that Canal Neighbors received in Medina, it shows that what they are saying is totally untrue.

They SHOW pictures of what existed DURING the Maintenance activities, but not what it looks like today, because that's meant to scare their members into submission.

The TRUTH about Canal Embankment Work- More trees & shrubs were replanted, than what was removed, in the first clearing project called EERP, that cleared 27 of 125 miles of unsafe Canal Dams.

More TRUTH about this Maintenance Work - Turf Grass covered Canal Embankment slopes, once cleared of that invasive growth, sure look like Earthen dams, no mistaking them for anything "natural".

These earthen structures are man-made dams, built to move water and hold it back from the surrounding areas and form one of the oldest, longest Canal systems in the world. And the maintenence required to make these earthen structures safe, will also make the canal sustainable into its third century and beyond.

Don't believe the Stop the Canal Clear-cut Lie.

Michael Caswell · « **Reply #5 on:** September 25, 2021, 03:27:48 pm »

Indeed, roots do stabilize banks, he's absolutely correct!

Levees, river banks, wooded forest slopes, canal embankments even.

But let's not forget, NONE of these situations are impounding millions of gallons of water, and none are subject to seepage and a phreatic line forming in the embankment. Hydrostatic pressure causes dams to leak and collapse, causing massive flooding.

An earthen dam is completely different and can have dire consequences if it is not correctly maintained.

No Trees on a Dam. It's simply dangerous.

Yet another STCC member thinking they are Dam Engineers

John Smith · « **Reply #6 on:** September 25, 2021, 05:04:46 pm »

When did the Erie Canal become a river? Didn't see that announcement.

What happened to Earthen Embankment Integrity, when did it change to Erie riverbank integrity?

How long before someone tries to call the canal system a wetlands, and have it fall under EPA protection?

Does this facebook group just make stuff up to see how it sounds, or is there something I'm missing?

News:

Author Topic: We have a new DAM Engineer (Read 68 times)

Michael Caswell

We have a new DAM Engineer

Doug K

Re: We have a new DAM Engineer

Michael Caswell

C T Oakes - is now a dam engineer!

Michael Caswell

We have yet another new Dam Engineer!

Doug K

Re: We have a new Dam Engineer!

Michael Caswell

Rufus Kendig comments on tree roots

John Smith

Re: Rufus Kendig comments on tree roots