Among those present was Elizabeth Higgins of Ashokan Watershed Stream Management (AWSM), a DEP-funded group whose agenda is to work with local residents and government agencies to address the community’s water-related needs. Higgins pointed out that the town government has been working with her organization on the Shandaken Area Flood Assessment and Remediation Initiative (SAFARI), which has just finished taking bids from consultants for devising a town-wide flood mitigation plan.
Winograd protested that the DEP official she had spoken to was afraid to come to the meeting, while others would not speak to her.
“Well, I came to the meeting,” Higgins pointed out. “We understand people’s frustration, and we do need the help of people in the community to report where the problems are.”
Larry Brill observed that at a recent watershed conference at the Emerson Inn, sponsored by AWSM, “They said, ‘The stream will go where it wants to go, and dredging makes it worse.’”
Higgins replied, “It’s complex. There are some areas where it would cost so much more to do anything. I’m sorry you heard it that way. But you can’t control everything. This was the flood of record, and our perception is that this kind of weather is increasing. Fifty years ago, we did not have the climate we have today. If the Stony Clove dredging had been done in February, so much sediment would have come down since then, it would not have helped in this flood. ”
Doris Nieves proposed that the group undertake a class action suit against DEP and DEC. Maria Todaro suggested that an engineer be invited to address the group. Nieves offered to get in touch with an engineer and a lawyer of her acquaintance to request their help.
A second meeting of SOS has been scheduled for Saturday, September 24, 9:30 a.m., tentatively at the Copperhood. Flyers with further information will be posted around Phoenicia.++
