The Town of Shandaken has retained SLR Engineering, Landscape Architecture, and Land Surveying, PC (SLR) to evaluate possible flood hazard mitigation strategies for the hamlet of Phoenicia. This study included reassessment of previous recommendations and development of new potential flood mitigation scenarios, both independently and in the context of the upcoming Bridge Street bridge replacement project.
Several floodplain enhancement scenarios along Esopus Creek and Stony Clove Creek were conceptualized and modeled under a range of current and projected future flood conditions. A hypothetical Main Street bridge replacement was configured to meet New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) hydraulic performance standards. These potential improvements were also modeled together with each of the five Bridge Street bridge replacement alternatives currently under evaluation. Possible flood mitigation strategies for the Phoenicia Elementary School were assessed as well.
The proposed combination of floodplain enhancements and hydraulically adequate bridge replacements can substantially reduce riverine flooding across large portions of downtown Phoenicia. These projects would be complex and costly to implement, and there are critical considerations related to project prioritization and phasing. The proposed bridge replacements and floodplain enhancements in downtown Phoenicia can depend on one another for effective flood hazard mitigation in some areas, and certain projects would have limited benefits unless combined with one or more others.
Under the assessed configuration of floodplain enhancements and bridge replacements, more than 50 homes and businesses can potentially be removed from the current and projected future 100-year flood inundation areas. Disturbance to private properties would be required for project implementation, but alternatives were specifically configured to avoid the need for building removals where possible. All affected properties would directly benefit from the respective flood hazard mitigation projects, and nearly all of the proposed disturbance for floodplain enhancement is within the regulatory floodway, with the remaining area falling within the Special Flood Hazard Area.
