Village of Mamaroneck Passes $1.36M Resolution For Emergency Dredging

MAMARONECK, NY — A Mamaroneck Village Hall logjam has been broken leading to a new resolution that will help to protect the community from future flooding.

It has been less than a year since torrential rains from the remnants of Hurricane Ida caused a historic natural disaster in the village. The new action taken by the village is the best chance to take immediate steps to help mitigate the risk of a similar disaster revisiting the hard-hit community.

Earlier this week, the Village of Mamaroneck's Board of Trustees passed a resolution authorizing an additional $1.36 million appropriation to fund emergency dredging and desiltation of the Mamaroneck River, Sheldrake River, Beaver Swamp Brook and Guion Creek.

The move follows Mamaroneck Village Manager Jerry Barberio issuing a Proclamation of Local Emergency last month because of siltation and deferred cleaning of the Mamaroneck River and Sheldrake River. The emergency declaration contended that a lack of action was worsening the flood risk for residents adjacent to the rivers. A subsequent proclamation will extend the area to include the Beaver Swamp Brook and Guion Creek which also have large deposits of silt that are decreasing water flows and causing obstruction, thereby increasing flood risk.

"The Village of Mamaroneck Board of Trustees has authorized an additional $1.36 Million dollars for emergency river and creek dredging for this year," Village Trustee Lou Young said in a statement released on social media. "This is in addition to the $200K already being spent on in-house overtime for village crews now at work. I thank Village Manager Jerry Barberio for the emergency declaration that broke the Board of Trustees' long paralysis on this matter and the citizens who made their voices heard about the need for immediate action. Another hurricane season is approaching and the Mayor and I will not simply wait for the Army Corps mitigation project. This village will do its part for its residents."

The Village of Mamaroneck coordinated with JT Cleary, a firm specializing in dredging and desiltation, to develop a plan for addressing the deferred river maintenance. The village's consulting engineer is also preparing applications for required regulatory permits and approval for river dredging and desilting operations.

JT Cleary estimated that the work would take 60 days and provided a quote of $1.18 million to conduct emergency dredging and desiltation operations.

An additional contingency of 15 percent was added to provide for any field conditions or additional work that might be determined to be necessary to clean and maintain the waterways.

The Village of Mamaroneck Board of Trustees authorized the modification of the 2021/22 General Fund Budget to provide $1,357,920 for the emergency work.

SEE ALSO: Community Flood Mitigation Forums Set As Major Projects Go Forward