Case Studies
Of Infrastructure and Inundation: A Tale of Adaptation Along Sauquoit Creek
How one New York State community raised awareness of local transportation infrastructure problems and flooding—and persuaded stakeholders to work together to find solutions.
As the impacts of climate change increase, communities see a growing need to improve the resilience of their local transportation infrastructure. Weak points in local systems may already be apparent, especially during inclement weather. However, despite complaints from the public or even significant damage during a major climate event, communities often lack resources, both human and financial, to fix these weak points. Fixes can appear daunting, and it can be difficult for communities to persuade public and private stakeholders to prioritize resilience projects.
Highlights
- Professional research helps communities find solutions to local climate-related issues.
- Communities can use studies to raise awareness at state and federal levels.
- Taking local responsibility for climate adaptations can help focus stakeholder efforts and drive projects forward.
One group of communities in Central New York found a way to focus outside attention on their primary transportation weak point by commissioning a study, which prompted state and federal agencies to fund and initiate a solution to improve climate resilience.
Studying Persistent Floods Along Sauquoit Creek
The mouth of Sauquoit Creek meets the Mohawk River in Oneida County about 40 miles east of Syracuse in the town of Whitestown. The northern end of the creek separates the two Whitestown villages of Whitesboro and Yorkville, both of which lie adjacent to the Sauquoit Creek floodplain. Sauquoit Creek has a significant history of flooding and causing damage to local businesses. Historically, flooding was caused by a combination of snowmelt, rainfall, and ice jams. Over time, however, increased runoff, erosion, and sediment buildup in the creek and adjacent areas have also contributed to flooding. With rainfall in the region projected to increase with climate change, risk of flooding only increases.1
After the 2019 Halloween storm flooded 67 homes and 114 other properties in the region (Figure 1), the Sauquoit Creek Basin Intermunicipal Commission (SBIC) formed to address regional issues in watershed, flooding, and stormwater management.2 This group of local governments, agencies, and organizations commissioned studies of the event and developed alternatives to reduce future flood risk. The studies revealed several causes of frequent flooding in the area and confirmed that the area’s legacy transportation infrastructure played a significant role. Road and rail bridges and adjacent culverts contributed to debris blockage and ice jams that inhibited the flow of water through the channel during extreme precipitation or runoff events. Another contributing factor was overdevelopment in the area. Where once soft ground and mill ponds absorbed and slowed the flow of rainwater and snowmelt runoff, now impermeable streets sent stormwater and runoff directly into the creek. The study also predicted an increasing risk of creek flooding due to heavier precipitation in coming decades.1
Solutions with Shared Responsibility
To address this complex problem, the SBIC proposed non-transportation solutions such as a local government buyout program for floodplain properties and the widening of the creek channel with flood “benches.”2 But it was clear that transportation agencies and the owner of the rail bridge, CSX Transportation, would need to address the blockages caused by bridges and culverts in order to resolve the issue.
The SBIC studies raised awareness about the urgency of this problem at state and federal transportation agencies by presenting credible scientific analysis and potential solutions. The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) initiated projects to replace two bridges of New York State Route 69 and Main Street in Whitestown. These projects are scheduled to begin in the fall of 2023 with state and federal grants of approximately $55 million.3 CSX has also approved the construction of crossing pipes at its obstructive railroad bridge over the floodplain. The SBIC intends for the property buyout program to reclaim enough land, including that of stormwater-channeling streets and roads, to increase the breadth of the floodplain and its ability to absorb the extreme future precipitation projected in climate models. By providing a multi-vectored approach with responsibilities spread across governmental bodies, the 2019–2021 SBIC studies helped convince NYSDOT and other stakeholders that a comprehensive approach was possible.
The Sauquoit Creek case demonstrates how communities can take charge in the face of climate hazards and develop resilient transportation systems and adaptation strategies. The affected communities worked together to investigate the causes of increased flooding and identified possible solutions, which showed other public and private stakeholders that a combined effort could reduce flood risk. They raised local awareness and explored alternatives without waiting for state government to provide solutions, and in doing so provided a model for other New York State communities to take action in solving problems that involve climate change and transportation infrastructure.
References
1. Ramboll. (2021). Stream sediment and debris management plan: Sauquoit Creek, Oneida County, New York. Prepared for the Sauquoit Creek Basin Intermunicipal Commission. https://ocgov.net/sites/default/files/planning/SCBIC/FINAL_Stream_
Sediment_Debris_Management_Plan_with_Appendices.pdf
2. Kandamby, A. H. (2020). Sauquoit Creek drainage study: Findings of 2019 Halloween storm – Hydraulic modeling. https://ocgov.net/sites/default/files/planning/SCBIC/MapsDocuments/Documents/
FFE%20Analysis%20Results%20Report_11May2020.pdf
3. New York State Department of Transportation. (n.d.). Projects. Retrieved December 15, 2022, from https://www.dot.ny.gov/portal/pls/portal/MEXIS_APP.DYN_PROJECT_DETAILS.show?p_arg_names=p_pin&p_arg_values=202334