Following the most recent ice jam that created flooding in the Schenectady area, in a letter to the US Army Corps of Engineers and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, a civil engineer, called for immediate research and implementation of ice jam prevention measures in the Schenectady area. Since then, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has received $500,000 in state funding to take action on Santabarbara’s request and will begin a flooding and ice jam study of the Mohawk River corridor.

During his 15 year career as a civil engineer, Santabarbara worked on updating studies on the Mohawk River, working with a River Analysis System developed by the Hydrologic Engineering Center in Davis, California (HEC-RAS). “As a civil engineer, I know how 21st century engineering and technology can help solve problems like this,” said Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara. “In fact, there are a number of measures that have been used to help mitigate ice jams in other areas of the northeast where similar problems have occurred,” Santabarbara said. “The cost to research the options and implement the most effective measures can save millions in future recovery efforts, clean-up costs and infrastructure repairs.”

According to The US Army Corps of Engineers Ice Jam Database, 25 of the 100 ice jams tracked this year are in New York State. “The Schenectady area has a long history of ice jams,” said Assemblyman Santabarbara. “It is possible to get ahead of the problem and I’m pleased to finally see this investment that was long overdue,” Santabarbara added. “This is an issue that has affected generations of families and businesses. It’s an issue that cannot wait any longer and needs our immediate attention.”