DEC adds Moodna Creek watershed to flood mitigation program

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recently announced the addition of the Moodna Creek watershed in Orange County to the Resilient NY Program to help identify strategies that reduce flooding in high-priority, flood-prone watersheds.

The DEC said this will help to identify the causes of flooding within the Moodna Creek watershed and develop effective and ecologically sustainable hazard mitigation projects appropriate for the affected municipalities. According to Orange County, the watershed includes portions of 22 municipalities.

“New York is investing expertise and resources into bolstering community resiliency and addressing the impacts of extreme weather events by implementing flood mitigation measures in high-risk areas,” said DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar. “We are pleased to add the Moodna Creek watershed to the Resilient NY program and help Orange County communities take action to reduce the potential for flood damage and look forward to working with the communities in this watershed and our state elected officials to advance this important project.”

Due to the extensive network of tributaries within the Moodna Creek Watershed, the Resilient NY flood study encapsulates a wide range of communities in eastern and central Orange County that are subject to repetitive and severe flooding and experienced significant flood damage. The study, which will begin early next year, will undertake a comprehensive hydraulic analysis and geomorphic assessment of the watershed to determine the cause(s) of flooding. It will evaluate and recommend flood mitigation strategies at specific locations that will be effective at reducing flooding throughout the Moodna Creek watershed.

More information on Resilient NY is available on the DEC website.