The Flooding of Johnson Boulevard

On Saturday Oct. 28th the brook that usually flows under Johnson decided to go OVER the road on its way to Lake George. This took place during the significant rainstorm about 3:00 PM. I took these photos of the road:
























Other than one resident who told me that this road was under water during the October 2005 rainstorms, none of the several long-time HH residents I spoke with could ever recall witnessing this type of flooding event.

Thankfully, this happened on a Saturday. What would have happened if the brook overflowed on a weekday? This would have presented a safety issue for the kids who usually walk home from school.

While a significant event in and of itself, this is a symptom of a larger issue: How do we control runoff water from south of the HH neighborhood in a manner that preserves the safety of our children, the quality of life our area enjoys and the environment -- clean water in Lake George, Little Tiogue Lake and Tiogue Lake.

***** 11/03/06 update *** Someone who lives on King St. notified me that no one on their street sustained any water damage from the 10/28/06 storm, which I am glad to hear.

Here are the contents of an email that I sent to town officials today:
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Public Officials

I am sending you some photographs of the flooding at Johnson Blvd. that occurred last Saturday October 28th. I spoke with several long-time residents of the area and none of them could ever recall the brook overflowing the road into Lake George. Homes on King St., Johnson, and York Dr. had water their basements. One resident on York said that in 12 years of residing there he has never been water in his cellar until that storm. If the rainstorm had occurred during a weekday there may have been safety issues with children trying to walk home from Hopkins Hill School. The sediment-laden water ran from the brook into Lake George, Little Tiogue Lake and Tiogue Lake causing yet another sedimentation event that affected flora and fauna in these waters.

The Town Manager, Town Engineer, Town Planner and DEM (including the Director) are aware of this event. The Town Engineer and DEM were on site the day of the flood. Since Johnson Blvd. may have never been flooded before, we need to determine what the causes are of this incident. Are the storm drains from I-95 that direct water onto Centre of New England property a factor? Are storm drains from Hopkins Hill Road a factor? Are all the new commercial and residential buildings that were constructed at CONE in the past year a factor? Should the I-95 storm drains direct water to Big River property instead of CONE? Should catch/retention/detention basins be constructed for HH Road? Should CONE's RIPDES permit be reviewed? Should CONE's local soil & erosion control plan be reviewed?

Since a lot more commercial and residential buildings are going to be built at CONE, we need to come up with a plan NOW to contain the flow of water to protect the environment, provide safety for our children and maintain the quality of life of the residents of the Hopkins Hill neighborhood. DOT, DEM, the town and the developer of CONE all need to get together and figure this out.

I ask that each you help in some way to begin this process. Thank you.
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Some officials contacted me today, advising that the Town Manager and Town Engineer are reviewing the incident. DEM will review this as well. I will provide more information to you as it becomes available.

Comments/Questions? savehhs@hotmail.com