Letter to President George W. Bush

January 29, 2004

Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
The White House
Washington D.C.

Dear Mr. President:

As you finalize your budget for fiscal year 2005, I respectfully request that you fully fund seven Army Corps of Engineers projects that are of great importance to New York State. The projects, Fire Island Inlet to Montauk Point Reformulation Study, Lake Montauk Harbor, Bronx River restoration, Fulmer/Moyer/Steele Creeks flood control and Wells emergency stream bank erosion are all vital to the economy of New York State. I have provided brief descriptions of the projects below.

The Fire Island Inlet to Montauk Point Reformulation Project provides for hurricane protection and beach erosion control along five reaches of the south shore of Long Island between Fire Island Inlet and Montauk Point, a distance of approximately 83 miles. The study was initiated in 1994 and is nearing completion. This project will provide storm protection for Long Island's 3 million residents.

Lake Montauk Harbor is located on the south fork of eastern Long Island, Suffolk County, NY. The harbor opens to the north into Block Island Sound through an inlet stabilized by two jetties. A Senate Committee resolution adopted October 17, 1991 to determine if further improvements for navigation are advisable authorized a study for Lake Montauk Harbor. Beneficial use of any dredged material for improvements to the environment would also be considered. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and the Town of East Hampton support the effort and are partners to cost-share the feasibility study. This harbor is home to a substantial commercial fishing fleet that is vital to the regions economy.

Local communities throughout the Bronx River Basin have suffered flooding and environmental degradation as a result of storm events. These storm events produce flooding, riverbank erosion, and habitat loss. The flooding and degraded environment has an adverse effect on the economy and general well being of the watershed. The study area occupies 56.4 square miles in central and lower Westchester County and Bronx County of the City of New York. The communities lying wholly or partly in the watershed include the Towns of North Castle, Scarsdale, Mount Pleasant, and Greenburgh, the Cities of Yonkers, White Plains, and Mount Vernon, and the central part of Bronx County.

The Fulmer Creek study area is approximately 10 miles east of Utica, New York in the Village of Mohawk in the Town of German Flats. The study area lies along the lower section of Fulmer Creek, a tributary of the Mohawk River. Frequent flooding occurs along Fulmer Creek in the Village of Mohawk due to flows, which exceed the existing channel's capacity. The heavy flows occur as a result of ice jams, which form at the bridges. The principal damage areas lie on the right bank of the waterway and include many residential and commercial structures. The purpose of this study is to investigate ways to reduce flood hazards and associated urban damages from ice jams. The study seeks to maintain fish and wildlife resources of the existing stream, significant cultural attributes of sites found within potential project boundaries, and water quality of the stream in this area.

The Steele Creek study area is approximately 9 miles east of Utica, New York in the Village of Ilion. The study area lies along the lower section of Steele Creek, a tributary of the Mohawk River. Frequent flooding occurs along Steele Creek, in the Village of Ilion due to flows, which exceed the existing channel's capacity. The heavy flows occur as a result of ice jams, which form at the bridges. The principal damage areas lie on the right bank of the waterway and include many residential and commercial structures. The purpose of this study is to investigate ways to reduce flood hazards and associated urban damages from ice jams. The study seeks to maintain fish and wildlife resources of the existing stream; significant cultural attributes of sites found within potential project boundaries, and water quality of the stream in this area.

A 300-foot section of the left bank of the Sacandaga River in the Town of Wells, Hamilton County, NY is unstable. The Sacandaga River is braided within the study area. Currently, the easternmost channel braid is receiving the majority of the river discharge and is migrating laterally. As a result, the left channel bank on the outside bend of the river continues to erode and is encroaching County Road No. 8 and private property. The lateral migration of the channel is progressing at approximately 2 feet per year. Without stabilizing the bank, the County Road No. 8 and other private structures are under a serious threat of being undermined.

The Moyer Creek study area is approximately 8 miles east of Utica, New York in the Village of Frankfort. The study area lies along the lower section of Moyer Creek, a tributary of the Mohawk River. Frequent flooding occurs along Moyer Creek in the study area due to flows, which exceed the existing channel's capacity. The heavy flows occur as a result of ice jams, which form at the historic arch bridges. The principal damage areas lie on the right bank of the waterway and include many residential and commercial structures. The purpose of this study is to investigate ways to reduce flood hazards and associated urban damages from ice jams. The study seeks to maintain fish and wildlife resources of the existing stream;
significant cultural attributes of sites found within potential project boundaries, and water quality of the stream in this area.

These projects are extremely important to the economic and environmental health of the State of New York. I respectfully request that as you finalize your budget request for the upcoming fiscal year you give these projects the utmost consideration. Thank you very much for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator

Cc: Joshua B. Bolten, Director of the Office of Management and Budget