While we are not totally out of the woods yet, I think it’s safe to say that we have successfully made it through a mild winter this year. As I mentioned in last month’s article, the lack of snow helped save our Town thousands of dollars reduced salt and overtime pay. While the snow plowing was minimal this year, we kept our highway department very busy. The Highway Department focused their efforts on clearing our water drainage system. At times our Highway Superintendent Jamie Dussing has had as many as three crews out clearing the Town ditches in an effort to keep our Town as dry as possible this spring.
Recently the Town commissioned a North Clarence Flood Reduction Study (The Study).
The Study was conducted to help identify where improvements can be made in our North Clarence drainage system to reduce the magnitude and duration of any possible flooding. Two key areas were the focus of The Study: getting water back into Tonawanda Creek with diversion channels and also modifications to Black Creek which would improve flow all the way to the Town of Amherst. Using satellite technology that wasn’t available ten years ago The Study results will allow the Town crews to accurately make sure water is flowing in the right direction out of Town. The study also established improvements in order of priority, based on maximum benefit. The new course of action should bring positive results almost instantly.
After the work is complete when flooding does occur (which is usually from the east) the height of the water should be less than previous floods and should exit the Town faster. Drainage under Goodrich Road will be improved as part of the road reconstruction project. This will improve flows from the east to the west as well. Most of the North end of Town is very flat, so every inch gained in drainage slope with the GPS accuracy helps to drain our system better. The implementation of the diversion channels and any Black Creek improvements will be a multiyear effort for the Town due to the distances in miles and dry ground conditions needed to gain access to perform the work.
Additionally, the Highway Department has announced their plans for their Spring clean-up schedule. General street sweeping will begin on Monday, April 18th. Brush pick up will begin starting Thursday, May 5th. Tentative resurfacing plans are also underway, with official dates to be announced soon. Please remember that your brush must be on your property, and not on the roads in any way for the safety of pedestrians.
Any information you need regarding town codes, or Highway Department information can be found on our town website, www.erie.gov/clarence.
Special thanks to Highway Superintendent Jamie Dussing, and Town Engineer, Tim Lavocat for their assistance with sharing this information.