Longterm solutions focus around flood control dam upgrades, flood plain development
By Guy Page
Fifty homes are known lost in the heavy flooding Monday night in the Northeast Kingdom. That count could climb after more review – and more expected flooding, Gov. Phil Scott said at a press conference today.
Lyndonville in particular is still flooded. Heavy rains today are likely to cause flooding beginning at noon today, with a flood watch through midnight tonight.
“We are in the process of staging swiftwater rescues in central and northeastern parts of the state,” Public Safety Commissioner Jen Morrison said at the press conference.
The unexpected rainfall Monday night fell hardest on towns north of St. Johnsbury, including Lyndonville, 8”; Island Pond, 7”; and Morgan, 6”.
Landslides – Saturated soils are making landslides likely, she said. Bolton, Worcester and Barnet have seen severe erosion and landslides on private drives.
Dam safety – There are no dam safety issues at present. The Army Corps of Engineers has toured safety dams around Barre and Montpelier.
Road closures as of noon today include Rte. 5 in Barnet (bridge damaged), Rte. 2 in E. St. Johnsbury, Rte. 5 in St. Johnsbury, Rte. 105 in Brighton, Rte. 111 in Morgan, and Rte. 114 in East Burke (due to a severely compromised bridge).
Lamoille Valley Rail Trail current closures: from Mile 13.37 to 14.2 (Danville village), the route between the Hardwick and Wolcott trailheads, and St. Johnsbury to Marty’s Store in Danville.
Public drinking water systems. A lightning strike destroyed controller apparatus for a St. Johnsbury water system. The water main that broke during the July 10 flood was exposed, but is intact. Despite these incidents, all service is intact and there are no boil water notices. Town officials in affected towns are asking for conservation.
In Lyndonville, two public wells were inundated and are not now in use. However, there is enough water from an intact well. The Barnet school boil notice is in effect.
Sewer systems – a sewer system pump station in St. J was damaged, as was infrastructure in Brighton. All state parks affected by the July 10 flood have reopened.
Gov. Scott appears to be running out of similes to describe how the repeated floods have made him and others Vermonters feel.
I think I get more apprehensive with every storm,” noting the cumulative impact of saturated soils. “When we had Irene [in 2012], I thought it was going to be a 100-year storm.” But it was followed by last July’s storm – and last December’s – and this July’s – and Monday night’s.
“In December I called it a gut punch,” Scott said. When the flooding this July hit, he called it “a kick in the teeth.” But to Monday night’s flooded communities, first response crews, and road crews who have seen their work lost, “It probably feels much worse than a punch or a kick. It’s simply demoralizing. …If there is ever a time we needed our tightnit communities to show up, it’s now.”
Longterm solutions?
More than $100 million state and federal funding is being spent to remediate areas of actual and potential flooding.
Federally-funded work is ongoing to upgrade the Waterbury flood control dam.
Army Corps of Engineers experts toured flood control dams around Barre and Montpelier with state officials yesterday. The state is looking at exercising more operational control and maximizing flood control value of these dams, which are considered ‘passive’ dams.
Building a new flood control dam is unlikely in Vermont, ANR Secretary Julie Moore. The process would be “expensive and disruptive,” she said. When existing dams were built after the Great Flood of 1927, small farms and communities were flooded out. It was challenging in the 1930’s and it would be more so now, Moore said.
Flood plain restoration – Properties that are pursuing FEMA buyouts could become flood plain areas to absorb overflow.
The VNRC dam removal program has had and will have no negative impact on downstream flooding, Moore said in response to a VDC question.