DEC Announces Groundbreaking of New York State 'REDI' Project in Village of Cape Vincent, Jefferson County

Upgrades to Market Street Sewer Will Protect Nearby Homes and Businesses Sewage Collection System Improvements Will Mitigate Future Damage and Safeguard Public Health

Community-Identified REDI Projects Selected after Expert Evaluation and Review

Total $300 Million Appropriated for Shoreline Communities Includes $15 Million for Regional Dredging, $30 Million for Private Businesses, and $20 Million for Homeowner Assistance

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today the start of construction of the first of seven projects awarded to the Village of Cape Vincent, Jefferson County through Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI). During the high-water flood events that took place in the summer of 2017 and again in 2019, the Market Street sanitary sewer system was subjected to increased external water pressure, which ultimately led to sewage backups in local residences and businesses. The REDI Commission awarded the village $705,000 to upgrade the sewage collection system, which will mitigate sewer backups in basements, mitigate damage to the lift station pumps, and reduce increased pumping and treatment costs incurred by the village.

DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said, "New York is mitigating the impacts of our changing climate and protecting our communities across the state. By making strategic investments through REDI, New York State is proactively improving vulnerable infrastructure to protect New Yorkers and community assets from future high water events. Through Governor Cuomo's REDI program, at-risk infrastructure is being reimagined to protect these assets from future flooding, enhance public safety, protect the environment, and safeguard communities along the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River."

President and CEO of New York Power Authority Gil Quiniones said, "It's encouraging to see Governor Cuomo's REDI commission working on resiliency projects like this important one in Cape Vincent and in other vulnerable communities impacted by flooding. Repairs to vital community infrastructure projects like these are the exact reason the REDI commission was created and we, at NYPA, are pleased to see this work being completed, hardening our communities against future weather events."

Project improvements include:

• Replacing and rerouting sanitary sewer mains along Market and Gouvello streets, and replacing existing manholes with new watertight manholes;
• Installing a new eight-inch diameter sanitary sewer main along Market Street and connecting to a new watertight manhole at the intersection of Market and Gouvello streets. The improved sanitary sewer will flow northeast along Gouvello Street in a new 12-inch sanitary sewer main and route through three new manholes to an existing pump station between Point and James streets. This rerouting of sanitary sewer along Market Street and the larger sanitary sewer main along Gouvello Street will allow the existing flood vulnerable sanitary sewer between Market and Point streets to be abandoned;
• The existing pump station's six-inch force main will be integrally interconnected to the 10-inch force main to alleviate surcharges in the downstream pipes and mitigate overflows at the downstream manhole; and
• Restoration of any lawns, asphalt roadway, and concrete sidewalks in the disturbed site.

Senator Patty Ritchie said, "Just as high water along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River has damaged homes and eroded land, it has also taken a significant toll on infrastructure in many of our shoreline communities. I am pleased to see the Market Street sewer project moving forward and know the strengthening of this system will make a significant difference to the Village of Cape Vincent in the future."

Jefferson County Chairman Scott Gray said, "The Market Street Sewer project is another great example of Governor Cuomo's REDI program working with shoreline communities to ensure that infrastructure within flood prone areas are properly identified and addressed, mitigating further damage to the asset, and in this case, protecting the health of Village residents."

Cape Vincent Mayor Jerry Golden said, "The village board and residents are very excited to begin the much needed repairs to our infrastructure and shoreline that have been badly damaged due to high water and flooding. With great appreciation from our State and Federal agencies especially through the REDI programs we will be able to make these necessary repairs that will not only bring them back to pre-flood condition but in fact be improved to withstand the ever unpredictable water levels going forward. At the conclusion of the these very important projects the community and our visitors will be able to enjoy our waterfront for many years to come. We thank all involved for helping make our community safer and more enjoyable for all."

In response to the extended pattern of flooding along the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, Governor Cuomo created REDI to increase the resilience of shoreline communities and bolster economic development in the region. Five REDI Regional Planning Committees, comprised of representatives from eight counties (Niagara and Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Cayuga and Oswego, and Jefferson and St. Lawrence) were established to identify local priorities, at-risk infrastructure and other assets, and public safety concerns.

The REDI Commission allocated $20 million for homeowner assistance, $30 million to improve the resiliency of businesses, and $15 million toward a regional dredging effort that will benefit each of the eight counties in the REDI regions. The remaining $235 million has been allocated towards local and regional projects that advance and exemplify the REDI mission.

Since the creation of the Governor's REDI program in the Spring of 2019, 133 REDI funded local and regional projects are underway, including 107 projects in the design phase, 13 projects in the construction phase, and 13 projects completed.

DEC is the lead agency on the Market Street Sewers project. For additional information, project profiles and REDI news, visit the REDI website.

https://www.dec.ny.gov/press/press.html