BENEFITS OF USING EXISTING DAMS FOR FLOOD MITIGATION IN THE

MOODNA CREEK WATERSHED, ORANGE COUNTY, NY

Allan Estivalet, PE, CFM 1

Greg Shaffer, PE, CFM 2
Michelle Bowen 3

ABSTRACT

For communities facing flood risks, adapting existing dams and reservoirs to mitigate
flooding can be more cost effective than constructing new flood control infrastructure.
Leveraging flood mitigation funding to rehabilitate and upgrade existing dams also
reduces dam failure risks and protects the benefits provided by impounded reservoirs.
This paper presents the benefits of this approach and the methodology for quantifying
those benefits.

Hurricane Irene hit the East Coast in late August 2011, causing extensive flooding and
resulting in millions of dollars in damages. The New York Rising Community
Reconstruction Program, announced in April 2013, is a $700 million planning and
implementation program that provides rebuilding and resiliency assistance to
communities in New York State severely damaged by Hurricane Irene. As part of this
program, a drainage master plan was developed for several flood-prone communities in
Orange County, NY to accurately understand flooding risks and propose mitigation
measures.

To assess local flood risks, an integrated hydrologic and hydraulic model was developed.
This model used an innovative 1D/2D approach coupled with geographic information
system (GIS) resources and incorporated climate change projections to assess future
flood risk. The model enabled the identification and analysis of the best flood mitigation
projects. As part of this process, our team identified the existing reservoirs that could be
used most effectively to alleviate downstream flooding. Engineering assessments were
performed for 12 identified dams to determine modifications to maximize each
reservoir’s storage capacity. Proposed solutions included dam rehabilitation, spillway and
dam crest modifications, flood control gates, and remediation of low level outlets. In
addition to structural changes, our hydraulic model was used to develop operational
procedures that will maximize flood mitigation benefits.

Our team used a robust financial analysis to evaluate the costs and benefits of different
dam modification projects. Financial analysis allows communities to prioritize spending
under intense fiscal constraints. The methods used are outlined in detail in this paper.

1
Dams and Water Resources Group Lead, WSP, One Penn Plaza, 250 W 34 th St., 2nd floor, New York,
NY 10119, (914) 449-9110, Allan.Estivalet@wsp.com
2
Senior Project Engineer, WSP, 2000 Lenox Drive, 3rd Floor, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, (914) 449-9145,
Gregory.Shaffer@wsp.com
3
Water Resources Engineer, WSP, One Penn Plaza, 2 nd floor, 250 W 34th St., New York, NY 10119, (914)
449-9054, Michelle.Bowen@wsp.com

Copyright © 2018 U.S. Society on Dams. All Rights Reserved. 1

 INTRODUCTION

Flooding has long been a recurrent hazard for many communities. Recent extreme
weather events and natural disasters have exposed vulnerabilities and have shown that
communities must seriously and proactively respond to the threat of flooding.
Demographic shifts and long-term climate trends have the potential to increase the losses
caused by flood events and lend additional urgency to the challenge of increasing
community resiliency by mitigating flood risks.

Reducing flood risk and vulnerability and increasing flood resiliency are sensible goals
that will benefit many communities in the future – few people would argue against acting
to reduce the loss of life or property damage due to flooding. On the economic side,
hazard mitigation is generally a worthwhile investment for which the total monetary
benefits exceed the total monetary costs. This was illustrated by a study performed by the
Multihazard Mitigation Council in the United States (2005), which found that for every
$1 spent on pre-event mitigation, $4 was saved in post-event damages. However, large
investments are required to successfully implement projects that will mitigate the losses
caused by such disasters, and the tight fiscal constraints faced by many municipalities
make these investments challenging.

To create a sustained commitment to increasing resilience, it is critical to show that

investments in flood mitigation will yield quantifiable benefits that balance or exceed the
costs. Modifying existing dams and reservoirs for flood mitigation purposes is one
strategy that has the potential to be cost effective for many communities. This practice
can be more cost effective than constructing new flood control infrastructure, and
rehabilitating and upgrading existing dams reduces dam failure risks and protects the
benefits provided by impounded reservoirs. Our paper presents a case study of how this
strategy was used to develop a flood mitigation plan for several communities.

BACKGROUND

Hurricane Irene hit the East Coast in late August 2011, causing extensive flooding and
resulting in millions of dollars in damages. In April 2013, New York State announced the
New York Rising Community Reconstruction (NYRCR) Program. With more than $700
million in funding for planning and implementation programs, the NYRCR Program led a
movement towards building resiliency in the most impacted communities throughout
New York (New York Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery). The Town of Blooming
Grove and Village of Washingtonville were each selected to develop a NYRCR Plan,
which identified key flooding issues and recommended specific actions to build
resiliency. The Drainage Master Plan for the Town of Blooming Grove and Villages of
Washingtonville and South Blooming Grove was recommended as a subsequent project
to the NYRCR Plans to expand on the findings and propose recommendations. The
Drainage Master Plan uses a full flood model to evaluate flooding causes and develop
flood mitigation projects for implementation.

Copyright © 2018 U.S. Society on Dams. All Rights Reserved. 2

Flooding is a recurrent concern for the Town of Blooming Grove and the Villages of
Washingtonville and South Blooming Grove. Much of the development in these
communities is located by major waterways. During storm events, these communities
often experience considerable flooding that affects the safety and mobility of the public
and results in significant financial losses for both public and private sectors. In 2011,
Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee flooded homes, critical infrastructure, and
municipal buildings throughout the Town and Villages. Emergency services were
incapacitated and local businesses suffered financial losses on the order of hundreds of
thousands of dollars. Homes and businesses in some areas remained unreachable for
several days, causing anxiety and fear to resonate throughout the community.

As part of the Drainage Master Plan, a comprehensive flood study was conducted for the
portions of the Moodna Creek Watershed in the Town and associated Villages. The
watershed was modeled to obtain detailed flooding data, and extensive hydrological and
hydraulic analysis of the major river systems was performed to identify the most effective
flood mitigation projects. Selected flood mitigation projects were subsequently developed
to feasibility-level design.

MODELING APPROACH

The Town and Villages are located within the Moodna Creek Watershed in southern New
York, west of the Hudson River (see Figure 1). To accurately model flood risks, an
integrated, watershed-scale modeling approach was adopted to account for the complex
and interrelated processes that impact flooding in the study area. Our integrated approach
combines hydrologic and riverine components to develop a hydrodynamic model capable
of simulating the hydraulic interdependences common during large flood events. Figure
2, on the following page, shows the extent of the modeled area.

Figure 1. Project Location Map.

Data Collection

A comprehensive data collection effort was undertaken for this project, including desktop
studies and field work. This effort ensured that the most up-to-date, reliable information
was available for the completion of the project. The desktop study focused on gathering
existing reports, plans, surveys, and spatial information. Existing plans and studies were
collected and used to inform the plan development and identify areas prone to flood

Copyright © 2018 U.S. Society on Dams. All Rights Reserved. 3

damage. Regional geospatial information required for the flood study was collected from
national, state, and regional databases. Site surveys, bathymetric contours, and other data
were collected from municipalities and private stakeholders. This information was used
to support the development of the hydrologic and hydraulic models.

Figure 2: Drainage Master Plan Project Area

Copyright © 2018 U.S. Society on Dams. All Rights Reserved. 4

A rigorous field survey was undertaken to assess the physical characteristics of stream
crossing structures and drainage structures within the watershed. Initial field
reconnaissance was performed to develop a full accounting of the crossings (e.g., bridges
and culverts) and impounding structures (e.g., dams) that affect the drainage within the
three municipalities. Our team identified, located, photographed, classified and visually
assessed 131 dams, bridges, and culverts.

Following the initial field reconnaissance, our team performed a detailed field survey to
obtain coordinates, elevations, and dimensions of the stormwater and riverine assets
necessary for the hydraulic modeling. This survey effort encompassed 18 dams, 41
bridges, and 41 culverts. In addition to the survey data collected, field sketches were
completed and photographs of the assets were taken. The information from the field
reconnaissance and field survey was compiled and mapped using a GIS web portal. This
web portal, shown in Figure 3, allows local municipalities to access the collected
information for their infrastructure assets.

Figure 3: Web Portal to Access Municipal Asset Data

Hydrologic Modeling

The hydrological analysis of the Moodna Creek Watershed is conducted in geospatial

software ArcMap and the Hydrologic Engineering Center Hydrologic Modeling System
(HEC-HMS). In HEC-HMS, the digital representation of a physical watershed is
accomplished with a basin model. This model uses a dendritic network to simulate the
rainfall-runoff processes. In a dendritic network, there are many contributing streams that
join to form the tributaries of a main river, and different hydrologic elements are
connected in HEC-HMS to represent this network. These elements include subbasins,
reaches, junctions, and reservoirs.

Copyright © 2018 U.S. Society on Dams. All Rights Reserved. 5

To calculate rainfall-runoff values, the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) Curve Number
Method is used. This method translates non-infiltrated precipitation into a simulated
discharge hydrograph at the outlet of the watershed. Curve Numbers represent the
relative infiltration potential of the land and are determined by using ArcMap to combine
hydrologic soil group classifications with land use/land cover data. The SCS Unit
Hydrograph Method is used to translate excess precipitation into a modeled discharge
hydrograph at the outlet of the subbasins. The parameters necessary for this method are
calculated within ArcMap using terrain data and the calculated area, length of the longest
flow path, and drainage slopes for each subbasin.

Additional components of the HEC-HMS model are developed from geospatial data
available in ArcMap and survey data. Dimensions and elevations of dams were taken
from available existing information and the field survey data. Reservoirs have elevation-
area curves developed from the digital elevation model (DEM) data. For reservoirs with
available bathymetry data, the elevation-area curves spanned the entire reservoir depths,
and for reservoirs without available bathymetry data, only the active storage above the
normal water surface elevations was modeled.

The meteorological model constructed within HEC-HMS provides the precipitation data
needed to simulate the rainfall-runoff processes. Cumulative precipitation depths for the
subbasins are derived from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Atlas 14. Areal adjustments of point rainfall are made using data provided in SCS
Technical Paper No. 40.

Climate Change Impacts

The effects of climate change on precipitation and flooding can be extensive and costly
for communities. The increasing frequency of large storm events must be accounted for
to adequately prepare communities for future flooding risks. In 2015, the U.S. Geological
Survey and New York State Department of Transportation created a tool to calculate
future peak flows of floods in any stream in New York State (Burns, et al. 2015). The
tool uses regression equations to estimate the increase in magnitude of future floods due
to climate change. With inputs of watershed characteristics, such as basin size, land
cover, precipitation, and geomorphology, future annual precipitation is estimated using
varying climate scenarios. We conducted an analysis of the mean changes in predicted
discharge to identify the climate scenario that produces the highest discharges during the
design life of the proposed projects.

For this study, the peak flow rates from 2050 to 2074 were used to capture the design
service life of the proposed projects. Discharge increases due to climate change for storm
events ranging from 2-year to 100-year flood events were calculated during this study
(see Figure 4). The changes in discharge were accounted for by applying a ratio to the
simulated flow hydrographs during hydraulic analysis.

Copyright © 2018 U.S. Society on Dams. All Rights Reserved. 6

 Figure 4: Predicted Discharge Increases for Design Storms from
2050 – 2074 in New York State

Hydraulic Modeling

A Hydrologic Engineering Center River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) hydraulic model is

used to simulate one and two-dimensional unsteady flow in the river system of the
Moodna Creek Watershed. The model uses one-dimensional cross sections and two-
dimensional flow areas to simulate the river discharge and stage within the stream
channels and across the floodplain.

Main creeks and streams within the watershed are modeled using cross sections, part of
HEC-RAS’s 1D modeling routine. In areas with expansive floodplains or stage-
dependent flow patterns, two-dimensional areas are added to the model. One-dimensional
and two-dimensional areas are connected via lateral structures within the model. Aside
from the seven reaches modeled using cross sections, fourteen additional tributaries are
modeled in the two-dimensional flow areas and two reservoirs are modeled as storage
areas using level-pool routing. The remaining reservoirs are modeled dynamically in the
one-dimensional reaches. Model geometry is built from a one meter resolution DEM
developed by USGS in 2015. The high-resolution terrain was instrumental in the model
development because it offered very precise elevation information.

The cross sections, stream centerlines, flowpaths, and bank stations are drawn in ArcMap
using the HEC-GeoRAS extension. Cross sections required to develop the model are
chosen at representative locations along the flow paths where changes occur in discharge,
slope, shape and roughness. Manning’s roughness coefficients for the streambed and
overbanks are selected from the site inspection and ortho-imagery. The roughness
coefficients account for the resistance and energy dissipation experienced by the flow.

Copyright © 2018 U.S. Society on Dams. All Rights Reserved. 7

 IDENTIFICATION OF FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS

Multiple factors contribute to the flood risks faced by the Town of Blooming Grove and
Villages of Washingtonville and South Blooming Grove, including topography, geology,
development, and climate change. Steep slopes, large contributing watersheds, and low
permeability produce high flow rates in the watershed’s streams and rivers, contributing
to severe flooding in many areas. This flooding is exacerbated by development and
human activities. Development in low-lying areas can experience frequent flooding due
to low elevation and proximity to water bodies, and this development fragments and
impairs natural floodplains that keep people out of harm’s way and accommodate flood
events. Choke points such as bridges and culverts also reduce the capacity of the streams
to convey water and increase peak discharges. Lastly, climate change impacts are
projected to result in increased heavy precipitation events, which will translate into
increased flooding risks.

By combining an in-depth understanding of the flooding issues with public engagement

events and interviews with residents, key strategies were identified to reduce flooding
and provide more resilient communities for the residents of the Town and Villages. These
strategies represent a multi-faceted approach to reduce flood risk while maintaining and
strengthening economic vitality, maximizing environmental co-benefits, and preserving
and enhancing local resources and assets.

Flood Mitigation Strategies

Four main flood mitigation strategies were utilized for the Drainage Master Plan:

Store and Delay: Use existing infrastructure to capture and temporarily retain rainwater to
reduce flooding downstream.

Restore: Remove existing infrastructure that exacerbate flooding to reduce flood risk and
restore the function of natural riverine systems.

Protect: Protect communities by implementing blockage infrastructure that will prevent

flooding in especially vulnerable areas.

Improve Drainage and Stormwater Systems: Improve outdated and undersized

infrastructure that contribute to damage within built-up areas.

Assessment of Dams and Reservoirs

Dams and reservoirs were a major focus when identifying flood mitigation projects that
utilized the store and delay and restore strategies. Using the hydrologic and hydraulic
models, baseline conditions were used to identify especially vulnerable areas of the
community subject to high flood hazards. Water surface profiles were studied to identify
critical constrictions where dams, bridges, and culverts raised the water surface elevation
in the stream, resulting in overtopping of a road or flooding to nearby properties. Based
on this initial analysis, our team assessed the potential flood mitigation benefits that could

Copyright © 2018 U.S. Society on Dams. All Rights Reserved. 8

be provided by each dam in the modeled area. Key criteria included proximity to
upstream and downstream high risk flood areas, current reservoir capacity, feasibility of
increasing reservoir capacity, and dam condition. Through this initial assessment
process, 12 dams were identified that could be used effectively to alleviate downstream
flooding.

DEVELOPMENT OF FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS

The NYRCR program facilitates the implementation of community-driven resilience

projects with tangible flood mitigation benefits. The Drainage Master Plan includes
specific flood mitigation projects and recommendations to be implemented in the Town
of Blooming Grove and Villages of Washingtonville and South Blooming Grove.
Infrastructure-based projects and recommendations were developed to 30 percent design
to ensure feasibility, develop cost estimates, and perform a project prioritization process.
Our team developed full project plans for five of the 12 dams identified in the initial
assessment process. These five dams were selected after additional considerations of
ownership, feasibility, and expected benefits.

Proposed physical measures for the dams included dam rehabilitation, spillway and dam
crest modifications, installation of flood control gates, remediation of low level outlets,
and dam removal. For each dam, the hydrologic and hydraulic models were used to
evaluate the impact of the different measures, determine which combination of measures
would be most beneficial, and optimize the overall design of the dam for flood mitigation
purposes. Within the HEC-RAS model, a different geometry file was created for each
potential design option. Each geometry file was then used to simulate the impact of
specific design storms. The results of these simulations were compared to evaluate the
effectiveness of the design options. Several iterations of this process were performed to
optimize the final proposed design. Two of the proposed dam design projects are
described in further detail below.

Orange-Rockland Lake Management Plan and Willow Brook Dam Gate Project

Willow Brook Dam is constructed on the Satterly Creek, a tributary of the Moodna
Creek. The dam impounds Orange-Rockland Lake, which is used for recreational
purposes. The objective of the Orange-Rockland Lake Management Plan and Willow
Brook Dam Gate Project is to significantly increase the capacity of the reservoir to use it
as a more effective storage facility to reduce flooding downstream of the structure. This
proposed project consists of installing a crest gate system over the service spillway and
implementing a lake management plan.

Once the planned spillway modifications are complete, a 5-foot tall crest gate would be
installed on top of the spillway. The gate would be operated by two hydraulic cylinders
installed at either end of the gate. The gate would rotate approximately 70 degrees from
the fully raised to fully lowered position and is appropriate for extended use in any
position within that range. One concern voiced by property owners on the lake was a
desire for the current lake level to be maintained. The crest gate system was designed to

Copyright © 2018 U.S. Society on Dams. All Rights Reserved. 9

maintain the current lake level and would not create additional flooding in the vicinity
and upstream of the lake.

To maximize the flood reduction benefits, the implementation of a lake management plan
is also proposed. This lake management plan will control the opening of the dam’s low
level outlet and the operation of the crest gate system during large flood events. Real-
time meteorological data and hydrological data will be used to predict upcoming flood
events. Hydrological forecasts and any predicted flood conditions will be available to
stakeholders through an online tool. This tool would be able to send warnings if a flood
event is predicted. Gate operation strategies will be developed during the full design
process for the gate system. Various flood scenarios will be modeled and an optimal
operation strategy would be identified for each scenario. When a flood occurs, real-time
data will be used to determine which modeled flood scenario most closely matches the
real-world conditions, and the operation strategy for that scenario will be selected.

If implemented, this project would reduce flooding in areas downstream from the Willow
Brook Dam by creating a greater capacity of flood storage and ensuring that the use of
that flood storage is optimized. This flood reduction would mitigate safety and financial
risks associated with storm events through better storage of floodwaters.

Brown’s Pond Redevelopment Project

Brown’s Pond Dam impounds water on the Otter Kill, one of the major tributaries of the
Moodna Creek, and is located upstream of the Village of Washingtonville. Classified by
the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as a Class A – Low
Hazard Dam, the dam has deteriorated over time and the structure is currently in a state
of progressive failure.

The Brown’s Pond Redevelopment Project consists of removing Brown’s Pond Dam,
rechannelizing the Otter Kill, stabilizing the river banks and the new floodplain, and
restoring the pond area to riparian and floodplain habitat with native plant species. The
primary objective of this Project is to reduce the risk of upstream and downstream
flooding. Dam removal would reduce baseline water levels within the existing pond area,
significantly reducing flooding upstream of the dam. Removing the dam would also
eliminate the risk of a dam failure for the downstream community. Additional
downstream flood reduction benefits are minimal, but the pond area would provide some
additional flood storage during high flow events. Our team analyzed the potential
effectiveness of installing a sluice gate system that would provide more control over
water storage during flood events, but model simulations indicated that the expected
benefits would not justify the high cost of the gate system.

In addition to providing flood reduction benefits, removing Brown’s Pond Dam and
reconstructing the Otter Kill within the existing pond will aid in restoring the natural
habitat in the surrounding ecosystem. With the dam removed, the stream will return to its
natural corridor, and some open water will be restored to native wetland and other
riparian habitats. Wetlands and floodplain forests provide flood storage capacity while

Copyright © 2018 U.S. Society on Dams. All Rights Reserved. 10

enhancing terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Terrestrial and aquatic habitat will be re-
connected and expanded, and habitat quality will be improved. By coupling dam removal
with restoration and site improvements, this project will reduce flood risk and enhance
the surrounding natural, educational, and recreational opportunities of the area. A
rendering of the completed project is provided in Figure 5.

Figure 5: Rendering of Brown’s Pond Redevelopment Project

PROJECT PRIORITIZATION

It is not feasible for the Town and Villages to implement all the proposed projects and
recommendations at once. Thus, to complement the projects and recommendations, our
team developed a prioritized ranking of the initiatives that serves as a capital planning
tool for the municipalities and provides a road map for implementation.

Financial analysis

To evaluate the cost effectiveness of the proposed flood mitigation projects, Benefit-Cost
Analysis (BCA) is performed for each project. BCA is a method for estimating the total
benefits over the design life of a mitigation project and comparing those benefits to the

Copyright © 2018 U.S. Society on Dams. All Rights Reserved. 11

total project costs. The result of BCA is the determination of financial metrics that are
used to evaluate and compare the cost effectiveness of different flood mitigation projects.
The construction costs for the proposed projects are estimated using our in-house cost
estimating spreadsheets along with standard cost estimating procedures and values,
previous experience with similar projects, and engineering expertise. Cost estimates are
based on preliminary project layouts developed to feasibility-level design. All cost
estimates include costs for professional services, construction, and life cycle costs for the
design life of the project. The design life is assumed to be 50 years for all projects, a
standard value for infrastructure projects. In addition, a contingency is added to all the
cost estimates to account for the uncertainty present in cost estimates for projects
developed to feasibility-level design.

For a flood mitigation project, the financial benefits are the future damages or losses that
are expected to be avoided because of the proposed mitigation project. These avoided
losses are determined by estimating the losses for existing conditions before and after a
flood mitigation project is implemented. The benefit is the difference between the losses
for existing conditions and the losses for existing conditions with an implemented
project.

Hazus-MH (Hazus), a loss estimation tool developed by the Federal Emergency

Management Agency (FEMA), is used to perform the flood loss estimations. Hazus is a
GIS-based tool that provides nationally applicable, standardized methodologies for
estimating potential losses from flood events. The methodology deals with nearly all
aspects of structural assets and encompasses a wide range of losses. Additionally, Hazus
contains community asset information from extensive national, regional, and state
databases.

Flood hazard data produced by the combined one-dimensional and two-dimensional

hydraulic model was used as the basis of the Hazus loss estimations. The flood hazard
data is combined with the asset data to estimate the financial losses for each of the design
storms. Damages to general building stock, essential facilities, lifeline systems, and
utility systems are estimated using the depth-damage curves that Hazus provides. These
depth-damage curves are compiled from a variety of sources including the Federal
Insurance and Mitigation Administration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE),
and the USACE Institute for Water Resources. General building stock damage
calculations are based on data that is aggregated for specific areas, while facility and
system damage calculations are based on site-specific data. Vehicle damage functions use
depth damage relationships that consider the “step-wise” nature of flood damage to
vehicles. Together, these methods are used to estimate the dollar value of losses due to
flood events. The financial benefit of a specific mitigation project is calculated by finding
the difference between the losses for the existing conditions scenario and the losses for
the implemented project scenario.

Copyright © 2018 U.S. Society on Dams. All Rights Reserved. 12

Non-financial analysis

Some of the costs and benefits associated with flood mitigation projects cannot be
accurately converted into financial measures. Social, cultural, and environmental assets
are valued by communities and should therefore be considered as part of the prioritization
exercise, but it is often difficult to quantify their value objectively in financial terms.
Capturing the total value of a community’s assets (financial, social, cultural and
environmental) while prioritizing projects that vary in type, scale, and impact is a
challenging process, so our team uses a non-financial prioritization matrix to take these
factors into account. This matrix formalizes the inclusion of non-financial and qualitative
factors into the project prioritization.

A prioritization matrix is a simple tool that provides a structure and objective approach
for evaluating and comparing different projects based on a set of qualitative and
quantitative criteria. These criteria are selected specifically for this Drainage Master Plan
to accurately assess the impact of the different flood mitigation projects. Table 1 shows
the categories and criteria that are used.

Table 1: Assessment Criteria for Flood Mitigation Projects

Flood Mitigation Projects Comparison Matrix
Category Criteria
Flood risk reduction for total population in the floodplain
Community Flood risk reduction for vulnerable populations* in the floodplain
Improved emergency response
Opportunities for educating community and encouraging
environmental stewardship
Community acceptance and support
Property and Infrastructure Flood risk reduction for critical facilities
Flood risk reduction for general properties
Improvement or removal of deficient infrastructure
Protection and strengthening of local economy
Economy Avoidance of future maintenance costs
Recreational/Cultural
Impacts on economic
Retail/Dining
assets
Industrial
Restoration and improvement of stream connectivity
Environment Improvement of water quality
Restoration and creation of habitat
Reduction of flood risks for environmental areas
Impact on freshwater wetlands
Permitting, Construction, Regulatory process
Maintenance Land ownership
Temporarily impacted area
Estimated construction/implementation time

*Vulnerable populations include elderly and low-income populations. New York State has defined low- to moderate-
income households as those households with incomes below 80% of the HUD-determined Area Median Income

Copyright © 2018 U.S. Society on Dams. All Rights Reserved. 13

Final Project Ranking

The last stage of the prioritization process is ranking the overall priority of the different
projects. This is done by using the results of the financial and non-financial analysis to
determine a single ranking value for each project. Multi-criteria analysis combines
financial and non-financial indicators in a way that accurately accounts for the different
value that communities place on different categories of impacts.
Prior to performing the multi-criteria analysis, the financial and non-financial indicators
are normalized and weighted to ensure that they can be accurately combined to determine
a single indicator value. Weighting factors are applied to reflect the relative importance
that the project stakeholders assign to the various indicators. The final prioritization score
is calculated by multiplying the results of the financial and non-financial analyses by a
final weight. This final weighting factor quantifies the relative importance of financial
and non-financial impacts to the project stakeholders.

CONCLUSION

Dams can be a valuable flood mitigation tool for communities facing flood risks.
Modifying existing dams can be more cost effective than constructing new flood control
infrastructure. Leveraging funding to rehabilitate and upgrade existing dams for flood
mitigation also reduces dam failure risks and protects the benefits provided by
impounded reservoirs.

Project status: Funding needs to be spent by the end of 2018; the Town of Blooming
Grove and Villages of Washingtonville and South Blooming Grove have selected four of
the proposed projects and recommendations for implementation.

REFERENCES

Burns, D.A., Smith, M.J., and Freehafer, D.A. 2015. “Development of flood regressions
and climate change scenarios to explore estimates of future peak flows: U.S. Geological
Survey Open-File Report 2015–1235”. 11 p. http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20151235

National Institute of Building Sciences, Multihazard Mitigation Council. 2005. “Natural

Hazard Mitigation Saves: An Independent Study to Assess the Future Savings from
Mitigation Activities”

New York Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery. (n.d.). “NY Rising Community
Reconstruction Program FAQs”

Copyright © 2018 U.S. Society on Dams. All Rights Reserved. 14