City of Albany Site Visit
Hudson Valley Flood Resilience Network gathers at The Hollow Kitchen + Bar.
On November 14, the Hudson Valley Flood Resilience Network convened local governments and regional partners in Albany. We learned about tools from the US National Weather Service Albany NY and the City of Albany’s flood mitigation work, and had conversations about flooding priorities and funding. The day also featured a tour led by the Albany Water Department of green infrastructure projects that reduced flood risks in two of Albany’s neighborhoods: the Hansen-Ryckman Alley & Woodlawn Park Overflow Abatement & Flood Mitigation Project and the Ramsay Place Green Infrastructure Project.
At Woodlawn Park, an infiltration gallery under the baseball field can store up to 750,000 gallons of water, which either slowly seeps into the ground or empties into the sewer once capacity is available. Stormwater is also filtered and treated for reuse by the City of Albany. The site also features a constructed wetland to manage additional stormwater. In addition to reducing flood risk in this neighborhood, which had been hard-hit by storms in the past, the project also relieves pressure on Albany's combined sewer system for water quality improvements.
It was fantastic to hop on the trolley (provided by the Albany Fire Department!) and learn about these innovative projects with other local leaders from around the Hudson Valley.
This program is sponsored by the NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary Program and the NYS Water Resources Institute at Cornell University, and funded by the NYS Environmental Protection Fund.
The Hudson Valley Flood Resilience Network connects local governments committed to taking actionable steps to manage current and future flood risks. The Flood Resilience Network is co-facilitated by New York Sea Grant and the Hudson River Watershed Alliance.
Hudson Valley Flood Resilience Network programs and trainings are open to Members and Partners. Members are representatives from municipal and county governments in the Hudson River estuary watershed. This includes elected and appointed officials, staff, and volunteers. Partners are staff from agencies, regional organizations, or private-sector consulting firms working in the Hudson River estuary watershed that support Members’ flood resilience goals.
To join the Network and gain access to upcoming programs, visit https://www.hvfloodresiliencenetwork.org/join and complete the Member or Partner form based on your role. The Network is free to join.