Round Pond Berm Extension and Improvement Complete

Community-Identified REDI Projects Selected after Expert Evaluation and Review

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today the start of construction of the second of 11 projects awarded to the town of Greece, Monroe County through Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI). This project seeks to eliminate flood risk by making improvements to storm sewers and elevating the Braddock Road Sanitary Pump Station to protect it from flood waters. DEC also announced the completion of the Round Pond Berm extension and upgrade project.

DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said, "Governor Cuomo's response to high water on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River has been a textbook example of good government and crisis leadership. Before, during, and after floodwaters ravaged shoreline properties and critical infrastructure across the region, the Governor has acted decisively to deliver resources and remove obstacles to accelerate recovery and reconstruction. Today we're announcing the start of a project that will protect critical infrastructure from future flooding." 

During high water events in 2017 and 2019, storm sewers in the Braddock Road area were overwhelmed and local storm water outfalls backed up and became an additional source of flooding. Residents resorted to discharging their sumps into the sanitary sewer. Vulnerable infrastructure in this area services 256 households and Braddock Bay Park and Public Marina. Without intervention, continued flooding jeopardizes the structural integrity of local roads and homes and presents an obstacle to emergency responders.

As part of the State's ongoing response to record flooding that hit Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River shoreline communities during spring and summer 2019, Governor Cuomo created the REDI Commission, a multi-agency team tasked with studying sustainable solutions to strengthen infrastructure and mitigate impacts from future flooding while bolstering the region's local economies.

Governor Cuomo launched the REDI program in May 2019 after record-setting high waters hit Lake Ontario in 2017 and 2019, causing significant damage along shoreline infrastructure. Through REDI, the State has committed up to $300 million to rebuild the shoreline, as well as improve resiliency in flood-prone regions along the lake with projects identified by local REDI Commission working groups.

In April, construction was completed on the Round Pond Berm REDI project. The Round Pond Berm project, one of several on Edgemere Drive, extended and upgraded the earthen berm, protecting both homeowners and the Monroe County Water Authority’s (MCWA) pumping station and Edgemere Drive from future inundation. During the 2017 flooding, this stretch of Edgemere Drive was submerged for more than 100 days, jeopardizing the integrity of the road and limiting emergency responders’ access to nearby residents.

Directed by Governor Cuomo, the REDI Commission is led by DEC and Empire State Development. Additional participating agencies and authorities include the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, State Office of General Services, Department of Transportation, Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, NYS Homes and Community Renewal, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and Office of Emergency Management, New York Power Authority, State Department of Labor, and the New York State Department of State.