The Brooker Drainage Analysis Study: What does it mean for New Rochelle?

In March and April, City Hall hosted a series of presentations on the Citywide Drainage Study conducted by Brooker Engineering, PLLC.  The study included examining complaints, videos and pictures to identify flooding areas that impact public and private facilities; engaging the community to help locate areas needing improvement; identifying potential remediation measures to reduce flooding in problem areas; and estimating costs for potential improvements.

The study divided the city into six watersheds: Stephenson Brook, Pinebrook, Sheldrake River, Hutchinson River, Burling Brook, and Shore.  For each watershed, the study compiled a list of flooding complaints to the City’s Public Works, Police, and/or Fire departments; performed additional community outreach through an online portal; engaged engineering consultants to review drainage complaints; and evaluated potential improvements.  There were many complaints to the City, but it is not clear whether the data accurately captured the level of distress that New Rochelle has faced from typical flooding, let alone the devastating floods following storms like Hurricane Ida.  It is also not clear if the data included vulnerable areas and communities that typically are disconnected from City Hall and are not accustomed to filing complaints online.

Proposed solutions include increasing pipe capacity, adding inlets and drainage networks where none currently exist, creating green infrastructure, and using infiltration and stormwater storage to reduce stormwater volumes.  

The overall plan calls for developers to install strong, high-end materials and piping that will Increase the water capacity throughout the whole system.  High-capacity drainage in areas such as North Avenue would catch excess flow and prevent flooding in areas that are currently vulnerable, like the areas that were heavily impacted by hurricanes Sandy and Ida. 

The presentations focused on specific streets where there have been complaints and where there is a plan to address the flooding.  But construction cannot begin until the cost and timeframe for each improvement are identified, which may take years.  And it was not clear which areas will be prioritized.     

In short, New Rochelle remains at risk and vulnerable to flooding disasters.  Until the budget is determined, vulnerable areas, including less affluent communities, are not safe from the impact of flooding, and remain emotionally and financially uneasy. 

For those who were unable to attend the meetings, the information can be found in detail on the city’s website at https://www.newrochelleny.com/flooding.