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Projects could begin this week to stop Fulmer Creek bank errosion

Posted October 14, 2007 11:00 pm

Eric Monnat

Two projects to correct and prevent bank erosion along Fulmer Creek in the town of German Flatts could get under way by the end of the week.

The German Flatts Town Council sent the projects out for bid last week. Bids will be opened today and the reviewing process will begin, according to Supervisor Frank Spatto.

He said once the bids are reviewed by the town's engineering firm, the projects could begin this week.

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The first project is what state Department of Environmental Conservation Deputy Regional Permit Administrator Patrick Clearey calls a "rip-rap" project. It will stabilize the bank along Fulmer Creek near the trailer park on Route 168.

Clearey said three tiers of heavy stone will be placed along the bank to create a slope and retaining wall, which will restore 300 feet along the channel.

He said this spot is a highly eroded location that could threaten some structures in the park if it gets any worse.

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"This project will stop erosion of the bank," said Clearey.

Clearey said the second project is further upstream near a large debris field, where gravel has begun to drop into the stream and is causing property loss.

"We will dig a new channel through the gravel to reestablish a channel that will not erode the bank," said Clearey.

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He said a deflector will be placed at the head of the channel to direct the water flow to the created channel and a few boulders will be placed in the channel to disperse energy and create a fish habitat.

Clearey said the projects are pretty basic.

"We do hundreds of these a year, they are very typical projects," said Clearey.

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Clearey said the DEC approved both projects to be done this fall, even though both will most likely be done in the time frame that trout will be swimming in the stream.

He said the first project will be done on land and the second one will start in a dry area and proceed downstream.

"Both have a limited impact to the stream," added Clearey.

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Spatto said both projects will be entirely funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"We're trying to get these done before the bad weather comes," added Spatto. "We'll probably have some more work to get done in the spring."

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