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Important meetings (Linked to Agenda) |
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News Flash |
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Is Walmart business interest more important than thousands of Amherst homes and families ??? The proposal is not only located entirely in the 100 year floodplain but also a portion of the project is in the FLOODWAY . It is located in the epicenter of the worst floods where Ransom Creek and Black Creek converge. Flood damage and the causes of floods in the vicinity of the proposed site are well known. Amherst families are waiting for the $19 million flood storage plan recommended in the Town of Amherst- ‘ Ransom Creek Improvements Study’ completed in 2001. |
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Let us not forget what happened not long ago: |
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1985 Flood |
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1998 Flood |
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Current Flooding Pictures: |
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These pictures were taken near Town Ditch #26 in Aug-Sept of 2004 and 2005. Imagine what this will look like when the water approaches 1985 or 1998 levels. |
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Flood Frequency- and heights |
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Source: NWS Historical Data |
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The documents found on this website demonstrate, increased impervious surfaces cause higher velocity floods and increase the frequency of flood events. The development inducement or “catalyst” proudly touted by Walmart can have a dramatic long-lasting implications for our the health and safety of our families. When these flood events occur, our neighborhoods fill with compromised waters including fecal coliform present in Ransom Creek waters. "Water quality monitoring indicate that many OSDS (onsite wastewater disposal systems-septic systems) in North Amherst are failing as evidenced by fecal coliform contamination and nutrient loading enrichment in Ransom Creek" – source -NYS DEC Bureau of Watershed Assessment and Research-1998 Section 8.2 |
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Increasing Flood Heights in Amherst The town has been warned by the DEC repeatedly about the cumulative effects of floodplain development. "How will the cumulative effect of increases in the 100 year flood elevation be dealt with on a long term basis within the Town due to development? NFIP standards allow for a one-foot rise in flood elevations, but floodplain development permit review is supposed to identify if there will be any 'adverse effects' to existing or proposed development. The term 'adverse effects' means damages from flooding to a greater depth, duration or velocity (flood waters causing erosion). Amherst Town law allows for basements in the floodplain, as long as they are dry flood-proofed to the 100 year elevation, with the suggestion that the flood-proofed elevation be one foot or higher. The one foot of free-board is slowly being decreased to less than one foot as the cumulative affects of continued development occur." -source- DEC-Dockside Village review letter May 22, 2002. pg2 The DEC has already repeated this warning about increased danger for the Walmart proposal- “The total project is located within the 100-year floodplain, according to the federal Emergency Management Agency Map No. 360226 004D, and the Town should seriously consider whether development is reasonable in this situation." -source-NYS Department of Environmental Conservation letter January 17, 2006-WalMArt Super-center pg.3 |
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Water Displacement Walmart proposes to remove at least 15 acres of water storing wetlands and fill and raise the site to prevent damage to its building. Even a child playing in sand understands that raising the height in one spot forces water elsewhere nearby. Additionally, because of the unique nature of Amherst flooding, including backwater events which are shown in the 2001 Ransom Creek Study, significant, increased backwater will surely wind up in nearby residential subdivisions threatening the safety of thousands of families and their investment. Can Walmart really be comfortable encouraging increased flood risk and threatening the safety of thousands of families while at the same time building it’s own site to remove flood risk for themselves? |
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Necessary Mitigation In it’s flyer mailed to Amherst residents –Walmart stated “Walmart will pay for necessary traffic and drainage improvements that could be the catalyst to improve many of the traffic and floodplain concerns in the vicinity of the new store.” If Walmart is really willing to honor their words and pay for the multi-millions of dollars of Tonawanda Creek Watershed repairs already identified on this website AND the $19 million dollar 2001 Ransom Creek flood recommendations, AND millions more to repair existing structural damage to floodplain homes and infrastructure– ALL NECESSARY MITIGATIONS TO ALLOW THIS PROPOSAL TO PROCEED… THEN AMHERST RESIDENTS CAN THINK SERIOUSLY ABOUT SUPPORTING THIS PROPOSAL.
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