floodcontrol

Harbor Brook Drainage District

The Flood Control Division of Water Environment Protection (WEP) provides continuous maintenance and preventative flood measures within the Onondaga County Drainage Districts by removing trash and debris from waterways, maintaining the surrounding landscape, and responding as needed during and after heavy weather events. The Onondaga County Legislature established four (4) Drainage Districts in the 1970s to oversee maintenance and improvements of select waterways and to limit chronic, seasonal flooding in the area. The Flood Control Division of Water Environment Protection (WEP) provides continuous maintenance and preventative flood measures within the Onondaga County Drainage Districts.

Regular maintenance of Drainage Districts helps keep local waterways at maximum capacity, reducing the likelihood of local flooding and directing water away from neighborhood properties and local habitats. Flood Control mows and trims vegetation, removes trash and debris, and inspects WEP infrastructure to ensure District waterways are unobstructed. To further reduce flooding and control terrestrial vegetation along these waterways, WEP contracts licensed professionals to apply select herbicides to particular Drainage District locations in early springtime every year, as permitted by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC). These professionals will safely apply herbicides according to the application instructions of each product and in compliance with all local and federal laws.

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Frequently Asked Questions
How does regular maintenance reduce flooding? Regular maintenance and the removal of trash and debris along with annual herbicide applications keep local waterways at maximum capacity, which increases flow, reduces the likelihodd of flooding and directs water away from neighborhood properties and local habitats. What type of regular maintenance is performed by WEP employees? Flood Control employees regularly mow, trim, and remove woody vegetation and debris, and inspects WEP infrastructure to ensure unobstructed water flow and reduce the chances of flooding during rainfall events. WEP employees do not apply herbicides.
What type of regular maintenance is performed by contracted professionals? WEP contracts licensed professionals to apply select herbicides to certain Drainage District locations to control and manage terrestrial vegetation to reduce area flooding, as permitted by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC). Why are herbicides used as part of regular maintenance? Herbicides reduce vegetation growing near drainage ways, which can obstruct water flow and can lead to flooding and other drainage issues. What products will be applied? List of products used and approved by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Bureau of Pesticides Management (NYS DEC) can be obtained by sending a request via WEP Contact Us form. When are applications made in each Drainage District? Applications are scheduled annually in spring, depending on weather.