STONE HARBOR – The Borough Council has created a Flood Mitigation Special Committee to monitor an ongoing pilot study using control valves along the bayfront.

The valves are being tested as a means of blocking bay waters from flooding streets by entering through pipes meant for outflow.

The committee, created by the council April 2, will also investigate alternative means for flood control and mitigation, continue monitoring bulkheads throughout the borough, and gather data to establish a baseline and history of flooding.

An initial committee on flood mitigation worked on the creation of the borough’s 2022 Flood Mitigation and Storm Sewer Master Plan. Soon after that plan was presented to council in April, the borough terminated plans for a large stormwater pump station at 93rd Street due to significant increases in estimated costs for the project. The control valves might be one possible alternative strategy.

The reconstituted committee will be chaired by Councilwoman Bunny Parzych and consist of council members Jennifer Gensemer and Frank Dallahan along with public works Director Manny Parada and borough engineer Marc DeBlasio. Rounding out the committee will be Justine Herzog, a resident, James Fisher, a representative of the commercial district, and county engineer Robert Church.

The committee is authorized through December and may be continued by an act of the council at the annual reorganization meeting in January.

Contact the author, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.