Good Ideas Surface After the Floods

The community came together in a number of ways after the recent and devastating rains. Residents put forth their ideas on mitigation, offered their expertise to the City Council, and volunteered to help ensure that Rye would be even better prepared the next time around.

By Robin Jovanovich

Former Councilman Matt Fahey brought up a suggestion made by Andy Ball when he was on the Council: a volunteer corps designed to pair off those at risk with those interested and able to help others in times of peril.

Chris Cohan, who serves on the Conservation Commission/Advisory Council, said, “This past storm proved how vital flood plains are in absorbing and mitigating nature’s superior power.” He recommended planting aquatic native plants along the banks of Blind Brook, starting near the Milton Cemetery Bridge, to reduce erosion and toxins.

Longtime resident Larry Lehman, a mechanical engineer who has done consulting work for the City and formerly served on both the Planning Commission and the Traffic and Transportation Committee, was brimming with ideas.

“We don’t need to commission another study,” he said in a recent interview. “After the 2007 floods, the City was going to do a study on the channel from Indian Village to the Boat Basin, and determine the property line between the Y and the Rye Free Reading Room. Meanwhile, for four years we’ve all watched the brook accumulate debris.

“Cleaning the brook up is a no-brainer. What will it take to achieve flood mitigation? Brains, guts, and money. The funds will have to come from the City to begin with. The Council just has to have the guts. There are so many of us in Rye willing to share our intelligence. Werner Tietjen and I have 100 years of engineering experience between us for starters,” said Mr. Lehman.

admin