Executive Summary

Public safety is a critical component to the New York State Canal Corporation’s (NYSCC) Engineering Operation and Maintenance program and its mission to provide reliable operation of a safe and secure Canal system. The Guide Book establishes practices and guidelines for the management of water impounding earthen embankments, focusing on the top priority of reducing risk of embankment failure, while supporting asset preservation, environmental protection and existing community character. The 130 miles of NYSCC water impounding canal embankments, although distinct from levees and dams, due to the duration and frequency of their water loading, should not be maintained using guidance developed for levees, but rather dams. This is supported by a review of industry and engineering guidance on dam and levee best practices (Section 1). The NYSCC, a public benefit corporation and subsidiary corporation of the New York Power Authority (NYPA), is organized into engineering regions and maintenance sections in order to maintain canal infrastructure through NYSCC maintenance forces, on-demand contractors, or public bidding of construction contracts (Section 2). Water impounding earthen embankments are prioritized for maintenance by using a matrix based on a hazard classification and a condition rating to arrive at a modified Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) risk urgency scale rating. Bank walk, informal, formal and special periodic inspections of water impounding earthen embankments are conducted at intervals based on hazard classification to identify, review, and program corrective actions (Sections 3 and 4). Typical dimensions, and the specific outboard and inboard features of canal water impounding earthen embankments are illustrated and explained, embankment zones are illustrated and explained, and structures that are integrated within watered earthen embankments but fall outside the scope of the Guide Book, are also explained and illustrated (Section 6). Embankment maintenance activities (Section 7) are outlined, and the detailed Best Maintenance Practices (BMPs) are provided as an attachment. Definitions for compatible and non-compatible vegetation and a description of goals for vegetation management in each of the five embankment zones are provided. The necessity of embankment maintenance, the scheduling of embankment maintenance, and how noncompatible vegetation is to be safely removed are explained. Environmental requirements (Section 8) for specific water impounding earthen embankment projects are explained. The SEQR thresholds and mitigation procedures sub-section provides the table of regulatory and community thresholds and the mitigation procedure (a flow chart) that guides the development of specific embankment segment projects.

Approaches and methods for essential and effective public relations and community outreach (Sections 9 and 10) are provided for projects where community thresholds are and projects where community thresholds are not exceeded. The NYSCC Embankment Inspection & Maintenance Guide Book establishes the methods and processes necessary for reducing risk of failure of its 130 miles of water impounding earthen embankments, while supporting asset preservation, environmental protection and existing community character.