Chesapeake Climate: Fighting floods

In a region of New York along the upper Susquehanna River, managing more intense storms takes a watershed approach

An area of southern New York along the Susquehanna and Chenango rivers has always been prone to flooding. But historical measures like levees and dams are not as protective in light of climate change, which is making precipitation more frequent and intense in the northeast United States. After major storms in 2006 and 2011, planners from Broome and Tioga counties, as well as the Upper Susquehanna Coalition, have received funding from sources like the NY Rising Community Reconstruction Program to identify priority watersheds and collaborate across jurisdictional lines to take a holistic, watershed approach to mitigate flooding. Measures range from enlarging culverts and restoring streams, to installing green infrastructure and buying out flood-prone properties in harm's way.

Video Credits

Produced by

Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program

Music:

"Depths of Heaven" by Zachary Wilson and "Children of Lemuel" by Blue Dot Sessions; All music via FreeMusicArchive.org

Additional footage:

Courtesy of Chris Waits/CC-BY

Special thanks to

Mike Lovegreen, Beth Lucas, Chip McElwee, Wendy Walsh, Debra Standinger, Mike Jura, Kyle Rittenburg, Chris Luszczek