ALBANY – The first round of work orders have been awarded to four companies, allowing work to begin this summer on seven NY Works flood control repair projects.

The projects represent an estimated $300,000 total investment and include Amsterdam ($3,000 - Montgomery County) Hoosick Falls ($3,000 - Rensselaer County), Herkimer ($129,500 - Herkimer County), Johnson City ($9,600 - Broome County), Lisle ($96,000 - Broome County), Vestal ($3,200 - Broome County) and Whitney Point ($55,900 - Broome County). Projects include surveying flood control project boundaries and conducting video inspections of pipes in the flood control project areas.

"NY Works projects will provide critical improvements to our state's flood control infrastructure," Governor Andrew Cuomo said. "As a result of the NY Works program's expedited procurement process, work can begin immediately on vital repairs that will rebuild our municipalities and put New Yorkers back to work."

The Department of Environmental Conservation and the Office of General Services awarded the work orders to Bergmann of Rochester and Albany, Erdmann & Anthony of Rochester, LaFave of Booneville and MJ Engineering of Clifton Park, which are under contract with the state.

Surveying the boundaries of these flood control projects enables DEC to properly maintain them in accordance with the federal government's criteria under the oversight of the Army Corps of Engineers. Projects need to maintain a clear right of way to provide access to prevent floods and for maintenance. These areas also need to be maintained free of trees and other vegetation which could harbor burrowing animals and create root systems which could allow flooding waters to migrate through and weaken the earthen levees and cause a breach in the levee. In addition, trees too close to flood control projects can fall over and pull up soil that is part of the levee. This could compromise the integrity of a levee or floodwall. Also, fallen limbs could cause an obstruction in a waterway which could increase the likelihood of flooding.

DEC maintains 106 flood control projects, of which 91 have been rated "minimally acceptable" or "unacceptable" by the Army Corps of Engineers. The NY Works Funds will designate $56 million to perform maintenance of flood control facilities such as levees, pump station and flood gates.