Published: July 25, 2008 11:52 pm         

Migrating Susquehanna threatens Unadilla

To see a satellite view of Sheep Pen Road/state Route 7 junction near the Susquehanna, click here. Then, click "Bird's Eye view."



By Tom Grace

Cooperstown News Bureau

UNADILLA _ As it has for centuries, the Susquehanna River is migrating, but its movement toward homes and businesses in the town of Unadilla has local people and their representatives worried.

On Friday morning, officials from all levels of government met to discuss the situation and possible solutions.

In the area where Sheep Pen Road meets state Route 7, the river makes a tight turn on its way to Sidney. Along the outside of this arc, rippling water is eroding the bank, moving the river ever closer to the highway, the homes of Dave Wakeman and Frank Ettrich, a small motel and an ice cream stand.

``In the Flood of 2006, we had 4 feet of water in the garage,’’ Wakeman said.

But he’s less concerned about another large flood than the constant scouring, which is moving the river across his back yard.

``In 22 years, I’d say it’s moved 100 feet,’’ he said.

With state Department of Transportation engineers Tom Rook and Mike Adams watching, Wakeman pointed to a spot in the river and said, ``I was mowing there last summer.’’

His comments came on a field trip that was preceded by a meeting of town, county, state and federal officials at the Unadilla town hall. There, town Councilman Roger Cecce gave an overview of the problem by showing how the river is moving across the map.

An abandoned mill race lies between the river and road, he said, and if the erosion continues, the Susquehanna eventually will be flowing there, approaching more structures.

State officials cautioned there is no easy fix for a meandering river.

Cecce said he was no expert, but thought a new channel might be dug to take the bend out of the river. However, Tom Blanchard, Region 4 flood-plain manager for the state Department of Environmental Conservation, said that any change in the river’s course could have unforeseen consequences.

``With the project you’re talking about, the water’s going to move faster, and you might wipe out Sidney,’’ he said.

Gene Kelly, DEC Region 4 director, noted that ``looking into the future, we have to focus development away from the flood plain.’’

On that point, Otsego County Rep. Greg Relic, R-Unadilla, agreed, but said the town already has such rules.

In several vehicles, the party of nearly 20 went to the site, hiked along the river, and then reconvened to compare notes.

At the end of the field trip, state Sen. James Seward, R-Milford, and state Assemblyman Pete Lopez, R-Schoharie, said the problem facing Unadilla resembles the one downstream in Sidney, where water is coming too close to Amphenol Corp.

``In the short term, we have to stop what’s happening here and protect people,’’ said Seward, ``and in the long term, we’ll explore the possibility of rerouting the river.’’

Seward said the meeting was a good first step and should be followed by another meeting to formulate specific plans.

Lopez, who has helped steer state funds to divert the river in Sidney, said he hopes to do the same for this project.