Assemblyman Al Stirpe (D-Cicero) announced that legislation he sponsored and passed appointing the New York State Canal Corporation Director as the Chair of the Upstate Flood Mitigation Task Force was signed into law by Governor Hochul (Ch. 370 of 2022).

“This is a tremendous victory for Central New York, helping protect our communities from flash floods and other extreme weather events,” Stirpe said. “This law provides the Upstate Flood Mitigation Task Force with the urgency and diligence required to address this issue head on and protect our communities and businesses. Designating a knowledgeable and experienced leader to the task force will kickstart efforts of finding the solutions to stop this ongoing problem.”

The Upstate Flood Mitigation Task Force was established in 2017 to study the impact of previous floods in the state and find potential solutions. These solutions could be executed in flood-prone areas to lessen the impact and costs of future storms. Since being created, the task force has yet to hold a meeting or publish its initial report.

This bill that Stirpe championed alongside Senator John Mannion helps ensure the task force meets its goals of strengthening flood management and mitigation across areas impacted by the Erie Canal. It also streamlines efforts by allowing the director of the Canal Corporation to lead the task force as well as sets a deadline of July 1, 2023, for the task force to produce its initial report. Finally, the task force is required to meet four times before publishing the report and then once a year after the report is published.

Brian U. Stratton, Canal Corporation Director said, “I look forward to working with Assemblyman Stirpe and our partners in state government as we convene the Upstate Flood Mitigation Taskforce. The important work we will do to collaborate and study potential solutions for improved water management is critical for forming lasting solutions for the impacted communities and businesses in this region. I am optimistic about what we will achieve by working together.”