Water quality and infrastructure grants approved throughout NYS
Crestwood resident Bruce Last has lived with the Troublesome Brook in his backyard for around 30 years.
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State officials have announced more than $265 million in grants to support projects in hopes to reduce flooding in parts of Westchester, protect drinking water, update water infrastructure and more.
Yonkers is receiving two grants over more than $6.66 million for culvert replacements and the Troublesome Brook, which floods during extreme weather.
Crestwood resident Bruce Last has lived with the Troublesome Brook in his backyard for around 30 years.
"At this point, it's probably two years ago where the water just came flying through here to the point where it came right up to the house. It took down these fences, and it took down both sides of these walls here. It was devastating," said Last.
Following a big storm, he spent $47,000 to repair his backyard and create concrete walls to mitigate the flood waters when they rise.
Last says he and his neighbors all worry when severe weather approaches.
The brook and other environmental concerns are where the Department of Environmental Conservation and other organizations' investments hopes to intervene.
"We are reducing nutrients that pollute our waterways, we are investing in infrastructure, and through our brand-new resilient watershed grant program we're investing in real solutions that will address flooding in communities," said Commissioner Amanda Lefton, with the New York State Department of Environment Conservation.
The more than $265 million state investment will fund projects to protect drinking water, update water infrastructure, and work toward climate resiliency.
Sleepy Hollow, Yonkers and Mamaroneck are also among some of the communities in Westchester that will receive the money for various projects.
