Agency Updates County on 389M Gilboa Dam Improvements

SCHOHARIE COUNTY — A $389 million multi-year project of improvements to the Gilboa Dam and related facilities is continuing as planned, representatives from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection— the dam's owner— told the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors at its Friday morning, Aug. 15 meeting.

Attending for the NYC DEP were Engineer Veronica Andreassen, Deputy Director for Water Operations North Anthony Garigliano, Assistant Commissioner for Drinking Water Operations Adam Reaves and Director of External Affairs John Milgrim. Andreassen took the BOS through a presentation and then along with Garigliano answered questions.

According to information provided by Milgrim after the meeting, the entire project started back in 2011. Site work was completed in June of that year at a final cost of $17.8 million. Following that was Crest Gates work completed in June of 2012 at a final cost of $7.1 million.

Reconstruction of Gilboa Dam was completed in August of 2015 at a final cost of $139 million. Substantial completion of installation of a low level outlet is scheduled for October of this year at an estimated cost of $142.6 million. Substantial completion of rehabilitation of the Shandaken Tunnel Intake Chamber is scheduled for December of 2028 at an estimated cost of $51 million.

A construction notice to proceed on site restoration was issued on Aug. 12, 2024. Expected construction completion is May of 2026 and expected substantial completion is May of 2028. The estimated cost for site restoration is $31.5 million. The NYC DEP is funding the entire project, Milgrim noted.

During the Aug. 15 meeting, Supervisor Donald Airey of Blenheim emphasized several times that keeping the structural integrity and working order of the dam and related facilities in good order at all times is absolutely critical for the safety of Schoharie County residents.

"I'm always going to be nervous about water in the valley," Airey said. He and other Supervisors mentioned at different points in the presentation that the reservoir should perhaps be drained down more frequently to prevent water from spilling over the dam.

Supervisor Earl VanWormer III of Esperance made the point two or three times of urging the NYC DEP to develop better and more frequent communications with all Schoharie County officials, including Supervisors and department heads.

"It's not like it used to be years ago," said VanWormer. "We don't have that relationship, we don't get the communications. Can we get better communications? Please develop a relationship with Mike Hartzel (the county's Office of Emergency Services director) and his staff. It would be good for you guys and good for us."

Andreassen responded that she felt she had been trying for good communication and a good relationship with county officials.

The 2,000-foot long Gilboa Dam, located in the Town of Gilboa and other municipalities, was built between 1919 and 1927 to dam up the Schoharie Creek and create the Schoharie Reservoir to provide drinking water for New York City. The reservoir has an average storage capacity of 17.6 billion gallons and provides about 16 percent of the city's drinking water.

In other actions from the Aug. 15 meeting, the BOS approved several resolutions. Appointed to the Schoharie County Fire Coordinator Fives Team was William Bivona Jr. of Jefferson, Brian Largeteau of Esperance, Joseph Nelson of Middleburgh, Elizabeth DeJoy of Blenheim, Scott Johnson of Central Bridge, Raymond Buel of Conesville, Thomas Buel of Conesville, Jason Wayman of Broome, Amy Wayman of Broome, Gregory Baxter of Carlisle, Matthew Brisley of Schoharie, Antonia Triumpho of Cobleskill, Matthew Deffer of Esperance, Curtis Smida of Carlisle and Andrew Tator of Cobleskill.

The board voted to accept a $452,966 grant awarded to Schoharie, Otsego and Montgomery Counties for project implementation of leachate lateral design. An agreement between the Schoharie County Public Works Department and the New York State Department of Transportation was amended by resolution to include an additional $5,426 payment from NYSDOT for plowing of state roads by the county crew during the severe winter of 2024-25.