July brought an unprecedented amount of rain to our region, with 8.22 inches falling in Cold Spring on July 28th and 29th, much of it flowing our way into the valley.

While we have made important improvements to our infrastructure in recent years, this storm made clear that we still have work to do when it comes to managing stormwater and protecting our roads, properties, lakes, and waterways.

Because the storm resulted in a Declaration of State of Emergency, we were able to connect with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) on an emergency basis. A DEC team met with our Highway Superintendent, Shawn Keeler, and toured areas of concern throughout the Town to assess the damage and identify immediate needs.

At our July meeting, the Town Board also passed a resolution authorizing the Highway Department, after consultation with affected private property owners, to remove storm debris from Canopus Brook, Peekskill Hollow Brook, and their estuaries. The resolution also calls for the hydraulics and hydrology of Canopus Creek to be reviewed in conjunction with the DEC, with necessary work undertaken to protect the health and safety of our residents and road users.

This emergency work is an important first step, but it also reinforces a larger lesson: we need to plan for stormwater before the next major storm arrives.

That is why stormwater management will be an active part of our Comprehensive Plan update. We need to look at the bigger picture of how water moves through our community, where our infrastructure is vulnerable, and what we can do to better prepare for increasingly intense storms.

The lessons from this storm will help us plan smarter, invest wisely, and build a more resilient Putnam Valley for the future.