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Newburgh staff: FEMA approved $50,000 for river-trail riprap; town exploring longer-term gabion solution
Summary
Staff said FEMA will reimburse $50,000 for riprap replacement once work is completed; the town plans stronger mitigation such as gabion baskets or a concrete wall and aims to complete repairs by fall if funding and approvals align.
Committee members raised concerns about visible cracks and erosion along the river trail; staff said FEMA has approved $50,000 toward riprap replacement but the work must be completed before the town receives reimbursement.
"FEMA's approved the 50,000, but we have to do the work first," the staff member said, adding the town explored stronger, longer-term options. "We're going towards a Gavian basket," the staff member said, describing gabion baskets as a preferred mitigation over simply replacing riprap where repeat erosion has occurred.
Staff said they have solicited quotes and hope to complete repairs by fall if additional funding is secured. The town has submitted materials to the relevant county/state reviewer and is awaiting a formal 'go to bid' email; once that approval arrives, contractors need roughly 15 days to mobilize and will also require suitable river levels for work to proceed.
Committee members and staff discussed costs and the trade-off between FEMA’s scope (which would reimburse riprap replacement) and a more robust solution that could cost substantially more. No final contractor authorization occurred during the meeting; staff said they would keep the committee updated as approvals and contractor mobilization proceed.
