On March 6, the New York Department of State announced the completion of the Genesee County Climate Resiliency Plan – a comprehensive plan that identifies climate resilient infrastructure, issues and risks in Genesee County, as well as best management practices and potential projects to increase the resiliency of Genesee County communities. Several fact sheets to help the public understand the various components of community resiliency and a series of public webinars on various areas of resiliency were also developed as part of the plan. Genesee County partnered with New York Green, an area not-for-profit consultant, to develop the plan, which was funded through a $250,000 grant from the Department of State Smart Growth Program.
“With this plan, Genesee County has taken a major step forward in protecting its residents and businesses from the impacts of frequent flooding and climate change,” said Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez. “This partnership among the State, County and New York Green will serve as a model for collaborative resiliency planning in the future and will play a critical role in creating stronger, more resilient communities across Genesee County and all of New York State.”
The Genesee County Resiliency Plan focuses primarily on four goals and identifies strategies to meet those goals:
- Flood Management/Emergency Preparedness Strategies:
•Increased communication to residents in flood-prone areas of hazards/risks from weather;
•Increased intermunicipal cooperation and coordination for warnings;
•Repurposing of acquired flood-prone properties for conservation or recreation; and
•Implementation of flood protection measures. - Land Conservation/Water Quality Protection Strategies:
•Implementation of Green Genesee Road Map; protection of land riparian buffers;
•Obtaining development rights to high-quality farmland;
•Increased agricultural Best Management Practices; and
•Proper management of large scale solar and related battery storage projects. - Resilient Infrastructure Strategies:
•Usage of green stormwater infrastructure and renewable energy sources;
•Accommodation of sizing for culverts for volume and waterway functionality;
•Expansion of tree planting and maintenance;
•Enhanced water supply infrastructure; and
•Protection of power during severe weather. - Community Capacity/Public Education Strategies:
•Preparation of a Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan for Tonawanda Creek area;
•Education on incorporation of green infrastructure for municipalities and communities;
•Public information on invasive species reduction;
•Native plant use; and
•Promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Prior to this grant, Genesee County took several steps to pave the way for the DOS Resiliency Plan. A previous $175,000 grant from the NYSERDA Cleaner, Greener Communities program provided foundational material that helped guide and inform the climate resiliency plan, including the Green Genesee Road Map—which is a countywide green infrastructure/ecological network map that identified forest blocks, wetlands, streams and riparian buffers, as well as connective corridors between and among these areas—and several tools and resources to help guide land and energy use in the County. Genesee County was also the first county to develop a countywide smart growth plan in 2001, which promotes development within municipal centers, known as “Smart Growth Development Areas,” in an effort to preserve farmland and promote downtown revitalization.
The Leadership Team for the countywide resiliency plan included Genesee County Planning Department, Genesee County Economic Development Center, Genesee County Soil and Water Conservation District, Genesee County Parks, Recreation, and Forestry, Town of Batavia, City of Batavia, Town of Pavilion, LaBella Associates, CC Environment & Planning and Red-Green Building & Landscape Design.
More information on the Countywide Resiliency Plan and the Green Genesee/Smart Genesee Project can be found at https://www.co.genesee.ny.us/GreenGeneseeIndex/index.php.
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