Cleanup Of Trash, Downed Trees Begins Along Saw Mill River
ELMSFORD, NY (WCBS 880) - Westchester County residents have complained for some time that the Saw Mill River is a major cause of flooding, especially after Hurricane Irene. Now something is being done about it.
WCBS 880's Paul Murnane On The Story
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Public works crews from Greenburgh and Elmsford blazed a path through the brush to get to the banks of the Saw Mill River behind Elmsford Little League on Friday.
They pulled out truck tires, 55-gallon drums and countless tree trunks.
Made largely from trash that looks like it's washed down stream over the years, there's a natural dam in the river there.
Greenburgh town supervisor Paul Feiner says he doesn't want to raise expectations that this will stop the flooding.
"Ultimately, we want to do a much more aggressive cleanup of the river and if other communities along the river do the same thing, we think it could have a major impact," he told WCBS 880 reporter Paul Murnane. "Nobody really wants studies. They want to see action. Maybe after this, we'll be able to get some federal assistance to dredge the river, which will also help. It won't solve the problem, but it will help even more than the cleanup."
He believes all of the studies that have been done in the past have the area well-positioned for future state and federal flood programs.
Sen. Charles Schumer has said that he wants the federal government to pay for the dredging of the Saw Mill River.
Do you live along the Saw Mill River? If so, do you have any suggestions for flood prevention?
