Oatka Creek
Watershed Management
Meetings

MARCH 17, 2003 - from Oatka Creek Watershed Committee - Does the Oatka Creek flow near your backyard or run adjacent to your fields? Is it your primary source of drinking water or irrigation for your crops? Do you look forward to fishing along its banks? Do you enjoy venturing along the creek by canoe or kayak? Or, do you experience the risk associated with occasional flooding? Why do watershed management planning?

If you answered yes to any of these questions you will be interested to know that the Oatka Creek Watershed Committee is in the process of developing the Oatka Creek Watershed Management Plan. The recently released Oatka Creek Watershed State of the Basin Report will be presented at an upcoming public meeting near you. At this meeting the public will be encouraged to provide their input regarding the major issues and any preventative or restorative actions.

Why should we do flood mitigation planning? It identifies critical facilities and structures. It increases public awareness of risks associated with flooding. It creates opportunities for communities to participate in the Community Rating System and be eligible for reductions in National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) premiums. It helps to access funding for mitigating future flooding problems and therefore decrease flood damage and increase safety. And, it moves toward watershed-wide inter-municipal cooperation.

Flooding issues and the benefits of flood mitigation will be a major topic of discussion. The Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council is assisting both the Oatka Creek Watershed Committee on the Oatka Creek Watershed Management Plan and Genesee and Wyoming Counties on flood mitigation planning for the municipalities along the Oatka and Tonawanda Creeks.

Meeting locations, dates and times are as follows:

ïWarsaw Fire Hall, Thursday, March 27, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

ïPavilion Fire Hall, Tuesday, April 1, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

ïLe Roy Village Hall, Thursday, April 3, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

ïScottsville Village Meeting Room, Wednesday, April 23, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

For more information contact: Jason Haremza, Associate Planner of the G/FL Regional Planning Council, (585) 454-0190 x15, jharemza@gflrpc.org