About: Mike Caswell

Recent Posts by Mike Caswell

The Dispute about Canal Embankment Clean-up and Environmental Review

The Dispute about Canal Embankment Clean-up and Environmental Review
New York Power Authority (new owners of the Canal Authority), are being sued by the Towns of Perinton, Brighton and Pittsford, (PBP) in an attempt to stop the vegetation removal from high risk embankments along the canal. This is stopping public safety effort for those towns along the canal. The case put forward is, as…
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Guidelines for Vegetation on Embankment Dams

Guidelines for Vegetation on Embankment Dams
The US Army Corps of Engineers have a published article regarding the vegetation management of Embankment Dams etc. For brevity’s sake, I have extracted relevant passages. ETL1110-2-583 Examination of this document should give the reader an insight as to why the Canal Authority is carrying out the long overdue work to restore the embankments to the conditions…
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New York DEC explains problems with Trees and Brush near Dams

New York DEC explains problems with Trees and Brush near Dams
Trees and brush may be aesthetically pleasing and provide other benefits; however, the growth of woody vegetation on and near dams, including the downstream toe area, can lead to serious problems. Sudden uprooting of trees by strong winds can result in the movement of a relatively large amount of embankment material and create large voids…
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Hazard Creep on Embankment Dams Explained

Hazard Creep on Embankment Dams Explained
Here is a great explanation of how urban development outstrips the original design intent of many embankment dams in the USA https://youtu.be/5CcVSVhAYvA This could easily be what happens at The Oxbow in Fairport, Bushnell’s Basin Dam in Brighton or the tallest Canal Dam in Albion/Hulberton area.  
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