About $21 million will go to support flood protection projects throughout the Southern Tier, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office announced Thursday.

The projects address stormwater management and resilient infrastructure projects in communities including Binghamton, Elmira, Olean and Whitney Point with the goal to safeguard from extreme weather and the costly expenses of rebuilding after a flood. These flood control structures were originally constructed to specifically address flooding along the Southern Tier were built in the 1940s and early 1950s.

The money comes from the Clean Air, Clean Water and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022, which was approved by voters that year.

The projects include:

• Improvements to the Binghamton Flood Control Project located along the Susquehanna and Chenango rivers in the city of Binghamton. Construction includes replacement of two floodwall panels, replacing deteriorated concrete, and application of a protective coating on the floodwalls to extend the useful life of the concrete walls
• Improvements to the Elmira Flood Control Project along the Chemung River, which provides flood protection for the city of Elmira. The project consists of levees, and flood walls with appurtenant drainage structures. The project will install 65 relief wells along with collector pipes to provide pressure relief caused by floodwaters
• Improvements to the Olean Flood Control Project located on the Allegheny River and Olean Creek in the city of Olean. The project will stabilize a section of existing levee system, mitigate erosion, and improve access to the levee for regular DEC maintenance

“As we face more and more devastating extreme storms, we must do everything we can to ensure our communities are resilient, sustainable and ready,” Hochul said in a statement. “We saw the flooding in Binghamton almost 15 years ago, and we don’t want to see it again. These projects help us get ahead of the storm damage, save taxpayers millions of dollars in the long run, and prevent post-flood recovery costs for homeowners and businesses alike.”

The Southern Tier is a high-risk area for damaging flooding events. According to Mitigate NY, Broome County anticipates more than $16 million worth of damage from flooding every year. That’s why investing in the area’s flood control infrastructure is so critical.

“Aging infrastructure and shifting weather patterns mean new challenges,” Whitney Point Mayor Jason Somars, said. “The risks we face today are not the same ones we faced 80 years ago. Storms are more severe, rainfall is more unpredictable, and the stakes are higher than ever.”

These projects will not only protect the area and its residents from potentially devastating floods, but will create a much more resilient region.

“We  speak frequently about resilience, but resilience is not a buzzword,” Somars said, “It’s investing in the not so glamourous systems that protect us and ensuring that when the river crests, our residents can sleep at night because the tools are in place and people are ready.”

The DEC says construction on these projects will start this year and is expected to be complete by the end of 2026.