Considering this petition has only been going a few days, I'm delighted with the support so far. I hope you can email or talk to a few neighbors to get us to 100 (or more) before I submit it to The Power Authority and Senator Funke. Here's the text of a flyer I produced. If you'd like a pdf file, please email me at mjcaswell (at) me.com and I'll forward you a copy. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DID YOU KNOW YOU ARE IN A FLOOD ZONE? The area from Crystal Springs to Marsh Rd in Bushnell’s Basin has been designated a CLASS 3 HIGH HAZARD RISK FLOOD ZONE by the New York Power Authority, because if the Erie Canal Embankment were to fail, there could be catastrophic loss of life and severe damage to property. WHY WOULD IT FAIL? Because it has not been inspected for years as can be demonstrated by taking a walk along the towpath. The area is so overgrown with trees, brush and scrub, it would make a thorough inspection impossible. It was also constructed by old techniques, which had none of the science and understanding of current dam engineers. The banks are too steep. The ratio of height to base length should be 1:3 it is less than 1:1. Soil was never compacted. There are over a dozen deep gullies gouged in the slopes, making an erosion breach more likely. Numerous seepage areas. No drainage ditch at base, making the soil likely to become saturated = mudslide. Phreatic Line is compromised, meaning slope is already saturated and prone to slide. Heavy trees add to overall weight of saturated soil. Never designed to carry this load. Many large trees already toppled pulling embankment apart. Scrub and brush make inspection for burrowing animals impossible, a major cause of embankment failure. NO INSPECTION REPORTS AVAILABLE FOR PAST 20 YEARS! A few misguided people are attempting to put your lives and property at risk by stopping the vegetation removal necessary to provide thorough inspection of the embankment. FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY PLEASE SIGN MY PETITION TO GET THE VEGETATION REMOVED TO ENABLE THOROUGH INSPECTION AND REPAIRS. Watch my video to see for yourself! Search on youtube.com for “Erie Canal Vegetation Removal Project” or https://youtu.be/JHdYVszQ5qU Here’s the petition. https://www.change.org/p/jacquie-shillinger-support-vegetation-removal-from-erie-canal-for-safety-inspections or http://chn.ge/2BUEhQU Everything you need to know about earthen embankment dams and your safety. www.eriecanalfacts.wordpress.com FEMA says "The Trouble With Trees! Out of 48 states, 29 document problem vegetation as the cause of dam failures or unsafe dam operations in their states.” https://damsafety.org/sites/default/files/files/L-263_PlantImpact_05.pdf