HomeMy WebLinkAboutNYS DEC 2025-2-24 ]DECENE
o K Department of FEB 2 8 2025 KATHY HOCHUL
STATE Environmental Governor
Conservation VILLAGE OF RYE BROOK � SEAN MAHAR
BUILDI-NG.DEPARTMENT Interim Commissioner
February 24, 2025
Michael Ford
Blind Brook Club
Golf Course Superintendent
P.O. Box 229
Purchase, NY 10577
Re: Blind Brook Club Dam, DEC Dam ID#: 232-2747
Class C — High Hazard Dam
Rye brook (V) & Harrison(T), Westchester County
Condition Rating: "Unsound — Deficiency Recognized"
Dear Mr. Ford:
Thank you for your assistance in conducting a routine visual inspection of the
Blind Brook Club Dam, a High Hazard Dam, on Feb 4, 2025 as part of the Department
of Environmental Conservation's (Department's) ongoing Dam Safety program. I am
writing to you because it is my understanding that you represent the owner of this
structure. A copy of my Visual Observations is enclosed for your information.
Inspection
The left/right nomenclature used in this letter and in the enclosed Visual
Observation Report is based on looking downstream.
Regulations
The following table summarizes the current status of compliance for this dam for
those sections of the regulations that have specific deadlines for compliance.
Citation Requirement Status
673.6 Develop and implement an Inspection & I&M Plan not requested during
Maintenance Plan (I&M Plan). Plan does this inspection.
not have to be submitted to the Department
but needs to be available for inspection if
request d.
673.7 Develop and distribute to the local EAP last reviewed in 2024 in
emergency responders an Emergency accordance with the 2024
Action Plan (EAP). EAPs should be updated Annual Certification.
on an annual basis. To be considered "final"
Division of Water,Bureau of Flood Protection&Dam Safety
625 Broadway,Albany, NY 12233-3504 1 dec.ny.gov I DOWinformation@dec.ny.govl (518)402-9029
a completed Promulgation and Concurrence
(P&C) form must also be submitted
indicating that the EAP has been distributed
to and coordinated with local emergency
respond rs.
673.8 Submit an Annual Certification (AC) to the The latest AC received was for
Department January 31 of each year calendar year 2024.
(certification is for the previous year).
673.13 An Engineering Assessment (EA) shall be VIOLATION —An EA was
performed, and an engineering assessment received August 19, 2014.
report submitted to the dam safety section, Second EA was due August
at a minimum frequency of every 10 years 19, 2024.
for dams that have been assigned a hazard
classification of class B or C.
Annual Certification
Please note Annual Certifications can now be submitted electronically through the
NYS Dam Safety webpage. The full text of the revised 6 NYCRR Part 608 and Part 673,
along with technical guidance, templates and forms can be downloaded from the Dam
Safety webpage at: http://www.dec.ny..qov/lands/4991.html.
Condition Rating
The Department Assigned to the dam a Condition Rating of"Unsound —
Deficiency Recognized" via a July 24, 2019 letter from Syed Alam. The Condition
Rating was due to the dam's inadequate spillway capacity, as revealed in the 2014 EA.
The Condition Rating is still valid as the dam has not been rehabilitated yet and the
second EA is past due. This Condition Rating means that the deficiencies at the dam
are of such a nature that the safety of the dam cannot be assured. This is a violation.
Your 2"1d EA is past due. Your 1st EA identified that the dam does not have
adequate spillway capacity to pass the design flood.
Within 45 days of the receipt of this letter, please submit the following:
• You plan and schedule to submit your second EA
• Your plan and schedule to address the dam's inadequate spillway
capacity.
If you cannot continue to operate and maintain the dam in a safe manner you
should consider lowering the impoundment until you can retain an engineer to design
and construct a safe dam removal. You would be responsible for damages (loss of
life/infrastructure/other) should the dam fail.
Please keep in mind that any repair or construction activities related to the dam
may require permits from the Department. Well before beginning work on the dam,
please check with the Regional Permit Administrator at the Department's Region 3 —
New Paltz office at (845) 256-3054 to see if any permits are required.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by phone at 518-408-
0338, or by e-mail at iohn.smith@dec.ny.gov.
Sincerely,
John Smith, P.E.
Professional Engineer 1 (Environmental)
Dam Safety Section
ec; Jason A. Klein, Village of Rye Brook, Mayor, mayor .ryebrook.org
Rich Dionisio, Town of Harrison, Supervisor, rdionisio harrison-n . ov
Susan Spear, Commissioner, Westchester County, EMO,
sbs9(d)_WestchesterCountyNY.gov
Donald Canestrari, NYSDEC, Dam Safety Section, Chief
Jacob Luther, NYSDEC, Dam Safety Section
Berhanu Gonfa, NYSDEC Region 3, Dam Safety Representative
Michael Ford
Blind Brook Club
Golf Course Superintendent
P.O. Box 229
Purchase, NY 10577
mford(d,)blindbrookclub.arg
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Bureau of Flood Protection and Dam Safety
Visual Observations
DAM NAME Blind Brook Club Dam
STATE ID 232-2747 SECTION C HAZARD CODE C
COUNTY Westchester INSPECTION DATE 2/4/2025
NEAREST DS CITY/TOWN Rye INSPECTORS) JZS/1ML
OWNER'S NAME BLIND BROOK CLUB
DOWNSTREAM HAZARD High TOWNSHIP Village of Rye Brook
Town of Harrison
WATER LEVEL BEHIND DAM Drained at the time of the inspection
DRAIN OPERATION Opened at the time of the inspection
DEFICIENCIES
❑ 1)Seepage FX� 4)Maintenance 0 7)Cracking
7 2)Slope Stability OX 5)SurFcial Deterioration ❑ 8)Movement/Misalignment
❑X 3)Undesirable Growth ❑ 6)Voids 9)Data
General:
—Accompanied by Mike Ford (Golf Course Superintendent)
Upstream:
—The upstream face of the dam appeared to be in good condition
Dam Crest:
—The dam crest appeared to be in good condition with small cracks and moss on the concrete cap.
—Low spot around the right abutment. Undesirable growth within 20 feet of the dam perimeter.
Downstream:
—The right downstream abutment had a depression along the groin
—The downstream face of the dam had efflorescence, cracking and moss in the concrete.
Service Spillway:
—The service spillway appeared to be in good conditon
Low Level Valve:
—The low-level outlet valve appeared to be in good condition. The valve was opened during the
inspection
02/04/2025 Page 1 of 6
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Photo 1 Dam ID# 232-2747 Blind Brook Club Dam 02/04/2025
Service spillway downstream channel
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Photo 2 Dam IN 232-2747 Blind Brook Club Dam 02/0412025
Low-level valve
02/04/2025 Page 2 of 6
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Photo Dam ID# • Brook Club Dam 02/0412025
Dam crest, looking left
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Photo Dam ID# • Brook Club Dam 02/0412025
Dam crest, looking right
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Photo 5 Dam ID# 232-2747 Blind Brook Club Dam 02/0412025
Right upstream embankment, looking left
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Photo 6 Dam ID# 232-2747 Blind Brook Club Dam 02/04/2025
Right downstream face, looking left
02/04/2025 Page 4 of 6
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Photo 7 Dam ID# 232-2747 Blind Brook Club Dam 02/04/2025
Low-level outlet pipe
Note: Active during the inspection
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Photo 8 Dam ID# 232-2747 Blind Brook Club Dam 02/04/2025
Right downstream face
Note: Efflorescence present
02/04/2025 Page 5 of 6
Photo 9 Dam ID# 232-2747 Blind Brook Club Dam 02/04/2025
Right downstream face, looking right
02/04/2025 Page 6 of 6