Local Flood Analysis (LFA)

Following Tropical Storms Irene and Lee in 2011, a framework was developed for funding flood hazard mitigation in the NYC West of Hudson watersheds. It has been recognized that flooding produces a variety of hazards and impacts not only to public safety, but also to water quality. Under this new initiative, Stream Management Programs in the NYC water supply watersheds and the Catskill Watershed Corporation are supporting the analysis of flood conditions and the identification of hazard mitigation projects.

The process consists of two steps:

1) an engineering analysis of flood conditions and identification of potential flood mitigation projects articulated in a plan and
2) project design and implementation.

The engineering analysis and plan are termed “Local Flood Analysis.” The LFA Program Rules define the process for municipalities to apply for funding to complete a Local Flood Analysis (LFA). The program rules also define the process for municipalities to seek funding from the Stream Management Program to implement projects that involve streams, floodplains and adjacent infrastructure to reduce flood hazards.

Learn more

Map showing the status of flood analysis in the west of the Hudson Watershed as of December 2025, with red diamonds indicating complete status, green diamonds indicating revision underway, and yellow diamonds indicating currently underway, along with county boundaries, streams, reservoirs, lakes, and watershed basins.

NYCDEP-Sponsored Flood Hazard Mitigation Funding

The Catskill Watershed Corporation also has a Flood Hazard Mitigation Implementation Program where LFA project implementation, anchor business, critical community facility relocation, and emergency debris removal funding can be sought: http://cwconline.org/fhmi-program-overview/

Stream Management Implementation Program – Funds for the LFA Recommended Projects have been allocated by Delaware County SWCD, Sullivan County SWCD, Greene County SWCD, Ulster County SWCD and the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County through their Stream Management Implementation Programs (SMIPs). These programs are the established mechanism for SMP funding to local communities for implementing priority Stream Management projects, including dedicated funding for flood hazard mitigation programming.

Visit our Funding Opportunities page for more details.

Contact

Flood Hazard Mitigation Coordinator – Aaron Bennett, CFM, aabennett@dep.nyc.gov

CWC Flood Hazard Implementation Program – Eric Lane, elane@cwconline.org

NYCDEP – Dave Burns, dburns@dep.nyc.gov

Schoharie Basin (Greene County) – Joel Dubois joel@gcswcd.com

Ashokan Basin (Ulster County) – Leslie A. Zucker laz5@cornell.edu

Delaware Basin (Delaware County) – Graydon Dutcher graydon-dutcher@dcswcd.org

Neversink/Rondout Basins – Stacie Howell showell@rondoutneversink.org

NYC-Funded Flood Buyout Program

In conjunction with West‐of‐Hudson watershed stakeholders, a voluntary NYC‐Funded Flood Buyout Program (NYCFFBO) was created in 2014. If property is determined to be eligible, it will then be subject to the processes and procedures of DEP’s core land acquisition program (including appraisal procedures unique to the NYCFFBO). Properties that are not deemed acceptable by the local community will not go through the process to determine eligibility.

Five categories of properties potentially eligible for acquisition under this program include:

Hydraulic Study Properties (such as derived from an LFA)
CWC’s Flood Hazard Mitigation Implementation Program (property is eligible for Relocation Assistance)
Individual Buyout Properties (necessary for completion of community approved stream project)
Individual Buyout Properties (that are at extreme erosion risk)
Individual Buyout Properties (that are at extreme inundation risk)