Chubb River Dam Removal and Sewer Trunk Line Replacement (2014 LGAA)

Village of Lake Placid (Winner)
County: Essex County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (518) 523-2597

The Incorporated Village of Lake Placid, the Olympic Village, has a residency of 2,521, but expands regularly to a tourism population of 22,000. Tourism in the immediate region generates 30% of the tourism revenue in the seven county NYS North Country region. The Village's sewer infrastructure consisted of a 100 year old plus sewer trunk line, which runs the last 1 1/2 miles directly in to the Wastewater Treatment plant. Part of this line resided under a decommissioned Hydro Dam. The Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) infrastructure supports four municipalities: Village of Lake Placid, Town of North Elba, Lake Placid Central School District and the Olympic Regional Development Authority. Failure of this line would impact not only these municipalities, but the surrounding ones, Essex County, the State of New York and potentially other states and water bodies. Failure of the system would curtail the immediate economic vitality of the region, with long-term implications for future tourism and growth.

A feasibility study on the future utilization of the dam determined that to repair and put in a turbine would cost $1 million, have a 100-year payback and potential electric rate increases (the Village has its own municipal electric system). In reviewing the options for the replacement of the sewer trunk line, the Village determined that it would be less expensive to remove the existing dam to replace the sewer trunk line as a direct route could be obtained, the sewer trunk line would not have to be as deep, and the line would not have to be placed in an existing horse bridal trail.

Through the Consolidated Funding Application process, the Village was able to successfully secure a NYS EFC GIGP grant in the amount of $1.01 million, reducing the Sewer Rate impact on a $4.85 million bond issuance. This project is broken into four-phases, finalizing in recreational paths that connect through the village to surrounding communities. Phase One is the removal of the dam and replacement of the sewer trunk line. Phase Two is restoring the river bed into a Village Park with recreational trails and natural habitat. Phase Three is to connect the restored riverbed trails to recreational trails being developed within the Town of North Elba. Phase Four is to connect the Town of North Elba trails to surrounding communities via existing trails, such as the Jack Rabbit Trail. This project will ultimately provide an updated Waste Water Treatment delivery system which will manage current needs as well as anticipated growth for a few years, utilize the area of an unused hydro facility to create and expand recreational paths within the Village, providing alternatives for traffic safety and nature exploration, with both benefiting from the innovative plan and grant funding.

This project has reduced the impact of Sewer Rate increases by approximately 20%. Furthermore, in addition to lower electric rates, there will be an estimated $1 million savings in the Electric Fund for repair and maintenance expenses at the dam, which would have also been borne by the ratepayers.

This project is one of the few dam removals in New York State. In addition to the savings for sewer and electric ratepayers, the Village will be able to offer the recreational trails as another tourism alternative to connect throughout the Adirondack region. This is critical to Public Safety, with events such as Ironman and the mini-triathlons that occur throughout the summer and congest Main Street. The Village will be able to confidently endorse economic expansion with the replaced Sewer Trunk Line.