Oneida County HMP Draft 10/31/2013 1:08 PM Part III.B.3.2: Northeastern Regional Profiles b) Northeastern Regional Profiles The Northeastern Region identified for the Oneida County Hazard Mitigation Plan includes the following municipalities: The Town of Ava The Town and Village of Boonville The Town of Forestport The Town and Village of Remsen The Town of Steuben, and The Town of Western. Northeastern Regional Map A Page 1 of 33 Oneida County HMP Draft 10/31/2013 1:08 PM Part III.B.3.2: Northeastern Regional Profiles Regional Map B: 2013 Land Use in the Northeastern Region Page 2 of 33 Oneida County HMP Draft 10/31/2013 1:08 PM Part III.B.3.2: Northeastern Regional Profiles Regional Map C: New parcels since 2007. These communities tend to be dominated by rural landscapes and large wooded parcels. The region tends to be sparsely populated with an average population density of 36.5 persons per square mile with Ava at the low end of the spectrum at 17.95 and the Town of Boonville at the high end of the spectrum at 63.37. As a portion of the region is located within the Tughill Plateau, heavy rates of snowfall are not uncommon. While these communities tend to be well prepared for a snow storm that may cripple other areas, there is now also an awareness for the potential for severe damages from hurricanes, landslides and ice storms and severe storms. Flooding related to stormwater is an issue of concern in developed areas such as the Village of Remsen where widespread property damage has occurred on multiple occasions. Page 3 of 33 Oneida County HMP Draft 10/31/2013 1:08 PM Part III.B.3.2: Northeastern Regional Profiles Farm on Buck Hill Road in the Northeastern Region of Oneida County Town of Ava: General Overview: The 37.7 rural square miles that comprise the Town of Ava are firmly situated in the physiographic region known as the Tug Hill Plateau of northern Oneida County. There are no villages or hamlets in the Town of Ava. However, residents find services in the hamlet of West Leyden in Lewis County, the Village of Boonville, a few miles east of Ava, and the Rome area. The Town of Ava is the least populated of all Oneida County's towns and, with only 18 people per square mile, has the lowest population density in the County. The Town's population of 676 is 15% lower than the 1990 Census. The population is relatively young with only 6% of the total comprised of senior citizens. Those living below the poverty level comprise only 6% of the population as well. Transportation: The Town of Ava is served by 73 miles of roads. Of these, 18.7 miles are County roads, 46.5 miles are local roads and nearly 8 miles are State roads. Land Use: While largely rural, only 7% of the town's parcels are classified as agricultural although a nearly 40% of the town's parcels are considered vacant land. An additional 40% are classified as residential properties albeit with large lots. The average lot size for the 319 parcels is over 60 acres. Over 2500 acres of County and State forestland are located in the Town of Ava as is Camp Kingsley, a property used by the Boy Scouts of America. County and State Forestland are precluded from private development but are usually accessible for public use. The main point of contention in Ava is the presence of the Oneida County landfill which comprises approximately Page 4 of 33 Oneida County HMP Draft 10/31/2013 1:08 PM Part III.B.3.2: Northeastern Regional Profiles 1000 acres in the northeastern corner of the town. The site remains controversial in the region due to concerns related to traffic, wetlands, wildlife habitat, water contamination and forest conversion. Soils: One third of the soils in the Town of Ava are classified as Camroden Silt Loam. Camroden Silt Loam tends to be poorly drained and is associated with seasonally high water tables. These soils can be productive but are poorly drained and, therefore, limited by wetness. Approximately 23% of the soils in the Town are Pinckney Silt Loam. These soils are moderately well drained although they also are associated with a seasonally high water table. The limitation of these soils tends to be erodibility. Water Resources: Ava's landscape drains into three distinct watersheds. The western portion of the town drains to the Great Lakes via the East Branch of the Fish Creek. The eastern portion of the town drains to the Black River Watershed via Sugar Creek. The majority of the land drains to the Mohawk River Watershed and includes the West Branch of the Mohawk, including the Lansing Kill and Stringer Brook among other tributaries to the Delta Reservoir. In 2012, the Coalition of Conservation Districts in the Mohawk River Watershed conducted a watershed assessment of the sub-watersheds throughout the basin. The Lansing Kill and Stringer Brook were considered among the most pristine not only in Oneida County but in the entire basin. There is a 2000 acre unconsolidated aquifer mapped in the southern portion of the town. There are several areas of open water in the Town including over 3000 acres of wetlands. Residents in Ava are not particularly affected by flooding. Floodzones in the Town have been recently re-mapped in a joint project by FEMA and DEC. Maps show narrow riparian areas that are designated as floodzones amounting to approximately 321 acres. The floodzone is home to 4 mobile homes but this encompasses land only and not the structures. One new parcel was created in Ava since 2007 and none of this 65 acre piece is located in the floodzone. There is one dam in town that is a Class A hazard which is low risk for major damages. Two dams located in the Town of Lewis in Lewis County are worth noting based on proximity to the residents of Ava. The Lewis County dams are classified as A and D respectively, both low level concerns. Residents in the Town of Ava are not served by public water or sewer. Nearly the entire town contains soils which pose difficulties for septic systems, either due to soils with a fragipan where percolation is extremely slow, or due to soils which are too sandy or gravelly where there is danger of groundwater pollution. In addition, there are sizeable areas which would be extremely difficult or impossible to develop, primarily consisting of wetlands or steep slopes. Mitigation Strategies: • Create a community center as an emergency shelter and stock with adequate emergency supplies. • Control land use and density through zoning and subdivision regulations to prevent development in hazardous areas. • Ensure that all development has large enough lot size for adequate water supply and sewage disposal to prevent water supply contamination. • Develop a plan to assist the senior residents in maintaining safe households. • Restrict mining operations that may harm groundwater resources. Hazard Mitigation Contact Information: Planning Committee Contact: Supervisor James Ossont Municipal Office: 11468 State Route 26 Ava, New York 13303. Phone: 315-942-9669 Website: http://townofava.org/content. Maps: Photos: Page 5 of 33 Oneida County HMP Draft 10/31/2013 1:08 PM Part III.B.3.2: Northeastern Regional Profiles Land Use in the headwaters of the Mohawk Watershed in Ava near the border with Lewis County. Page 6 of 33 Oneida County HMP Draft 10/31/2013 1:08 PM Part III.B.3.2: Northeastern Regional Profiles Town of Boonville General Overview: The Town of Boonville, located along the northern border of Oneida County, comprises 71.9 square miles of land in the Tug Hill Region. While Boonville is near the Adirondack Park, it is not actually located within the Blue Line. However, Pixley Falls State Park, the Black River Canal, and Kayuta Lake offer both beautiful environs and abundant recreational opportunities. The Village of Boonville is centrally located within the Town. Town and Village offices are co-located and community officials cooperate on many projects. Boonville is the third largest municipality in the County based on land area and is home to 4,555 residents. Population density in the town is 63 persons per square mile. Seniors comprise 19% of the total population of Boonville. Children under the age of 5 represent 5% of all residents. Therefore, the combination of seniors and children under 5 means that 24% of the Town's population is vulnerable based on age. Residents living below the poverty level comprise 13% of the Town's residents. Dam failure on the Hawkinsville and Kayuta Lake structures creates a concern for localized flooding. The Edmonds Road area struggles with repeated flooding events on an annual basis. The potential for a spill of hazardous materials in transit is a concern related to the transport of materials to the Oneida Herkimer landfill. The entire town is at risk of ice storms, severe storms and winter storms as well as tornadoes and utility failures. Transportation: The Town of Boonville is served by 130 miles of roads. Of these approximately 18 miles are County roads, 25 miles are State Roads and the remaining 87 miles are local roads. There are nearly 10 miles of the Adirondack Mohawk and Northern's Lyons Falls line running roughly north south through the town and the Village of Boonville. The Black River Canal is an historic feature in the town. The 77-mile long Black River Canal was an engineering marvel of the 19th century.