Flood watch upgraded to flood advisory in parts of region

PHOTOGRAPHER: Edward Munger Jr.

A flood watch has been upgraded to a flood advisory in parts of the Capital Region today while the state Canal Corp. is taking action to protect boats stuck in the Erie Canal when the waterway was closed Wednesday.

The National Weather Service reports in its flood advisory that rivers and stream flows are elevated and the ponding of water in urban and other places is underway or imminent.

The advisory, set to extend until 3 p.m., is in addition to the flood watch in effect until 8 a.m. Saturday.

Boats moored at Amsterdam’s Riverlink Park have been moved upstream to Lock E-11 near historic Guy Park Manor for protection, and the Canal Corp. shut down the Champlain Canal from Locks C-1 through C-7 this morning due to excessive current.

Local emergency management officials said they are keeping an eye on rainfall but they are not expecting major flooding to occur.

Schoharie County Emergency Management Director Kevin Neary said forecasters are calling for less than two inches of rain in the basin that impacts the Schoharie Creek.

“It shouldn’t be a problem for us. Right now we’re going to continue to monitor the situation and pay attention. Right now, we don’t anticipate any problems,” Neary said.

Flash flooding could occur, Neary said, depending on how much rain or downpours take place.

“We just want people to stay alert, pay attention to the weather forecast and we’ll continue to monitor and update people should conditions worsen,” Neary said.

USGS water gauges were showing the Mohawk River at near flood stage upstream from the Capital Region at the Delta Dam, and the gauge for the West Canada Creek, a major contributor to the Mohawk, was also listed as near flood stage.

Projections for these areas, however, were not forecasting major flooding.

Montgomery County Emergency Management Director Adam Schwabrow this morning said the track of the rainfall storms will be key to determining if any action needs to be taken.

“I’m hoping it goes more south. If it does that, that’ll lessen our precipitation which will drop our chance [of flooding],” Schwabrow said.

“Unfortunately right now it’s just a waiting game,” he said.