ROCHESTER, NY (WXXI) - The playground at Goodwin Park is under water in some places. Across the flooded creek that separates the park from Edgemere Drive, pumps are running constantly to keep water out of people’s homes and the street.
Senator Schumer says they’re looking at short term relief for homeowners, business owners, and municipalities. He also vowed to do more. "We need long term relief so this never happens again."
Schumer’s plan is to secure funding for the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study – an effort that would have the Army Corps of Engineers come in and figure out what would be the greatest resiliency plan, and get money to implement it.
Schumer pointed to climate change as a cause of the flooding, but also took shots at the bi-national group that manages lake levels—the international joint commission.
"The next time the IJC decides not to let water out…we will be protected."
The IJC has consistently maintained that the flooding in Lake Ontario is a result of high precipitation and lake flows from the other Great Lakes.