The New York State Floodplain and Stormwater Managers Association (NYSFSMA) is excited to present our new newsletter format! We hope that this newsletter will provide a place for our members to learn about upcoming NYSFSMA events, training opportunities, and happenings in the floodplain and stormwater management communities around New York State and across the country.
This past year, NYSFSMA had many accomplishments. We had an exceptional annual conference in Glens Falls that approached record attendance. At the conference we unveiled our new Lego 3D Elevation Certificate diagrams models, made possible by a grant from the Association of State Floodplain Managers Foundation (see the article in this newsletter for more details).
Additionally, we have held four webinars that offered continuing education credit. Our committees have been active reviewing both state and federal level policies, writing letters of support, and offering comments on levees, Risk Rating 2.0, and other important subjects related to floodplain management.
Looking ahead to 2025 (our 25th Anniversary!), NYSFSMA will be hosting more webinars on a variety of floodplain and stormwater management topics (see our events page on nyfloods.org for more details). We are also busy planning our annual conference to be held April 22-24, 2025 in Ithaca. More details on the conference and a call for abstracts will be forthcoming so monitor your inbox! We are also hoping to host a 1-day conference downstate to focus on downstate and coastal issues.
If you’re interested in volunteering we want to hear from you. We currently have open seats on our Board of Directors for Regions 5 and 7 (same as NYSDEC Regions). We are always looking for folks to help with various committees. Please visit our website (nyfloods.org) to learn more or contact a current board member.
Finally, our hearts go out to everyone affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. New York State is no stranger to hurricane and tropical storm damage with Irene, Lee, Sandy, Ida, and Debby being a few of the relatively recent storms that caused deaths and widespread destruction. Massive storms like these, and the increasingly more common precipitation events, remind us why good floodplain and stormwater management is more important than ever. Join us in helping to make New York State a more resilient place to live.