Aiming to put an end to Woolsey Avenue flooding

Residents of Woolsey Avenue have faced periodic flooding for over two decades. The neighborhood, near Dosoris Lane on Glen Cove’s west side, has seen water rise during almost every significant rainstorm, leaving yards, streets, and basements inundated. Storms last month were no exception, bringing runoff that quickly overwhelmed the eight storm drains on Woolsey, and more than a half-dozen homes reported flood damage once again.
In response to the ongoing problem, the City Council has authorized the rental of a Vactor Combination Sewer Cleaner, a specialized vehicle designed to clean out clogged sewers, drains and other stormwater infrastructure, through next month. The $27,000 rental is intended to provide immediate relief by cleaning out the storm drains on Woolsey and in other affected areas.
“We do have a Vactor machine, but it has been out of order,” Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck explained. “This will clean the drainage structures until our own truck can be repaired.”
The city is also seeking a long-term solution, and recently approved a $17,100 agreement with Cameron Engineering to conduct a comprehensive drainage study of Woolsey Avenue, Seaman Road and Elm Avenue. The study will assess the current drainage infrastructure and make recommendations for improvements — though some residents are pushing for it to go beyond a surface-level review of Woolsey and evaluate the flow of water from adjacent streets as well.
The flooding, residents say, has only worsened in recent years. The repaving of Dosoris Lane, a major county road nearby, redirected more stormwater runoff toward Woolsey, which, they say, has insufficient drainage to handle the increased water flow. As a result, Woolsey and surrounding streets are now more vulnerable than ever to flooding, particularly during heavy rains.

Residents have taken it upon themselves to protect their homes, using a variety of makeshift methods to divert water toward storm drains. Some have used insulation and boards to redirect water, while others have resorted to clearing drains with rakes as rain pours down.
Linda Melbinger, a longtime resident of Woolsey Avenue, has been asking for a solution since she and her husband, Steve, moved to the neighbor hood 17 years ago.
“We’ve spoken to various city councils about this issue over the years,” Melbinger said at the Aug. 27 council meeting. “It just keeps getting pushed down the line. This is a health issue now. We’ve asked for our yard to be tested, because the water and debris coming through aren’t from our property; it’s runoff from other neighborhoods.”
Melbinger expressed her skepticism about the effectiveness of the planned drainage study, saying she feared that it might not take into account the bigger picture of where the water comes from.
“If they only look at Woolsey, they’re not going to find the real answers,” she said. “The water is coming from streets like Poplar and Buckeye, and if those areas aren’t looked at, we’re not going to get a comprehensive solution. Every drop of rain that falls on a road in Glen Cove is immediately manipulated by whatever drainage is present.”
Warren Kettering, another longtime Woolsey Avenue resident, is equally frustrated with the situation. Kettering described the storm drain system’s inability to handle the volume of water during heavy rains, noting that the current infrastructure was installed between the world wars and has not been adequately updated since.
“We lose flow capacity at every turn,” Kettering said. “By the time water gets to Cottage Row, we’re down to just a fraction of what the system can handle. It’s no wonder we’re flooding.”
Kettering also raised concerns about the development that has taken place north of Woolsey since the post-World War II housing boom.
“It’s hard to understand how some of this infrastructure was approved,” he said. “There are storm drains at sea level, and then you’ve got developments at much higher elevations. It doesn’t make sense from an engineering perspective. We’re dealing with poorly-thought-out designs that are now contributing to our problems.”
The flooding isn’t just a nightmare for the residents of Woolsey Avenue: It has serious implications for the broader Glen Cove community. Kettering pointed out that when water backs up on Woolsey, it eventually flows toward critical infrastructure like the firehouse, police station, post office and library, potentially leaving essential services at risk during severe weather.