Alley Creek Watershed Management and Habitat Restoration Plan
Community Outreach Meeting Thursday January 31st
Alley Pond Environmental Centre
This project is being funded in part through a grant from the New York State Department of State under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund
Veronica M. White, Commissioner Forestry, Horticulture, & Natural Resources Group New York City Department of Parks & Recreation
Introduction/Meeting Purpose
• Introduce the Watershed Management and Ecological Restoration Plan Project
• Get information from the Community on what is important to you.
AGENDA
1. Introduction presentation •
Background, meeting purpose.
•
Scope – watershed and habitat management in Alley Park Pond. Project schedule.
•
DEP LTCP
•
Draft Visions/goals/objectives
2. Visioning engagement exercise •
Concerns for the watershed
•
Visions for the watershed
Alley Creek Watershed
Context/ Previous restoration efforts
Alley Creek Watershed Management Planning Area ~4 sq mi About 1/3 of area is Parks Imperviousness ~30% CSO drainage to Tallman Isl.
Receiving waters are Alley Creek, Little Neck Bay, Long Island Sound Existing Conditions Assess water body and watershed resources
Funding $350K from NYSDOS Environmental Protection Fund
Urban Water Cycle
Precipitation
Precipitation
Evaporation Permeable topsoil Less permeable subsoil or rock
Evaporation
Transpiration Transpiration Infiltration
Infiltration Runoff Runoff Baseflow
Baseflow Forested
Urban
(Source: Walsh et al., 2004)
Project Scope
Alley Creek Watershed Management and Habitat Restoration Plan
Alley Creek Sewershed Overall study area
Alley Creek Watershed Management and Habitat Restoration Plan
Alley Creek Sewershed Area that drains directly to Alley Creek or Little Neck Bay
Alley Creek Watershed Management and Habitat Restoration Plan
Alley Creek Sewershed Area where stormwater pipes feed directly to Alley Creek
Alley Creek Watershed Management and Habitat Restoration Plan
Alley Creek Sewershed Area where stormwater pipes feed to CSO
Getting to the Plan
Goals and Objectives
Draft vision statement/objectives Parks, DEP, WAC coordination
Stakeholder & Community input, (1st Community meeting)
FINAL VISION STATEMENTS/Goals/ Objectives/targets
Characterization and Assessment
Watershed & Ecological Context, Current conditions, Problem Identification, Needs • Literature review • Desktop analysis • Field work (coordination with DEP)
Characterization report
Opportunity Identification
Implementation Strategy
Ecological restoration, GI Stormwater Capture, Other (Education, outreach, Regulatory & policy reform, etc.)? (opportunity id., conceptual design)
Strategies for coordination, planning and fund raising. Monitoring and tracking planning.
Prioritization (feasibility/cost, environmental benefit)
Presentation to Stakeholders / Community on opportunities (2nd community mtg)
Feedback on recommendations and strategy (3rd Community mtg)
Alley Creek Ecological Restoration and Watershed Management Plan
Schedule
Alley Creek Draft Vision Statement
DRAFT VISION STATEMENT The Alley Creek Watershed is an ecologically healthy urban system where clean water, wetlands, fish, water birds, and other native species are enjoyed and protected from the bay to the headwaters. It is a place where water-sensitive practices, policies, and environmental stewardship help maintain and improve water quality and diverse native habitat, as well as public health, recreation, and a high quality of life for local and adjacent communities.
Issues? Water Quality • Swimming • Fishing • Boating • Pollution management (point and non-point sources Public Access, Openspace, Recreation Ecology • Sensitive sites or species • Stressors / impacts Landuse and Development Stormwater management • Flooding • Green infrastructure • CSOs Public Education and Outreach • Youth opportunities • Stewardship and training • Neighborhoods