Dual Use of Stormwater Basins For Both Public and Environmental Benefits: A Case Study of Nassau County Basin #232, Long Island, NY

Transcription

1 Dual Use of Stormwater Basins For Both Public and Environmental Benefits: A Case Study of Nassau County Basin #232, Long Island, NY Rob Alvey, President -The Garden City Bird Sanctuary Alexis Alvey, Virginia Polytechnic Institute 2005 Pennsylvania Stormwater Management Symposium Stormwater Management Implementation: Are We Getting It Right? Oct , 2005

2 What s s a Sump? Stormwater storage and/or groundwater recharge basins 2000 on Long Island 700 built by Nassau County 2 to 20+ acre depression - Inexpensive flood control method - Replenish groundwater aquifer - Chain link fencing, minimal landscaping - Commercial, industrial and residential

3 Stormwater Basins in Nassau Nassau County has Stormwater Basins in Many Communities

4 Open Space Nassau County is a highly developed suburban area Critical need for parks and recreation Value of Greenspace for communities Property values Cleaner air Wildlife habitat

5 Why a Bird Sanctuary? IT WASN T T MY IDEA! Public opinion poll - Alternate sites - Range of uses - Educational programs - Passive park - Nature habitat \ bird sanctuary

6 Volunteer Base Gardening 100 million Birding 50 million Scouting - 5 million GC students - 5,000 Religious organizations - 1,500 Neighbors Dog walkers 12 Village Bird Brain - 1

7 Initial steps Adopt a Spot Litter removal GCMS April 1995 Boy Scout Eagle project Plant inventory Fence repairs Trail construction Hofstra University tulips

8 Formal Establishment Incorporated 1998 Certified 501(C0)3 nonprofit organization Bylaws and Management Plan Board of Directors Association with Clark Memorial Gardens Educational programs at Garden City Public Library

9 Information Board and Arbor Arbor donated by local neighbor Information board built by local neighbor These types of items provide visible contrast for plants and trees

10 Fencing and tree planting Volunteers planting a white cedar

11 Enhancing Landscaping Harder Tree service planting a Holly donated by local neighbor

12 Getting the Volunteers Make a Difference Day BOCES summer program Religious and School Community Service Long Island Botanical Society Scouting - 12 Boy Scout Eagle projects - 1 Girl Scout Gold project - 2 Girl Scout Silver projects Cornell Cooperative Extension

13 Improvements: Replacement of chain link gate and fencing with estate style fence, installation of storage sheds, rock footwalls and benches

14 Stewart School, May th graders Welcome and introductory lecture for elementary students followed by trail walk

15 Cleaning out nest boxes Autumn 2004

16 Garden City Bird Sanctuary Spring 2004 Amelanchiar Shadblow Native to Northeast, Tree or shrub form Beautiful Spring flowers, Blue berries in June

17 Small rock footwalls provide nooks, crannies and food Garden City Bird Sanctuary 2003

18 Crabapples, flowering cherry, holly, winterberry

19 American Eastern Redbud NATIVE, easy care Spring flowers Garden City Bird Sanctuary, Spring 2004

20 Bee Balm (Monarda), Penstemon, and common daylilies, June 2004

21 Black-eyed Susans, an easy care native perennial Liatris, or gayfeather, attracts butterflies and bees Native plants used for landscape enhancement

22 Tall grasses provide shelter and cover for birds Hempstead Plains covered 60,000 acres

23 Nest box = Bird House! Tree swallow on a nest box, Garden City Bird Sanctuary

24 Everyone Benefits Nassau County - Maintenance savings - Reduction in liabilities\crime Community Access to open space in neighborhood Property value enhancement Education Wildlife Protected habitat Improved ecosystem

25 Floral Park Centennial Gardens and Bird Sanctuary

26 NYSDOT Ecological Recharge Basin Gary Gentile, NYS Dept of Transportation Landscape Engineer

27 Kellenberg School Practice field, Uniondale, NY

28 Hofstra University Bird Sanctuary

29 Garden City High School Practice Field 2004

30 You can do it too! Corporate, educational and municipal sponsors Partnerships Recreational or passive parks Good will and public relations Hand s s on or financial assistance Maintenance reduction

31 The Garden City Bird Sanctuary is a 9 acre community nature preserve in northwestern Garden City. The Entrance gate is opposite 181 Tanners Pond Road. The sanctuary is open Sundays from 1-5. For information, contact Rob Alvey at (516)