New York State Water Resources Institute Climate Smart Communities Green Infrastructure Case Studies Emily Vail Hudson River Estuary Program NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Cornell University NYS Water Resources Institute NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Presentation Outline Hudson River Estuary Program Impact of stormwater NYS Stormwater Management Design Manual Examples of practices Benefits What you can do Rain garden, Piermont Library
Hudson River Estuary Program Core Mission Ensure clean water Protect and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats Provide water recreation and river access Adapt to climate change Conserve world-famous scenery NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Albany Hudson River Estuary Watershed New York City
Importance of Watersheds It s important to think about stormwater management from a watershed perspective, because stormwater travels to waterbodies (and can lead to problems if not managed well) The land and water that drain to a common outlet From NEMO
Impervious Surfaces and Stormwater From EPA NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
The Problem with Impervious Surfaces From EPA NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
The Problem with Impervious Surfaces From EPA NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Stormwater Carries Pollutants Most stream impairments in the Hudson Valley due to polluted runoff Documented for ~35% of streams Traditional stormwater management Impervious surface -> storm sewer -> streams
Stormwater Carries Pollutants Most stream impairments in the Hudson Valley due to polluted runoff Documented for ~35% of streams Traditional stormwater management Impervious surface -> storm sewer -> streams Storm drain
Stormwater Carries Pollutants Most stream impairments in the Hudson Valley due to polluted runoff Documented for ~35% of streams Traditional stormwater management Impervious surface -> storm sewer -> streams Storm drain
Stormwater Carries Pollutants Water quality problems Sediment Nutrients Road salt Oil/grease Trash Water quantity problems Flooding Erosion
Overflowing Sewage Wet weather leads to overflows Combined sewer or separated sewer Impacts public health, water recreation Degrades water quality Sanitary sewer overflow, Poughkeepsie Pump station, Piermont
What is Green Infrastructure? Different approach to stormwater - natural and engineered systems that mimic nature Manage runoff by maintaining or restoring natural hydrology allow stormwater to infiltrate and be used by plants
Gray vs. Green Infrastructure
Green Infrastructure Scales site, sewer-shed, municipality, watershed, region Provides multiple benefits Slows the flow of runoff Removes pollutants Keeps water out of the storm sewer system Adds vegetation to the landscape Lower Esopus Creek
Green Infrastructure Requirements August 2010 - Updated NYS Stormwater Design Manual Chapter 5 Green Infrastructure New development use green infrastructure NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
NYS Stormwater Design Manual 1. Planning A. Preserving natural areas B. Reducing paved surfaces 2. Green infrastructure practices
NYS Stormwater Design Manual 1. Planning A. Preserving natural areas B. Reducing paved surfaces 2. Green infrastructure practices Avoid stormwater
NYS Stormwater Design Manual 1. Planning A. Preserving natural areas B. Reducing paved surfaces 2. Green infrastructure practices Avoid stormwater Reduce stormwater
NYS Stormwater Design Manual 1. Planning A. Preserving natural areas B. Reducing paved surfaces 2. Green infrastructure practices Avoid stormwater Reduce stormwater Manage stormwater
1. Green Infrastructure Planning A. Preserve natural areas reduce disturbance, cluster development Traditional Subdivision Conservation Subdivision Dutchess County Greenway Guide
1. Green Infrastructure Planning A. Preserve natural areas reduce disturbance, cluster development B. Reduce paved surfaces driveways, parking lots, roads, etc. Traditional Subdivision Conservation Subdivision Dutchess County Greenway Guide
2. Green Infrastructure Practices Natural features and engineered practices that infiltrate runoff on-site Treat stormwater closer to where the rain falls Several small practices instead of one large one Examples on HREP website: http://www.dec.ny.gov/ lands/58930.html
Rain Gardens & Bioretention Areas Shallow depression of soil and plants, filters runoff and slows its flow Ashford Park, Ardsley Kingston Library
Vegetated Swales Natural drainage paths or vegetated channels used to transport water above ground Subdivision, Pawling Village Hall, Greenwood Lake
Green Roofs Layers of soil and vegetation on rooftops that capture runoff SUNY Orange, Newburgh Marist College, Poughkeepsie
Porous Pavement Paved surfaces that allow stormwater to infiltrate Sojourner Truth Ulster Landing County Park, Saugerties NYS Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation, Staatsburg
Stream Buffer Restoration Improves stream health, filters and slows polluted runoff, many other benefits Whaley Lake Stream, Beekman SUNY Orange, Middletown
Other Green Infrastructure Practices Street trees Stormwater planters Rain barrels Stream daylighting Stormwater planter bus shelter, Ardsley Rain barrel Greenburgh Nature Center
Benefits of Green Infrastructure Manage stormwater (quality and quantity)
Benefits of Green Infrastructure Manage stormwater (quality and quantity) Recharge groundwater
Benefits of Green Infrastructure Manage stormwater (quality and quantity) Recharge groundwater Reduce CSOs, reduce wastewater treatment costs
Benefits of Green Infrastructure Manage stormwater (quality and quantity) Recharge groundwater Reduce CSOs, reduce wastewater treatment costs Improve watershed resiliency
Benefits of Green Infrastructure Manage stormwater (quality and quantity) Recharge groundwater Reduce CSOs, reduce wastewater treatment costs Improve watershed resiliency Cool urban areas energy savings
Benefits of Green Infrastructure Manage stormwater (quality and quantity) Recharge groundwater Reduce CSOs, reduce wastewater treatment costs Improve watershed resiliency Cool urban areas energy savings Provide wildlife habitat
Benefits of Green Infrastructure Manage stormwater (quality and quantity) Recharge groundwater Reduce CSOs, reduce wastewater treatment costs Improve watershed resiliency Cool urban areas energy savings Provide wildlife habitat Improve air quality
Benefits of Green Infrastructure Manage stormwater (quality and quantity) Recharge groundwater Reduce CSOs, reduce wastewater treatment costs Improve watershed resiliency Cool urban areas energy savings Provide wildlife habitat Improve air quality Improve human health
Benefits of Green Infrastructure Manage stormwater (quality and quantity) Recharge groundwater Reduce CSOs, reduce wastewater treatment costs Improve watershed resiliency Cool urban areas energy savings Provide wildlife habitat Improve air quality Improve human health Increase land values
Benefits of Green Infrastructure Manage stormwater (quality and quantity) Recharge groundwater Reduce CSOs, reduce wastewater treatment costs Improve watershed resiliency Cool urban areas energy savings Provide wildlife habitat Improve air quality Improve human health Increase land values Beautify neighborhoods
Benefits at a Municipal Scale Philadelphia 40-year strategy to deal with CSOs: Gray - $122.0 million in benefits Green - $2.85 billion in benefits Save energy ($33.7 million) Avoid 196 fatalities from heat stress Increase residential property values (> $1.1 billion) Create > 15,000 jobs for local laborers
Watershed Resiliency and Climate Change Resilient watershed = better able to deal with and recover from extreme weather Reduce vulnerability of communities & ecosystems Flooding from the Fall Kill, Poughkeepsie Hurricane Irene
Watershed Resiliency and Climate Change Manage stormwater Protect forests, wetlands, floodplains Restore vegetation along streams Replace undersized road crossings Move infrastructure out of floodplains Create partnerships, work intermunicipally
Implementing Green Infrastructure Homeowners, watershed groups, neighborhoods, regional planners, businesses, and Municipalities Planning Codes/ordinances to encourage, incentivize, or require Demonstration sites SUNY Orange, Middletown
What can you do? Integrate green infrastructure into plans Climate adaptation strategies Review codes/ordinances Visit local practices Build demonstration projects Submit projects for website Restore stream buffers with Trees for Tribs
New York State Water Resources Institute Emily Vail Watershed Outreach Specialist eevail@gw.dec.state.ny.us (845) 256-3145 Hudson River Estuary Program New York State Department of Environmental Conservation In cooperation with Cornell University NYS Water Resources Institute NYS Department of Environmental Conservation