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. 12-13, 2005
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
Stormwater Basins in Nassau Nassau County has Stormwater Basins in Many Communities
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
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
Volunteer Base Gardening 100 million Birding 50 million Scouting - 5 million GC students - 5,000 Religious organizations - 1,500 Neighbors - 250 Dog walkers 12 Village Bird Brain - 1
Initial steps Adopt a Spot Litter removal GCMS April 1995 Boy Scout Eagle project 1995-96 96 Plant inventory Fence repairs Trail construction Hofstra University tulips
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
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
Fencing and tree planting Volunteers planting a white cedar
Enhancing Landscaping Harder Tree service planting a Holly donated by local neighbor
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
Improvements: 2001-2005 Replacement of chain link gate and fencing with estate style fence, installation of storage sheds, rock footwalls and benches
Stewart School, May 2004 150 5th graders Welcome and introductory lecture for elementary students followed by trail walk
Cleaning out nest boxes Autumn 2004
Garden City Bird Sanctuary Spring 2004 Amelanchiar Shadblow Native to Northeast, Tree or shrub form Beautiful Spring flowers, Blue berries in June
Small rock footwalls provide nooks, crannies and food Garden City Bird Sanctuary 2003
Crabapples, flowering cherry, holly, winterberry
American Eastern Redbud NATIVE, easy care Spring flowers Garden City Bird Sanctuary, Spring 2004
Bee Balm (Monarda), Penstemon, and common daylilies, June 2004
Black-eyed Susans, an easy care native perennial Liatris, or gayfeather, attracts butterflies and bees Native plants used for landscape enhancement
Tall grasses provide shelter and cover for birds Hempstead Plains covered 60,000 acres
Nest box = Bird House! Tree swallow on a nest box, 2001- Garden City Bird Sanctuary
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
Floral Park Centennial Gardens and Bird Sanctuary
NYSDOT Ecological Recharge Basin Gary Gentile, NYS Dept of Transportation Landscape Engineer
Kellenberg School Practice field, Uniondale, NY
Hofstra University Bird Sanctuary
Garden City High School Practice Field 2004
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
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) 326-1720