Alley Creek Watershed Management Plan and Habitat Restoration Background and Goals The New York City Parks Natural Resources Group (NRG), in partnership with NYC Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP), will prepare a Watershed Management Plan (WMP) for Alley Creek and Little Neck Bay, one of the few remaining continuous watershed systems in New York City. This Plan will incorporate best practices with regard to growth, climate change adaptation and holistic approaches to ecosystem management. In addition, NRG will conduct habitat restoration activities within Alley Pond Park to remove invasive shrubs and vines from uplands adjacent to salt marsh and restore native forest with locally-sourced seed, grown at local nurseries. Funding The New York State Department of State is providing funding for this project under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund.
Process and Coordination The CWP for Alley Creek and Little Neck Bay will be developed in coordination with the community through public meetings and representatives from a Watershed Advisory Committee consisting of governmental and non-governmental members. Currently, the NYC DEP is preparing an Alley Creek Long Term Control Plan (LTCP) for abatement of combined sewer overflows (CSO). The WMP for Alley Creek will integrate DEP’s water quality improvement planning, and Parks’ ecosystem protection, management and restoration efforts. This coordinated planning will advance stewardship of Long Island Sound and facilitate implementation of water quality and habitat recommendations in the New York State Long Island Sound Coastal Management Program. Schedule Draft CWP to be completed in Nov 2013 and Final in Sep 2014. (LTCP to be completed June 2013).
Parks CWP Elements Incorporate results from hydrologic and water quality modeling from DEP LTCP effort
Examine Park Dept. practices with regards to water quality impacts and identify critical Park’s pollutant sites
Assess role of policies and regulations in ecological resource protection
Identify opportunities for stormwater retention and water quality improvement in direct discharge areas Assess existing ecological resources using existing data and field reconnaissance Conduct habitat restoration Seek public participation in identifying watershed goals and improvements
Contacts for NYC Parks Natural Resources Group: Eymund Diegel, Project Manager, 212.360.1446 eymund.diegel@parks.nyc.gov Marit Larson, Director of Wetland Restoration, 212.360.1415 marit.larson@parks.nyc.gov Katerli Bounds, Director of Forest Restoration, 212.360.1448 katerli.bounds@parks.nyc.gov
Alley Creek Watershed Management Plan and Habitat Restoration The Alley Creek Watershed Plan and Habitat Restoration project will establish objectives for the watershed for aquatic and ecological health, and identify restoration opportunities and a target implementation schedule in coordination with NYC DEP’s Long Term Control Plan for reducing Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs). The Alley Creek Watershed Plan will identify and prioritize opportunities in the watershed where Green Infrastructure and stormwater best management strategies can help improve water quality and support ecological and water quality protection goals. New York City Department of Parks & Recreation Forestry, Horticulture, & Natural Resources Group