North Branch Park River Project Partners Meeting #4

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North Branch Park River Green Infrastructure Design & Watershed Plan Update

Project Partners Meeting #4

October 13, 2023

North Central Conservation District

Meeting Agenda

9:00 – 10:00 AM

• Consultant Team Update

• Project Partner Updates

• Next Steps

35 min

20 min

5 min

Project Schedule

2023 2024 Task Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May 1. Quality Assurance Project Plan QAPP Approved - Task Completed 2. Project Advisory Committee Meetings 3. Design Development of Priority GI Projects 4. Watershed Plan Update 5. Public Outreach & Community Engagement 6. Project Meetings and Management 12 Months 8 Months 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 11 Months Advisory Committee Project Partners 8 9 Data Gathering & Review Project Screening & Selection Preliminary Design Permit Level Design

Consultant Team Update

Task 3 – Green Infrastructure Design Development

Analysis & Concept Phase

1. Data Gathering & Review

• Compile GIS mapping

• Inventory public and institutional properties

• Identify existing GI

• Identify planned capital improvements

2. Project Screening & Selection

• Desktop screening

• Property owner interviews

• Field inventories (20 to 40 sites)

• Green infrastructure concepts (up to 15)

• Technical Memo

3. Preliminary Design

• 5 projects

• Field survey

• Test pits & infiltration testing

• Wetland delineation

• Preliminary layout

• Opinion of cost

• Technical Memo

3. Permit Level Design

• 3 projects

• Level of detail to support local/state permitting

Consultant Team Update

Green Infrastructure Screening

• Inventory of public (municipal and state) and institutional properties

Consultant Team Update

Green Infrastructure Screening

• Public & institutional properties, 98 potential parcels identified

• Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI)

− 0.5 acre or more of impervious area

− All soil types considered

• Riparian Corridor Green Infrastructure

− Parcels within 300 -foot riparian corridor

• Further refinement to target up to 40 sites for field inventories

Consultant Team Update

Green Infrastructure Screening

Parcel ID Parcel Name Owner Name Parcel Size (acres) Municipality Parcel Address Within 300-ft Riparian Corridor? Protected Open Space? Impervious Area (acres) Flood Hazard Area? Potential GSI Parcel? Potential Riparian GI Parcel? 1 University of Hartford - Open Space UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD 14.4 Bloomfield EDDY ST yes no 0.0 yes yes 2 University of Hartford - Open Space UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD 54.8 Bloomfield EDDY ST yes yes 0.0 yes yes 3 Blue Hills Neighborhood Center Athletic Fields BLOOMFIELD TOWN OF 9.9 Bloomfield ROCKWELL AVE no no 1.0 no yes 4 Town of Bloomfield Public Library BLOOMFIELD TOWN OF 3.4 Bloomfield 1015 BLUE HILLS AVE no no 0.6 no yes 5 Blue Hills Neighborhood Center Athletic Fields BLOOMFIELD TOWN OF 3.1 Bloomfield ROCKWELL AVE no no 0.7 no yes 6 State of CT Open Space CONNECTICUT STATE OF 1.1 Bloomfield KENWOOD CIR yes yes 0.0 yes yes 7 State of CT Open Space CONNECTICUT STATE OF 7.2 Bloomfield KENWOOD CIR yes yes 0.0 yes yes 8 University of Hartford UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD 137.7 Hartford 202 BLOOMFIELD AVE yes no 55.6 yes yes yes 9 Watkinson School WATKINSON SCHOOL 36.7 Hartford 180 BLOOMFIELD AVE yes no 4.8 yes yes yes 10 Unitarian Society of Hartford UNITARIAN SOCIETY OF HARTFORD TRUSTEE 5.9 Hartford 50 BLOOMFIELD AVE no no 2.0 no yes 11 Connecticut Governor's Mansion STATE OF CONN GOVERNOR`S HOUSE 5.0 Hartford 990 PROSPECT AVE no no 0.9 no yes 12 Elizabeth Park CITY OF HARTFORD PARK DEPT 18.9 Hartford 872 PROSPECT AVE no yes 0.9 no yes 13 University of Hartford UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD 16.9 Hartford 200 BLOOMFIELD AVE yes no 8.0 yes yes yes 14 University of Hartford UNIVERSITY HOUSING ASSOC LP 2.8 Hartford 947 TOWER AVE no no 1.8 no yes 15 Weaver High School CITY OF HARTFORD BOARD OF EDUC 29.6 Hartford 415 GRANBY ST no no 10.3 yes yes 16 University of Hartford UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD 2.0 Hartford 301 MARK TWAIN DR yes no 0.1 yes yes 17 University High School of Science and Engineering UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD 9.3 Hartford 2 MARK TWAIN DR no no 0.9 yes yes 18 University of Hartford Magnet School UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD 23.1 Hartford 196 BLOOMFIELD AVE yes no 4.4 yes yes yes 19 Montessori Magnet Annie Fisher CITY OF HARTFORD BOARD OF EDUC 16.4 Hartford 280 PLAINFIELD ST yes no 5.9 yes yes yes 20 Child and Family Services of Connecticut VILLAGE FOR FAMILY & CHILDREN (THE) 32.3 Hartford 1680 ALBANY AVE yes no 5.3 yes yes yes 21 State of CT DOT STATE OF CONN DEPT OF TRANS 0.6 Hartford 1620 ALBANY AVE yes no 0.2 yes yes 22 All Saints Orthodox Church GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCH OF HTFD 3.4 Hartford 205 SCARBOROUGH ST no no 1.3 no yes 23 FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST HARTFORD CONN FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST HARTFORD CONN 4.4 Hartford 235 SCARBOROUGH ST yes no 1.4 no yes yes 24 Wadsworth Atheneum (A. Everett Austin House) WADSWORTH ATHENEUM 1.8 Hartford 130 SCARBOROUGH ST yes yes 0.3 yes yes 25 Hartford College for Women UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD 6.1 Hartford 1265 ASYLUM AVE no no 2.0 no yes 26 University of Connecticut School of Law UNIVERSITY OF CONN SCHOOL OF LAW 19.3 Hartford 55 ELIZABETH ST yes no 5.8 yes yes yes 27 Webster Microsociety Magnet CITY OF HARTFORD BOARD OF EDUC 2.8 Hartford 5 CONE ST no no 2.1 no yes 28 Hope Child Care Learning Center FIRST CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD INC 0.9 Hartford 70 WHITNEY ST no no 0.6 no yes 30 Breakthrough Magnet North Campus CITY OF HARTFORD BOARD OF EDUC 6.3 Hartford 395 LYME ST no no 2.4 no yes

Consultant Team Update

Task 3 –

Design Development (Next Steps)

• Refine GI site screening

− Observed areas of street flooding (MDC & City of Hartford)

− Ongoing & planned projects and capital improvements

− Soils and other factors

• Consider GSI for selected streets/ROW

Consultant Team Update

Task 3 –

Design Development (Next Steps)

• Begin field work (20 to 40 sites) by end of October

• Select up to 15 sites for GI concept development

Consultant Team Update

Task 3 –

Design Development (Next Steps)

• Information Still Needed from Project Partners

− Upcoming projects and capital improvements in NBPR watershed

− Roads in NBPR watershed targeted for “complete streets”

− MDC drainage study field work findings

− Review and comment on sites proposed for field assessment

Consultant Team Update

Task 4 – Watershed Plan Update

• Draft update in progress

− Refined watershed mapping

− Reviewed status of 2010 plan recommendations

• New project website

STREAMS & SUBWATERSHEDS

28.6 SQUARE MILES TOTAL WATERSHED AREA

14 SUBWATERSHEDS

4 MAJOR TRIBUTARIES

5.4 MILES NORTH BRANCH MAINSTEM (ABOVE GROUND)

0.5 MILES NORTH BRANCH MAINSTEM (BURIED)

Consultant Team Update

2010 Plan Recommendations – Major Accomplishments

Consultant Team Update

Key Recommendations Not Fully Implemented

Consultant Team Update New Project Website Project website

link

Task 5 – Public Outreach & Community Engagement

September 23 rd r iver cleanup and removal of invasive plants

Hartford International University for Religion and Peace, Interreligious Ecojustice Network, West End & Asylum Hill Neighborhood Associations, Park Watershed

Consultant Team Update

September 25 th Flooding

Consultant Team Update

September 25 th Flooding

Watershed Management Plan Update

Plan Vision, Goals, and Objectives

• 2010 Watershed Management Plan Goals & Objectives

GOAL A: PLAN IMPLEMENTATION (CAPACITY BUILDING)

Establish Watershed Organization

Conduct Additional Field Assessments

GOAL B: WATER QUALITY

Reduce or Eliminate

CSO Discharges

Implement LID and Green Infrastructure

Identify and Eliminate Illicit Discharges

Protect and Restore

Riparian Buffers

Implement Water Quality Monitoring Program

GOAL C: HABITAT PROTECTION & RESTORATION

Enhance In -stream and Riparian Habitat

Protect and Enhance Forests and Urban

Tree Canopy and Restore Understory

Vegetation Control Invasive

Species

GOAL D: SUSTAINABLE

GROWTH & LAND USE

Promote Smart Growth

Protect Open Space

Promote Low -Impact, Context -Sensitive

Greenways

Increase Public Access to the River

GOAL E: PUBLIC EDUCATION & STEWARDSHIP

Create Education & Stewardship Network

Campus Facility Managers Outreach

Residential Outreach

Municipal and Business Outreach

Watershed Management Plan Update

Plan Vision, Goals, and Objectives

• 2024 Watershed Management Plan Update

− Develop clear vision for the plan

− Help inform the plan update (goals, objectives, actions)

− Guide the stakeholders responsible for implementing the plan (municipal leaders, MDC, CT DEEP, other agencies, Park Watershed, etc.)

Watershed Management Plan Update

• Plan Vision Statement

Examples: Plan Vision, Goals, and Objectives

− Should have a water quality focus , by definition (to satisfy EPA watershed planning requirements)

− What else do the watershed stakeholders value and want as outcomes?

− What current priorities (desires/aspirations) might shape the vision for the future of the North Branch Park River watershed and its communities?

Water Quality Flooding River Access Open Space Protection Recreation Climate Resilience & Extreme Heat Community Amenities Responsible Growth Equity Education

Watershed Management Plan Update

Plan Vision, Goals, and Objectives

• Need your input (Advisory Committee members) and the broader watershed community (residents, municipalities, businesses, etc.)

− Water quality and related issues that should be addressed in the plan update and desires/aspirations for the NBPR and its watershed

• Developing survey/questionnaire for the Advisory Committee members and Project Partners, also for use with upcoming engagement events to help gather feedback from the community

Plan Vision, Goals, and Objectives Group Discussion Watershed Management Plan Update

1. What are the problems?

What are the most important issues that should be addressed in the 2024 North Branch Park River Watershed Management Plan Update?

2. What is the big picture vision?

What are outcomes you would most like to see in the 2024 Plan Update?

3. How can you or your organization support this process?

Provide information about your neighborhood/property, host an event, send us photos, share the survey with your network, etc.

Project Partner Updates

• MDC

− North Branch Park River Drainage Study & Sewer Separation Design (Granby Street and Blue Hills Avenue)

• City of Hartford

− Granby Street Green Infrastructure Demonstration Project (with EPA)

− North Branch Park River debris removal efforts

− Citywide flooding/climate resiliency assessment (CT DEEP Grant)

− City of Hartford Planning Department?

− City of Hartford Development Services?

Project Partner Updates

• CRCOG

− Stormwater Authority Feasibility Assessment (CT DEEP Grant)

− Natural Hazard Mitigation & Climate Adaptation Plan

− Climate Pollution Reduction Plan

− Transportation planning in NBPR watershed?

− Brownfields planning in NBPR watershed?

• CT DEEP

− Rain garden project with City of Hartford (Long Island Sound Futures Fund grant)

Next Steps

• GI Design Development

− Conduct field inventories of potential GI sites (late October)

− Develop GI concept designs (November)

• Watershed Plan Update

− Continue to refine plan vision, goals, objectives

• Stakeholder Engagement

− Watershed Plan Survey/Questionnaire

− October 24 th Farmers Market

• Next Advisory Committee Meeting (December 7 th )

−

Considering joint Advisory Committee & Project Partners meeting

Questions and Discussion

Contacts:

Joanna Shapiro jshapiro@conservect.org

Erik Mas emas@fando.com

Mary Rickel Pelletier maryp@parkwatershed.org

Brian Martin Brian.Martin@tpl.org

Walker Holmes walker.holmes@tpl.org

North
Central Conservation District

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