Odette Colangeli, Shadia Farah, Esther Jungreis Macaulay Honors

 Odette Colangeli, Shadia Farah, Esther Jungreis Macaulay Honors College at CUNY Queens College Seminar 4­ The Future of NYC Spring 2015 A Cleaner Jamaica Bay: A.
a. The above image is a map depicting Jamaica Bay. It lies between Brooklyn and Queens and covers a vast area. B. Key Points a. What are the problems facing Jamaica Bay? i.
The Bay’s many marsh islands are in danger of disappearing. ii.
The overflow of both storm and waste water is polluting Jamaica Bay. iii.
Some of the pipes and sewer systems linked to Jamaica Bay are extremely old, some even date as far back as 1851. b. What is causing these problems? i.
The treatment plants do not have the capacity to treat all of the storm and wastewater overflows during storm weather, so the untreated water enters the Bay at designated combined sewer outfalls. c. Why is stormwater an issue? i.
serious cause of polluted water ii.
water contaminated with chemicals iii.
affects sea life and recreational abilities C. Key Terms a. Green infrastructure = systems that rely on nature to absorb and store stormwater i.
Vegetation and soil, for example, can absorb excess stormwater that may roll off onto them from strategically built slanted roofs b. Salt marsh = “coastal wetlands that are flooded and drained by salt water brought in by the tides” c. DEP = Department of Environmental Protection d. Wastewater treatment plant = a facility where wastewater is processed so that it can be safely released into the environment e. Grey infrastructure = pipes and sewer systems f.
Combined Sewer Outfalls = when treatment plants cannot treat the excess wastewater, it enters the Bay untreated via these combined sewer outfalls connected to the Bay D. Use Green Infrastructure to Manage Stormwater a. Building Public Green Infrastructure Projects i.
The DEP and the NYC Department of Transportation will be building green infrastructure along the medians and shoulder areas of the Belt Parkway. 1. the stormwater that falls on the Parkway is diverted from Jamaica Bay to the green infrastructure where it can be absorbed by the ground. 2. examples of such green infrastructure include hardy plants that encourage infiltration through root growth 3. A Hardy Plant 4.
A curbside garden ii.
The DEP is currently installing curbside gardens called bioswales in sidewalks that the Jamaica Bay watershed, a combined sewer, serves 1. allows stormwater to enter and thus manage the massive amounts of water accumulated during storms. b. Community Involvement i.
The American Littoral Society runs a “community­led marsh restoration project in the National Parks Service.” Part of the Jamaica Bay Marsh Restoration Initiative 1. they “save, restore, and protect the Jamaica Bay Salt Marsh.” Cleaning it, removing debris, planting new grass, and dealing with “invasive species.” 2. full of volunteers a. while helping, the society also is educated on marsh restoration ideas. 3. Some pictures of the Society in action: http://www.littoralsociety.org/index.php/chapters1/northeast­chap
ter/marsh­restoration­initiative?showall=&start=4 ii.
Professor Muhlbauer on community involvement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eTWx1INK8s 1. By letting others know of the all the wonderful things Jamaica Bay has to offer, people will feel compelled to band together and help care for the Bay. This times into the next point on incentives for cleaning the Bay. c. Incentives i.
Crucial. Promoting incentives is crucial for the continued maintenance of Jamaica Bay, or any waterway, as without incentives, no one will make the effort to clean the area. People have to know what the benefits are. 1. Preserving the habitats of species, which maintains our ecosystem and provides us with cleaner seafood are some benefits 2. Keeping the the waters safe for recreational activities such as swimming and boating are other benefits ii.
Professor Muhlbauer on monetary incentives, particularly for businesses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSK3KMLJ6VE 1. If businesses near Jamaica Bay can see the economic benefits of following environmentally friendly recommendations, they will be more likely to oblige. E. Gray Infrastructure Upgrades for Jamaica Bay a. Professor Meuhlbauer on Gray vs. Green Infrastructure Upgrades in Jamaica Bay i.
ii.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=­MIIEJvHHx0 Gray infrastructure may be implemented quicker and make more economic sense in the short term. However, in the long run, even though green infrastructure is more expensive, it will last longer b. Reduce Nitrogen Discharges i.
Excess nitrogen is extremely harmful to waterways. So in 2010, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and other environmental groups pledged $100 million to reduce the amount of nitrogen discharged into Jamaica Bay by 50%. 1. $100 million to upgrading technology at Jamaica Bay’s four wastewater treatment plants 2. Another $15 million was spent to slow the erosion of Jamaica Bay’s many marsh islands. ii.
An​
ammonia recovery system​
was part of the upgraded technology installed at the 26th Ward Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is Jamaica Bay’s largest treatment plant. The system prevents nearly 2.4 million pounds of nitrogen­rich ammonia from entering Jamaica Bay each year. iii.
This upgrade was actually so successful that in 2013, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection was honored by the American Council of Engineering Companies for its research and development of the nitrogen removal technology at Jamaica Bay’s wastewater treatment plant. c. Reduce Combined Sewer Overflows and Improve Water Quality i.
Combined Sewer Overflows​
= a mix of storm & wastewater that enters waterways during stormweather ii.
The DEP recently opened the Paerdegat Basin CSO Facility, which will prevent 1.2 billion gallons of CSO’s from entering Jamaica Bay each year and greatly improve Jamaica Bay’s water quality. 1. This reduces CSO’s by over 70% each year → from 1.8 billion gallons to 555 million. 2. How it works: a. It is a retention facility that has the capacity to hold 50 million gallons of water in its tanks and pipes during stormweather. b. By holding this water, it prevents debris and floatables from entering Jamaica Bay, and it also captures 80% of settleable solids that can form mounds and produce odors in the bay c. Once the storm weather subsides, The facility pumps the CSO’s back to the larger Coney Island Wastewater Treatment plant. d. Expand the Sewer Network i.
The DEP is set to begin a $40 million upgrade to the sewer system in South Ozone Park that will help improve Jamaica Bay’s health 1. The city will begin construction on a new interceptor sewer with significantly more drainage capacity, as well as install three hydraulic levees within the existing sewers. 2. This will optimize the pipes’ carrying capacity during storms, and reduce CSO’s into Bergen and Thurston Basin–two inlets off of Jamaica Bay 3. Each year, around 300 million gallons of water will be redirected to the Jamaica Wastewater Treatment Plant from South Ozone Park, which has the capacity to store and treat the water. ii.
Additionally, the city will construct a comprehensive storm sewer system for the areas surrounding Jamaica Bay in Brooklyn and Queens. They include: 1. $18 million to bring high level storm sewers to the Twin Ponds area. 2. $5 million installation of an additional sewer line under 183rd Street & Jamaica Avenue e. Optimize the Existing Sewer System i.
In 2011, the DEP cleaned over 12 miles of large sewers in southeast Queens, and removed over 1,500 tons of debris in order to increase the flow between local sewers and the Jamaica Wastewater Treatment Plant ii.
In 2011, the city also opened a $400 million sewage treatment plant in Canarsie, Brooklyn, to help capture the CSO’s discharged into Jamaica Bay during storms iii.
The city has also planned construction for the optimization of the existing sewer systems in these flood­prone areas in Brooklyn and Queens to protect the health of Jamaica Bay: 1. $175 million upgrade to Springfield Gardens’ sewer system, including 9 miles of storm sewers and 8 miles of sanitary sewers 2. $26 million upgrade to the Brookville Boulevard area’s sewer systems f.
Where the Sewers and Jamaica Bay Merge: i.
ii.
As you can see, a lot more than 8 combined sewer outfalls–where the sewer meets the Bay–are needed to serve the areas in Brooklyn and Queens (excluding the Rockaways) relying on Jamaica Bay F. Improving Habitat for Aquatic Species: Ribbed Mussel & Oysters a. Ribbed Mussels are naturally occurring in Jamaica Bay and filter water. b. The mussel colony density and water quality is being monitored through 2014 to 2015 i.
A more robust population towards the center of the channel could remove dirt & impurities in the Bay c. Restoring oyster colonies in Jamaica Bay could help regenerate the natural environment of the Bay and could improve water quality. They are also used for consumption. i.
The DEP installed an oyster bed off Dubos Point in Queens and oyster reef balls in Gerristen Creek ii. With $1 million in new funding obtained through the Hurricane Sandy Resiliency Grant Program, the project will increase to half­acre in size in late 2015. G. Waterway Cleanup Efforts a. Four wastewater treatment plants are located along Jamaica Bay b. Nitrogen is a naturally occurring element and it is present in wastewater when it enters treatment plants. i.
The wastewater treatment plants were not originally designed to remove it ii. High levels of nitrogen can degrade the overall ecology of a waterway by reducing levels of dissolved oxygen and promoting excessive algae growth iii. At a cost of $230 million, DEP is implementing advanced technology at the four treatment plants that will reduce nitrogen discharges G. Restore & Create Wetlands a. Over the last 150 years, Jamaica Bay has lost a significant amount of marsh and wetland areas due to a variety of factors i.
They include sea level rise, dredging and filling throughout the Bay, a loss of sediment, and increased tidal heights. b. The City has been leveraging $7 million of its funds, along with matching federal and state contributions, to help restore over 150 acres of salt marsh islands. i.
In all, DEP has secured $14 million in federal and state funding for wetland restoration in Jamaica Bay over the last 6­years. ii. It is expected that the City can leverage another $8 million to secure an additional $16 million in matching funding over the next few years. Works Cited Ascher, Kate, and Wendy Marech. ​
The Works: Anatomy of a City​
. New York: Penguin, 2005. Print. "Conservation." ​
Jamaica Bay Project​
. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 May 2015. "DEP Completes Cleaning of Large Sewers in Southeast Queens." ​
DEP Completes Cleaning of Large Sewers in Southeast Queens​
. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2015. "Department of Environmental Protection Completes Installation of Green Infrastructure in East New York That Will Improve Water Quality in Fresh Creek and Jamaica Bay." ​
DEP Completes Installation of Green Infrastructure in East New York​
. The CIty of New York, 13 Mar. 2013. Web. 13 Apr. 2015. "Department of Environmental Protection Releases 2014 Jamaica Bay Watershed Protection Plan." DEP Releases 2014 Jamaica Bay Watershed Protection Plan​
. The City of New York, 7 Oct. 2014. Web. 13 Apr. 2015. "Department of Environmental Protection Set to Begin $40 Million Upgrade to the Sewer System in South Ozone Park That Will Help Improve the Health of Jamaica Bay." ​
DEP to Begin $40 Million Upgrade to the Sewer System in South Ozone Park​
. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2015. Diaz, Jason. "Community Comes Together to Restore the Jamaica Bay Salt Marsh." ​
New York​
. City Atlas New York, 05 Apr. 2013. Web. 15 Apr. 2015. "Marsh Restoration Initiative." ​
American Littoral Society​
. American Littoral Society, n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2015. "News & Events." ​
RSS​
. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2015. "News & Publications." ​
NYCDEP Nitrogen Reduction Project Given Top Honors at ACEC­NY 2013 Engineering Excellence Awards​
. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2015. "Relief for Noses in Brooklyn and Queens." ​
Green Blog​
. N.p., 12 May 2011. Web. 08 May 2015. "What Is a Salt Marsh?" ​
What Is a Salt Marsh?​
NOAA, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2015. "What Is Green Infrastructure?" ​
What Is Green Infrastructure?​
Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2015. "What Is Green Infrastructure?" ​
What Is Green Infrastructure?​
N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2015.