power point presentation pequonnock river watershed management plan power point presentation
DESCRIPTION
Powerpoint Presentation accompanying the presentation of the Draft Pequonnock River Watershed Management Plan. Public Comment will be accepted through Aug. 16. The draft watershed plan will be placed on the Connecticut DEEP’s web site, and it will also be placed on the City of Bridgeport’s web site. We encourage general public comments for consideration. We will take public comments through August 16th, and responses should be sent to Chris Cryder at [email protected] and Erik Mas at [email protected] next PRI Steering Committee meeting will be on Tuesday, August 30th, at 8:30 am, place TBD. It will most likely be in Monroe. At this meeting we will review the public and Steering Committee comments, and the second draft of the watershed plan. The goal will be to finalize and accept the watershed plan. Additionally, we will talk about any updates on the status of the stakeholder’s agreement and the transition plans to the Greater Bridgeport Regional Planning Agency.TRANSCRIPT
Pequonnock River
Draft Watershed Management Plan
Pequonnock River Initiative
July 26, 2011
• Background• Summarize Draft Plan• Begin Comment Period• Q&A After Presentation
Today’s Agenda
Why Water Quality Matters• Human Life and Healthy Communities
Need Clean Water • Great Communities Develop
Sustainable Water Resources• Focal Point for Urban/Suburban
Community Collaboration • Regional Economic Prosperity
Watershed Management• Flexible framework for
addressing water quality issues within a defined watershed or drainage area– Stakeholder involvement– Management actions
supported by science– Multiple political jurisdictions– Prioritize limited financial
resources– EPA and CTDEP watershed
approach
Why Develop a Watershed Plan?
• Watershed activities affect water quality• Address water quality impairments • Develop and implement a comprehensive,
science-based management plan• Improve chances of future funding and
successful implementation
Statewide Trend Towards Watershed Planning
Pequonnock Watershed• 29 square-mile area• 60 stream-miles• Areas of 5 towns• 10 subwatersheds
Upper West Branch
Pequonnock
Upper Pequonnock
Lower West Branch Pequonnock
Middle Pequonnock Tributaries
Upper Booth Hill Brook
Lower Booth Hill Brook
Thrushwood Lake
Middle Pequonnock
River
Island Brook
Lower Pequonnock
River
Trumbull49.0%
Monroe30.6%
Bridgeport16.5%
Shelton3.5%
New tow n0.4%
Issues Facing the Pequonnock River
• Water Quality in 80% of the river and in Bridgeport Harbor does not meet State standards for recreation or habitat– Historical urban land use– Bacteria and other
pollutants– Combined Sewer
Overflows– Stormwater runoff
Other Issues Facing the Pequonnock River• Flooding• Degraded habitat• Altered stream corridor• River “disconnected” from
the public• Development pressure
Draft Watershed Management Plan• Plan development
process• Goals and objectives• Recommended actions• Site-specific project
concepts• Pollutant load reductions• Responsible entities,
timeframes, products• Funding sources
DRAFTDRAFT
Action Plan Goals
2. Water Quality
4. Sustainable Land Use &
Open Space
WatershedAction Plan
5. Education & Stewardship
Implement Plan to Improve / Preserve
Conditions
3. Habitat Protection and
Restoration
1. Capacity Building
Recommended Actions• Over 100 specific actions• Timeframe
• Requires a coordinated effort by many groups• PRI, watershed organization, municipalities, businesses,
land owners
Ongoing
Short-Term
Next 1-2 Years
Mid-Term
2-5 Years
Long-Term
5-10 Years
Year 2 Year 5 Year 10
Capacity BuildingGoal: Build a foundation for successful implementation of
the watershed management plan
• Objective 1: Establish a watershed organization• Objective 2: Identify and secure funding• Objective 3: Promote regional collaboration• Objective 4: Continue watershed field assessments
Capacity Building - Highlights• Municipal adoption of plan – MOA, inter-municipal
agreement, compact• Form a watershed organization
– Partnership or coalition– Greater Bridgeport Regional Planning Agency
• Prepare and submit grant applications• Develop web site and social media tools
Water QualityGoal: Improve the water quality of the Pequonnock River,
its tributaries, and Bridgeport Harbor
• Objective 1: Continue monitoring programs• Objective 2: Use LID/GI to address stormwater & CSOs• Objective 3: Comply with existing permits• Objective 4: Protect and restore riparian buffers• Objective 5: Reduce septic system impacts• Objective 6: Reduce impacts from nuisance waterfowl• Objective 7: Identify and remove illicit discharges• Objective 8: Reduce pollution from hotspots
Water Quality Monitoring Program• Establish ongoing monitoring program• Continue monitoring at Harbor Watch/River Watch
and CT DEEP stations• Expand monitoring to other reaches• Consider RBV monitoring• Involve volunteers, students, local universities• Seek dedicated funding
• Low Impact Development (LID) and Green Infrastructure
• Implement stormwater retrofits• Require LID for new development
and redevelopment
Stormwater Management
Rain Harvesting Blue Roofs
Curbside Bioretention
Green StreetsVegetated Swales Parking Lot Bioretention
Permeable Pavement Stormwater Planters
Green Roofs
LID and Green Infrastructure
• CSO LTCP – augment grey with green
• Build on City’s existing initiatives– Green Streets– Urban forestry and City parks– B-Green rain barrel program– CFE “Green Scan” Project– Regulatory updates to promote GI
and LID
Green Infrastructure for CSO Control
Protect and Restore Stream Buffers
◄ Upper West Branch
Williams Road, Trumbull ►
◄ Upper Pequonnock River
Upper West Branch ►
• Implement priority stream buffer restoration projects• Adopt local stream buffer requirements
Habitat Protection and RestorationGoal: Protect and improve terrestrial, riparian, and
aquatic habitat in the watershed to maintain and increase the watershed’s diversity of plant and animal species
• Objective 1: Protect and restore in-stream and riparian habitat • Objective 2: Protect and restore forests and urban tree canopy• Objective 3: Control invasive species• Objective 4: Reduce illegal dumping locations
• Protect and restore aquatic and stream corridor habitat– Remove stream barriers (Pequonnock River Apron Fishway
project, Bunnell’s Pond Dam eel pass modifications)– Implement priority stream erosion and restoration projects
Fisheries and Stream Restoration
Source: Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program
Improve Fish Passage◄ LPR-07
River Apron Fishway
Small dam on UBH-01 ►
◄ Drop at road crossing
Homemade Barrier ►
Restore Eroded Streams
▲UBH-03 ▲ UBH-04
▼UPR-05 ▼ UBH-01
Protect and Restore Forests and Tree Canopy
• Consider developing local tree protection ordinances– Hartford Tree Ordinance– NYC Million Trees Initiative
• Implement reforestation/tree canopy demonstration projects
• Bridgeport Urban Tree Canopy (UTC) Analysis
Sustainable Land Use and Open Space
Goal: Promote sustainable growth and appropriate development in the watershed while preserving and improving the watershed’s natural resources, providing public access to open space, and addressing current and future flooding problems
• Objective 1: Promote sustainable growth and economic development
• Objective 2: Address flooding issues• Objective 3. Protect and acquire open space• Objective 4. Continue development of a greenway network • Objective 5. Increase public access to the river corridor
Strengthen Land Use Regulations• Stream Buffers• Stormwater Management• Tree Protection• Groundwater and Drinking Water Supplies• Open Space• Consider formation of Regional WPCA
– Reduce or eliminate septic systems– Potential mechanism for regional stormwater utility
• Complete Pequonnock Valley Regional Bikeway– Context-sensitive– LID and conservation
design
• Increase public access to river
Source: USDA, 2008
Link Green Spaces and Increase Access to River
Knowlton Park, Bridgeport
Site-specific Retrofitand Restoration Concepts
Retrofit Screening Approach• Retrofit Types
– Green Infrastructure– Low Impact Development– Buffer Restoration– Stream Restoration
• Selection Factors– Proximity to streams– Public land ownership– High visibility, “demonstration” value– Applicability to other areas of watershed
• Address pollutants through treating and infiltrating stormwater
• Focus - Bacteria
Wolfe Park, Monroe
Wolfe Park, Monroe
Wolfe Park, Monroe
Wolfe Park, Monroe
Wolfe Park, Monroe
Wolfe Park, Monroe
Trumbull Library
• Centrally-located• Landscaped grounds with dense tree canopy• Site shared with Town Hall• More dedicated parking desired, but expansion would impact tree
canopy• Town representatives working to strike a balance between parking,
trees, stormwater, and cost
Trumbull Library
Trumbull Library – Parking Expansion
Source: Donald Watson, FAIA Architect
Trumbull Library – Tree Box Filter
Source: Hydro International, Inc.
Old Mine Park, Trumbull
• Small impoundment on the Pequonnock River• Once a popular swimming hole• Poor riparian buffer• Recent dredging performed without appropriate BMPs (perimeter
controls installed later)
Old Mine Park, Trumbull
Old Mine Park, Trumbull
Old Mine Park, Trumbull
Beardsley Park and Zoo• Connecticut’s only zoo• High-profile location with variety
of retrofit candidates– Parking areas– Buildings– Access/park roads– Narrow buffer along Bunnell’s
Pond
• Existing rain garden constructed as part of a NEMO workshop
TRAFFIC ISLAND RETROFIT
Beardsley Zoo – Traffic Island Retrofit
Beardsley Zoo – Traffic Island Retrofit
Bridgeport City Hall• High-profile location in
dense neighborhood downtown
• 70% effective impervious cover in surrounding subwatershed
• High demand and daily turnover in parking
Bridgeport City Hall
Bridgeport City Hall
Green Street / Complete Street
Green Street / Complete Street
Site-Specific Concept CostsConcept Estimated Cost Range
Wofle Park $411,000 $288,000 $618,000
Stepney Elementary School $453,000 $318,000 $681,000
Bart Shopping Center $485,000 $340,000 $730,000
Beardsley Park $766,000 $536,000 $1,149,000
Beardsley Zoo $186,000 $131,000 $280,000
Bridgeport City Hall $305,000 $213,000 $459,000
Complete Street $251,000 $175,000 $377,000
Trumbull Library $392,000 $274,000 $589,000
Knowlton Street Park $434,000 $304,000 $652,000
Old Mine Park $283,000 $198,000 $426,000
Watershed Management Plan – Next Steps• Comment Period August 16• Public Release of Final Plan September• Begin / continue implementing the Plan
Comments on Draft PlanDraft Plan Available for Download:http://www.bridgeportct.gov/HowdoI/Pages/ReportsPublications.aspx(Reports and Publications page)
DRAFTSubmit Comments To:
Chris CryderSave the Sound203.787.0646 ext. [email protected]
Erik Mas, P.E.Fuss & O’Neill, Inc.800.286.2469 ext. [email protected]
Comments Requested By: August 16, 2011