Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. – Proposal for a Beaded Necklace Housatonic River Greenway Acknowledgement Portions of this proposal text and citizen quotations are taken from the website and reports of Housatonic River Restoration (HRR). This is not meant to imply their endorsement of this proposal, but rather the VHB team’s support for the restoration goals as identified by HRR which we hope to implement on behalf of and in consultation with the people of the Berkshires. Authors of the HRR material include Rachel Fletcher, Erik Bruun, Peter Jensen, and Shep Evans, among many others who contributed their time and talent to the HRR river restoration planning efforts. We have also drawn from the Housatonic Valley Association’s Housatonic Greenway Plan. Page 1 Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. – Proposal for a Beaded Necklace Housatonic River Greenway Contents Transmittal Letter A. Proposed Project Team and Location A.1 Applicant Information A.2 Map B. Project Abstract C. Project Narrative C.1 Goals & Objectives C.2 Project Benefits C.3 Implementation Plan C.4 Land Acquisition Projects C.5 Technical Feasibility C.6 Evaluation & Contingency Plan C.7 Qualifications of Applicant and Project Team C.8 Supporting Technical Documentation D. Environmental and Socioeconomic Impacts D.1 Impact Checklist D.2 Impact Narrative D.3 List of Permits or Regulatory Approvals Required E. Project Budget E.1 Budget Tables E.2 Budget Narrative Supporting Materials F.1 Team Resumes F.2 Additional Qualification F.3 Letters of Support F.4 Forms Page 3 Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. – Proposal for a Beaded Necklace Housatonic River Greenway A. Proposed Project Team and Location A.1 Applicant Information Type of Entity Check the box that best describes the applicant. [ ] Private individual [ ] Municipal government [ ] Non-profit organization [X] Corporation or Business [ ] State government [ ] County government [ ] Federal government [ ] Academic Institution [ ] Tribal government [ ] Other (explain) Authorized Representative of Applicant Contact Person (if different) Leo Pierre Roy Name Name Managing Director, Environmental & Energy Services Title Title Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) Address Address 101 Walnut Street Address Address Watertown MA 02472-9151 City State Zip City State Zip Phone: Phone: (617) 924-1770 Email: Email: [email protected] Page 5 Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. – Proposal for a Beaded Necklace Housatonic River Greenway Project Name Provide a brief working name: Beaded Necklace Housatonic River Greenway Project Location Attach an 8.5 x 11-inch map or copy of an aerial photograph showing project location and extent. Include pertinent topographic and geographic information, a scale, and north arrow. State(s), Municipality/ies: Berkshire County, Massachusetts; particularly municipalities adjacent to the Housatonic River ____________________________________________________________________________________ Longitude for approximate center of project area: Approx. -73.289 Degrees Longitude Latitude for approximate center of project area: Approx. 42.275 Degrees Latitude Restoration Priority Category See instructions for category descriptions. Primary Category. Check one box. Secondary Categories. Check all relevant boxes. [ ] Aquatic Biological Resources and Habitat [ ] Aquatic Biological Resources and Habitat [ ] Wildlife Resources and Habitat [ ] Wildlife Resources and Habitat [X] Recreational Uses [X] Recreational Uses [ ] Environmental Education and Outreach [X] Environmental Education and Outreach List Specific Injured Natural Resources and/or Impaired Natural Resource Services to Benefit from Project (see Section 1.2 of the Restoration Project Selection Procedure for a summary of injuries) Furthers Land Preservation Goals – builds upon ongoing Water Quality & Erosion Control - riverbank stabilization is likely initiatives, streamlines permitting, identifies funding, and to accompany some of the trail / greenway projects and reduce provides preliminary review of local environmental conditions runoff into and sedimentation of the Housatonic River Outdoor Classroom – clearly delineated public access points and Aesthetic Values - will be highlighted by the trail/greenway greenway signage promote the outdoor classroom concept and routes, removing the “concealed” Housatonic from disrepute, and the understanding and respectful observation/use of natural promoting stewardship by users and adjacent landowners resources Flood Impact Mitigation - greenways act as absorbent buffers Air Quality - reduced vehicle use/pollution through providing and prevent risky development on floodplains alternate transportation routes and & air filtration from greenway Fishing & Boating Access Areas - will improve following years vegetation; recreation away from vehicle pollution along safe of neglect via provision of designated sites like canoe launches routes is a related benefit Wildlife - viewing areas along greenway trails complement Public Health - recreation opportunities like bicycling, canoeing, increased wildlife activity as the river recuperates and fosters and walking promotes health and well-being, especially among currently impaired eco-tourism biological/migration corridors communities affected by contamination; this improves quality of enhanced via greenway linkages life in an urban/suburban landscape Project Type See instructions for project type descriptions. Check all relevant boxes. [ ] Resource-based [X] Access-based [ ] Maintenance-based Page 6 COHOES Proposed Project Area COLONIE GRAFTON PETERSBURGH V E R BRUNSWICKforfor thethe M O N T TROY Beaded Necklace Housatonic M a h CLARKSBURG ic MONROE Greenway Master Plan a l n i COLONIE a Berkshire County, Massachusetts r T POESTENKILL Legend NORTH FLORIDA WILLIAMSTOWN T NORTH ADAMS r h Approximate Geographic Center of Project !| Public Access Board a il ROWE GREENBUSH BERLIN Approximate Project Area State Parks and Recreation Areas Greenways MT GREYLOCK Bicycle Trails by Status STATE RES Housatonic River Watershed CHARLE Existing SAND LAKE EASTConsidered il a NEW r SAVOY GREENBUSH Municipal Boundaries T Potential MOUNTAIN MOHAWK c ASHFORD State Boundary i STATE TRAIL n ADAMS o FOREST STATE Long Distance Trails Rivers and Streams c FOREST a T HAWLEY k o SAVOY o l Sources: r i B a t 1. State Parks and Recreation Areas, s r e HANCOCK T Public Access Board, W O DUBUQUE Bicycle Trails, Long Distance Trails, MEMORIAL STEPHENTOWN il Cheshire Housatonic River Watershed - MassGIS a STATE 0246ek r CHESHIRE l re l FOREST i C T Reservoir 2. Berkshire Greenways - MA Department k K NASSAU o ho SCHODACK e r i e t d n of Conservation and Recreationa (DCR) in Miles l K a a i V LANESBOROUGH h WINDSOR c !| k Note: This is a model for proposed future maps and limited in detail due to the small scale. r a STATE e o l v i o a FOREST It is not a comprehensive depiction of known existing and proposed bikeway/greenway features R c p c i i s PLAINFIELD or fully representative of proposed project mapping techniques BALANCE ROCK t p l o l o A i STATE PARK H WINDSOR w DALTON PITTSFIELD u STATE Pontoosuc h Location s FOREST A e Lake n W VT i !| WAHCONAH FALLS es NH l tfie y STATE PARK ld NEW Riv BRYANT er LEBANON Sk Onota MOUNTAIN Lake !| CUMMINGTONSTATE FOREST MA NY PITTSFIELD HINSDALE ASHMERE LAKE !| STATE PARK CHATHAM BATES MEMORIAL PERU WORTHINGTON S STATE PARK STATE RI tony CT Kill !| FOREST WORTHINGTON RICHMOND CANAAN MIDDLEFIELD KINDERHOOK !| STATE PERU LENOX FOREST STATE #!$"90 FOREST r e v W i illam s R OCTOBER WASHINGTON MIDDLEFIELD !| MOUNTAIN Stockbridge STATE Bowl FOREST Keystone Arches R i !| GHENT v Bridge Trail & Float AUSTERLITZ e STOCKBRIDGE r WEST LEE STOCKBRIDGE R a i !| l CHESTER K Littleville h !| BECKET R T BECKET Lake r Becket Quary a STATE i l FOREST Rail Trail O ALFORD BEARTOWN CHESTER-BLANDFORD STATE !| STATE Y FOREST FOREST FOUNTAIN POND PARK CLAVERACK HILLSDALE c TYRINGHAM i 90 GREAT OTIS #!$" n BARRINGTON k o STATE e ARTHUR OTIS e t r FOREST C WHARTON W a c i n s !| SWANN SF a Big Pond k Lake h u g E a o T MONTEREY !| Garfield EGREMONT EAST BLANDFORD H MOUNTAIN N !| STATE !| !| !| FOREST l l i K n Otis e l s i n a a Reservoir J r Trail f f i l T e o SANDISFIELD TAGHKANIC R STATE !| COPAKE FOREST BASHBISH n a FALLS i SANDISFIELD TOLLAND h STATE STATE c NEW c PARK a FOREST i l MT EVERETT MARLBOROUGH n a STATE RES o p c p a A T MOUNT SHEFFIELD TOLLAND H u GRANVILLE WASHINGTON b r b e a v r i d R R MT WASHINGTON t CAMPBELLS !| i o v e p GRANVILLE STATE FOREST FALLS r a COOKSON k STATE n STATE o STATE K FOREST GALLATIN PARK FOREST ANCRAM k e e C r O N C N NORTH SALISBURY NORTH E C k T I c C U u T t a EAST CANAAN b NORFOLK HARTLAND e PINE W COLEBROOK PLAINS Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. – Proposal for a Beaded Necklace Housatonic River Greenway B. Project Abstract Beaded Necklace Housatonic River Greenway Inspired by the “Beaded Necklace” vision that emerged from the extensive community planning process led by the Housatonic River Restoration (HRR), this project seeks NRD funding for the master planning, feasibility study, conceptual design, and development of a detailed implementation plan for a combined bikeway/greenway. With the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) and the Berkshire Bike Path Council (BBPC) as project partners, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) will manage the project and provide technical support, based on experience planning and completing over 70 bikeway/greenway projects over the past 20 years. BRPC will coordinate the community collaboration and consensus-building, and