Feasibility Study Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Feasibility Study • During Hurricane Sandy, Coney Island Creek was the main source of inundation for much of the Gravesend and Coney Island neighborhoods. Low edges and topography contributed to “backdoor” flooding that caused enormous damage. • NYCEDC , in partnership with New York City’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency (ORR), contracted the ARCADIS/HDR Team to conduct a detailed feasibility study that would include: – Integrate hydrological management strategies that would prevent and mitigate upland flooding around Coney Island Creek – Improve waterfront open space – Strengthen connections between neighborhoods – Support economic development in surrounding areas Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Southern Brooklyn Initiative 5: Coney Island Creek Develop an implementation plan and concept designs for new Coney Island Creek wetlands and tidal barrier City to develop an implementation plan and concept designs including edge- strengthening and edge-softening measures, such as wetland construction, a potential tidal barrier or dam across the Creek to control tidal surge, improve water quality, and potentially enhance community connectivity Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Elevation and Flood Risk Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Topography of Coney Island Creek Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Topography of Coney Island Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek What happened during Sandy? Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Preliminary FEMA FIRM Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Flood Depths (100-year) Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Flood Depths (100-year + 3 feet sea level rise) Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Tidal Wetlands Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Tidal Elevations – Planning for Future Shorelines • Regional interest in restoration including Hudson Raritan Estuary Comprehensive Restoration Plan (CRP) sites: • Calvert Vaux Park • Coney Island Creek Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Tidal Wetlands – Historically Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Tidal Wetlands – Currently Calvert Vaux/Drier Offerman Park Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney IslandCoastal Creek Habitat Improvement Project Calvert Vaux/Drier Offerman Park Coastal Habitat Improvement Project • Key project elements • Salt marsh (0.5 ac) • Sandy beach/horseshoe crab spawning habitat (1.0 ac) • Coastal upland (2.05 ac) • 5-yr monitoring program • Maintenance and management • Funded through: • NYCDPR • NYSDEC Clean Water- Clean Air Bond Act • NOAA Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Water Quality & Tidal Flushing Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Water Quality Existing Conditions • Overall water quality is limited by the confined nature of the Creek, low tidal flushing, background concentrations and illicit discharges • Receiving waterbody for 1 CSO outfall and 10 stormwater outfalls operated by the City • Designated as a Class I Waterbody by New York State best used for secondary contact recreation and fishing Combined Sewer Overflow in Coney Island Creek Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Water Quality Projected Conditions • Completion of Avenue V CSO Volume (million gallons in a typical year) Pumping Station Upgrade is 350 expected to reduce CSO 300 volumes by 87% 250 • Dissolved oxygen expected to 200 improve; 100% compliance 150 100 with existing Class I standard 50 will not be achieved in the 0 middle and east end based on Baseline (without upgrade) Projected (with upgrade) previous modeling Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Tidal Flushing Simulation Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Aquatic Species & Migratory Birds Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Mapped Ecological Communities Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Fish and Wildlife • C ount and diversity of benthic species is low, based on 2004 data • Diverse finfish community beyond the western end of the creek • Lacking habitat for terrestrial species • Numerous shore and migratory birds observed January 2015: Cooper’s hawk, red-tailed hawk, great blue heron, ring-billed gull, great black-backed gull, herring gull, brant, mallard, bufflehead, loon spp., American black duck, mute swan, American coot, Canada goose, American crow, sparrow spp. Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek 22 Sediment & Soil Quality Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Sediment & Soil Quality • Sediment quality consistent with sediments in Hudson Raritan Estuary • Concentrations exceed ecological criteria for metals and other analytes • Remedial activities at sites along the Creek have improved soil quality • Site specific, additional testing would be required Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Drainage Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Understanding Drainage • Most of the drainage area to Coney Island Creek is via separate storm sewers or overland flow • Significant investment in drainage improvements within project area • New Citywide MS4 Permit expected to be finalized in 2015 Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Runoff and Overflows Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek 27 Drainage Improvements Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Diverse Ecological Conditions Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Coney Island Creek Reaches • 2-mile long Creek varies in its width from 900 feet wide at the west end to 150 feet wide at the east end • Ecological conditions also vary across Creek Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Reach 1: West Side of MTA Railroad Bridge to Belt Pkwy Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Reach 2: West Side of Cropsey Ave Bridge to West Side of MTA Railroad Bridge Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Reach 3: W 25th St to West Side of Cropsey Ave Bridge Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Reach 4: Leon S Kaiser Park to W 25th St Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Reach 5: End of Bayview Ave to Leon S Kaiser Park Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Community and Economic Profile Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Preliminary community and economic profile Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Primary study area captures a small segment of the surrounding community… Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Secondary study area is useful to understand the community profile Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Three neighborhoods comprise the study area Gravesend Sea Gate Coney Island Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek A focus area allows comparison of demographic and market information Gravesend Sea Gate Coney Island Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Lower income levels than Brooklyn are representative of the study area’s longstanding economic challenges $50,000 $45,000 $43k $40,000 $35k $35,000 $29k $30,000 $25,000 $20,000 $15,000 $10,000 $5,000 $0 Focus Area Median Study Area Median Brooklyn Median Income Income Income Source: 2014 ESRI Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Unemployment rates exceed the borough’s 14.00% 12.6% 12.00% 10.6% 10.00% 9.3% 8.00% 6.00% 4.00% 2.00% 0.00% Focus Area Study Area Brooklyn Unemployment Unemployment Unemployment Source: 2014 ESRI Investigating Integrated Solutions for a Resilient Coney Island Creek Population largely employed in lower wage occupations Employment by Sector, 2011 Average Annual Wage, 2014 (NYC MSA) Health Care & Social Assistance $48,957 Retail Trade $37,584 Educational Services $57,556 Accommodation & Food Services $30,323 Professional, Scientific, Technical Services $116,092 Public Administration $59,222 Transportation & Warehousing $51,170 Finance & Insurance $265,994 Administration & Support $51,443 Wholesale Trade $85,460 Other Services $43,970 0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000