New York City Department of Environmental Protection Watershed Protection Program Summary and Assessment March 2016 Emily Lloyd, Commissioner Paul V. Rush, P.E., Deputy Commissioner Bureau of Water Supply Table of Contents Table of Contents Table of Contents ......................................................................................................................................... i List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................. xi List of Tables ............................................................................................................................................ xix List of Acronyms ...................................................................................................................................... xxi Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................... 3 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 15 1.1 Purpose of this Report ................................................................................................................ 15 1.2 Water Supply System ................................................................................................................. 15 1.3 Regulatory Context ..................................................................................................................... 19 1.4 Historical Context ....................................................................................................................... 19 1.5 Report Details ............................................................................................................................. 21 2. Tropical Storm Irene and Tropical Storm Lee ................................................................................ 23 2.1 Overview .................................................................................................................................... 23 2.2 Advance Planning ....................................................................................................................... 23 2.3 Storm Event and Short-term Responses ..................................................................................... 24 2.3.1 Rainfall and Runoff .................................................................................................. 24 2.3.2 Water Quality Impacts .............................................................................................. 26 2.3.3 Water Supply Operations and Treatment .................................................................. 27 2.3.4 Gilboa Event ............................................................................................................. 28 2.3.5 Enhanced Water Quality Monitoring ........................................................................ 30 2.3.6 Modeling ................................................................................................................... 33 2.4 Response Actions ....................................................................................................................... 34 2.4.1 Watershed Repairs .................................................................................................... 34 2.4.2 Community Support.................................................................................................. 37 2.4.3 Post-Storm Review ................................................................................................... 38 2.5 Programmatic Changes ............................................................................................................... 39 2.5.1 BWS Hurricane Preparedness, Response & Recovery Actions Timeline ................ 39 2.5.2 Flood Studies, Mapping and Future Resiliency ........................................................ 40 i 2016 FAD Assessment Report 3. Water Supply Infrastructure Improvements ................................................................................... 41 3.1 Catskill/Delaware Ultraviolet Light Disinfection Facility .......................................................... 41 3.2 Croton Water Filtration Plant ..................................................................................................... 42 3.3 Catskill Aqueduct – Delaware Aqueduct Interconnection at Shaft 4 ......................................... 42 3.4 Operations Support Tool ............................................................................................................ 43 4. Watershed Management Programs .................................................................................................. 45 4.1 Institutional Alliances ................................................................................................................. 45 4.1.1 Watershed Agricultural Council ............................................................................... 45 4.1.2 Catskill Watershed Corporation ............................................................................... 46 4.1.3 Stream Management Program Partners .................................................................... 46 4.1.4 Environmental Organizations ................................................................................... 47 4.1.5 East of Hudson Partners............................................................................................ 47 4.2 Land Acquisition ........................................................................................................................ 48 4.2.1 Overview .................................................................................................................. 48 4.2.2 Solicitation ................................................................................................................ 51 4.2.3 LAP Programs .......................................................................................................... 51 4.2.4 Enhanced Land Trust Program ................................................................................. 54 4.2.5 Riparian Buffer Acquisition Program (RBAP) ......................................................... 54 4.2.6 FEMA Flood Buyout Program ................................................................................. 54 4.2.7 DEP-Funded Flood Buyout Program ........................................................................ 55 4.2.8 Riparian Buffers Protected ....................................................................................... 55 4.2.9 Wetlands Protected ................................................................................................... 56 4.3 Land Management ...................................................................................................................... 56 4.3.1 Property and Conservation Easement Monitoring .................................................... 56 4.3.2 Recreational Uses ..................................................................................................... 58 4.3.3 Agricultural Uses ...................................................................................................... 62 4.3.4 Forest Management Program Overview ................................................................... 62 4.3.5 Invasive Species Management .................................................................................. 65 4.4 Watershed Agricultural Program ................................................................................................ 68 4.5 Stream Management Program .................................................................................................... 72 4.5.1 Introduction and Highlights ...................................................................................... 72 4.5.2 Stream Management Implementation Program ........................................................ 73 ii Table of Contents 4.5.3 Partnerships and Education ....................................................................................... 74 4.5.4 Floodplain Management ........................................................................................... 75 4.5.5 Stream Projects ......................................................................................................... 78 4.6 Riparian Buffer Protection Program ........................................................................................... 85 4.6.1 Acquisition and Management of Riparian Buffers on DEP or Controlled Lands .... 85 4.6.2 Catskill Streams Buffer Initiative ............................................................................. 86 4.7 Environmental Infrastructure Programs ..................................................................................... 89 4.7.1 WWTP Regulatory and State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) Upgrade Program ...................................................................................................... 89 4.7.2 Septic System Rehabilitation and Replacement Program ......................................... 89 4.7.3 New Sewage Treatment Infrastructure Program ...................................................... 91 4.7.4 Sewer Extension Program ........................................................................................