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Letter to the Editor

ALERTING THE PUBLIC
IN A WATER EMERGENCY

Editor's note: During and after the major sewage spill associated with the shut-down of the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant in late July, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection was criticized about its notification process. Some people complained that notification -- to boating groups in particular -- had been delayed and inadequate. WaterWire asked Farrell Sklerov, Director of Communications for the DEP, if the agency's notification process would be different in the event of another water emergency. His response is below. 

 

 

To the editor,

DEP had a robust communication effort following the fire at the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant. DEP held daily press conferences, issued daily media updates, sent out Notify NYC messages and posted information on 311 and our website. The Department of Health also posted information on its website. In addition, the Department of Parks posted signs at all affected beaches as well as kayak launches to alert residents to public health warnings.

For combined sewer overflows, an issue that all major cities in the Northeast and Midwest face, the city has public advisory signs at all outfalls around the city informing residents about the dangers of entering the water during rain. DEP also has a link on its website which shows if city waterways are impaired following storms. We are in the process of developing a system to proactively alert people of the information contained on this web-based system as well. 

 

Farrell Sklerov

Director of Communications

NYC Dept. of Environmental Protection 

 

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WaterWire is your platform for getting the word out. All comments, points of view, event notices, and letters to the editor, Alison Simko, are welcome.
 
EventsEvents on the Waterfront
Click on the links for more
information about these events.
A detailed calendar of events
may be found at www.waterfrontalliance.org/calendar


August 18
Film: Liquid Assets: The Story of our Water Infrastructure
7p, Beacon Institute, Center for Environmental Innovation and Education, 199 Dennings Avenue, Beacon, NY

August 20
Boating: Paddle Day on Lake Tappan
8a-4p, Lake Tappan, Old Tappan, NJ
Stewardship Saturday: Bay Clean-Up with the Rockaway Waterfront Alliance
11a, Dubos Point at Bay 64th Street
Boating: Navesink River Paddle
12:30p, Rumson Boat Ramp

August 22
Clean and Green: Gowanus Canal
Huntington Street (west side of canal)

August 23
Tour: Hidden Harbor Tour of the North River
6:15p, depart from Pier 16, South Street Seaport

August 26
Fishing: Lower East Side Ecology Center
5p, East 10th Street and the East River

August 27
 Festival: Jamaica Bay Shorebird Festival
7a, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Center, 1 Cross Bay Boulevard, Queens

August 28
Tour: NY Harbor LIghthouses with NY/NJ Baykeeper
3:30p, Keyport, NJ

September 1
Cruise: Tug and Barge Destination Cruise
10a, Hudson River Park to Red Hook

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*Tides are for the waters off Fort Wadsworth, The Narrows, on August 17, 2011. For tidal information at your specific waterfront, visit www.saltwatertides.com and the Urban Ocean Observatory

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TOCCONTENTS: August 17, 2011
Closing New York City's East River Waterfront Gap
Long discussed ideas finally gain traction

DEP Mussels its Way to Cleaner Water
Lesser known bivalve filters Jamaica Bay

Gem of a Beach Sparkles this Summer
Army Corps of Engineers Restores Orchard Beach

Homeland Security Hears About Need for Emergency Dock Infrastructure
Janet Napolitano and Roland Lewis have a chat

Hail America 2.0
New schooner is on her way down the Hudson River

Meet Some MWA Partners!
EastCLOSING NEW YORK CITY'S EAST RIVER GAP
Long Discussed Ideas Finally Gain Traction For years, Midtown East Siders, urban planners and government and corporate officials have discussed ways to regain access to 22 obstructed blocks of the East River waterfront. From 60th Street to 38th Street, access to the waterfront is blocked by the FDR Drive, the United Nations and a fenced-off pier held for many years until recently by Con Edison.


The long conversation about this gap in the Hudson River Greenway got a double jolt of energy earlier this summer, first when the City received $13 million from Con Edison to rehabilitate the pier between 38th and 41st Streets; and second when Governor Cuomo signed legislation on July 15 creating an opportunity for the City, local elected officials and the United Nations to negotiate a land swap that could result in revenue to pay for the redevelopment of this waterfront.
Site mapThe complex proposal involves transferring parkland (a blacktopped recreation space known as Robert Moses Playground on First Avenue between 41st and 42nd Streets) to the United Nations for development in return for potentially a much greater amount of public open space, including a waterfront esplanade that would close the Greenway gap between 38th and 60th Street, and a new park. (New legislation is needed whenever land is to be taken out of the park system.) Click here for details on the plan.

 

Another idea is to use the steel caissons in the East River between 53rd to 60th Streets -- constructed to support a detour road when the FDR Drive was rebuilt -- for part of the Greenway (see rendering below). The letters "ODR" on the aerial photograph above stand for "Outerboard Detour Roadway."    

 

If an agreement can be reached, funding for a continuous waterfront esplanade from 38th to 60th Streets and other public space improvements would come from two sources: the U.N.'s payment for the right to develop the playground, and the City's revenue from the sale of two buildings to be vacated by the U.N.

 

At the southernmost end of the waterfront stretch in question, planning is already under way on the former Con Edison pier. The NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) announced that infrastructure work will begin soon, and the Municipal Art Society has already gathered people to brainstorm about pier design and programming. Meanwhile, adding activity to the waterfront just several blocks south, new East River ferry service sponsored by the City began earlier this summer at East 34th Street.    

 

"Rehabilitating the unused Con Ed pier will get us a step closer to turning prime, underused, waterfront real estate into a public amenity for the East Side and all New Yorkers," said Council Member Dan Garodnick in a statement provided by the EDC. "The pier is a critical piece in creating a continuous East River esplanade, so we are glad that the City and Con Ed have made this important progress." 

 

State Senator Liz Krueger, Assembly Member Brian Kavanagh and City Council member Daniel Garodnick have created an informative web site about the proposal. One public forum took place on August 5. Two more are scheduled:

  • Thursday, September 8, 2011, 4pm-7pm
    Sutton Place Synagogue, 225 East 51st St.
  • Tuesday, September 20, 2011, 5pm-8pm
    NYU Medical Center, 550 First Ave., Smiloh Seminar Room

(back to top) 


Above is a rendering of what a future East River esplanade could look like around 58th Street. Built atop existing caissons used for the FDR Drive detour, the esplanade would be separated from land. 

musselDEP MUSSELS ITS WAY TO CLEANER WATER
Agency Tests Natural Filtration Systems for Jamaica Bay
Oysters tend to get all the glory when environmental advocates point to water quality restoration projects in New York waters, but the lowly mussel does a fine job of filtering water, too.

In early August, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection announced the installation of an ecological project in a tributary of Jamaica Bay that tests the work of mussels to improve water quality. Last year, the DEP created oyster reefs and planted eelgrass in Jamaica Bay to filter water naturally.

"We're looking at different types of filtering options," DEP spokesperson Angel Roman told WaterWire.

Five net structures, each 15 feet long and five feet high with ribbed mussels growing on them, have been suspended underwater in the middle of Fresh Creek. As the tide flows back and forth across the nets, the mussels will capture and filter nitrogen, bacteria and other pollutants. By the end of the two-year project, the mussels are expected to grow to cover the structures.

As it monitors this pilot project, the DEP will gather information about "the long-term viability of using natural techniques to restore and strengthen the bay's ecosystem," as Commissioner Cas Holloway said in a statement.

According to the DEP, "The mussel-encrusted panels will be monitored for differences in water quality both up-current and down-current of the pilot project to estimate the total filtering capacity of the mussels. These numbers can then be used for potential larger-scale projects in the future. The data will be used to demonstrate whether the ribbed mussels can reduce excessive particulate matter and nutrients within the tributary. If it does, future uses could include placing mussels near stormwater outfalls to capture nutrients before they enter the bay."  (back to top)
orchardGEM OF A BEACH SPARKLES THIS SUMMER

Army Corps of Engineers Restores Orchard Beach

Anthony Ciorra has many fond memories spending warm days at Orchard Beach in the Bronx with his parents in the 1970s.

Today, Ciorra is a professional engineer and Chief of the Civil Works Branch for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District. He has been involved in the shoreline restoration project of Orchard Beach, one of several civil works projects performed by the NY District of the Army Corps.

Ciorra is proud to say he personally has played an important role in the restoration project. "Today when I drive on the roads leading into the beach, I get a sense of nostalgia," said Ciorra.  "I start thinking back to when I was a child, but I also feel a sense of pride that I helped make this beach enjoyable."

Located in a heavily populated urban area, Orchard Beach serves approximately 2.5 million visitors annually. The beach is located along the northeast shore of the Bronx, at the western end of the Long Island Sound. The crescent-shaped beach is one-mile long and 400 feet wide and considered the "gem" of Pelham Bay Park, NYC's largest city park. This year is its 75th anniversary.

A safety issue with overcrowding prompted the Army Corps to get the beach restoration completed expeditiously. The beach's shoreline was eroding, reducing the sandy area. A "before" aerial photo is at left.

Ciorra said, "The elevation of the beach was so low that when the Long Island Sound moved in, you couldn't keep your blanket on the beach. In addition there were some steep drop-off areas just off the shore that caused a few drownings." An "after" photo at right shows how the sandy area was expanded.

The Army Corps was asked by the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation to restore the beach. In October 2010, the Army Corps began working 24 hours a day to make the beach ready for the 2011 season. Workers dredged approximately 268,000 cubic yards of sand from Amboy's Ambrose Channel and pumped it onto Orchard Beach. The sand was graded and smoothed to extend the shoreline.

Dredged sand was also used to fill in the dangerous drop-off area. Further slowing erosion, the Army Corps repaired the beach's south groin with 4,000 tons of rock (right).

The Army Corps' work was completed ahead of schedule and under budget.

Increasingly popular, the beach is easily accessible by public transportation. Once called "The Riviera of New York," the beach is actually artificial. It was constructed during The Great Depression in the 1930's under the Works Progress Administration.

Ciorra said, "It feels good to be part of something where you know you made a difference."

By JoAnne Castagna, Ed.D. (back to top)

Dr. JoAnne Castagna is a technical writer-editor for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District. She can be reached at joanne.castagna@usace.army.mil. All photos except top photo courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District. Top photo by Malcolm Pinckney, NYC Department of Parks & Recreation.   

emergencyHOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY HEARS ABOUT NEED FOR EMERGNCY DOCKING IN NYC
On Board the Coast Guard Eagle, MWA
Speaks with Janet Napolitano About
Emergency Shoreline Infrastructure   
Taking advantage of an opportunity to speak with the Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance President/CEO Roland Lewis referred to the upcoming 10-year commemoration of 9/11 and emphasized the need for better emergency docking infrastructure for New York City. Ms. Napolitano concurred.

The two were on board the U.S. Coast Guard barque Eagle (above, at dawn on the morning of August 5) with other dignitaries, preparing for a ceremonial sail to the Red Hook docks. (back to top)

Photos by Ian Douglas/MWA.

americaHAIL AMERICA 2.0
A New Schooner Sails Into New York Harbor
Within a few days, America 2.0 will make her maiden voyage down the Hudson to take up residence at Chelsea Piers as the new flagship of the Classic Harbor Line.

Now undergoing finishing touches at Scarano Boat Building in the Albany area,  America 2.0 is a 105-foot schooner of hybrid construction inspired by the original winner of the America's Cup.

This is a tribute to a historic boat with 21st century extras. Built with an electric propulsion system, America 2.0 is easy on the environment. Built with a free-standing carbon fiber rig, the vessel is lightened further by use of construction materials such as balsa wood and aluminum. "She'll be very fast," said Richard Scarano, vice president at Scarano Boat Building and operator of Classic Harbor Line.
The sleek, new schooner joins the rest of the Classic Harbor Line fleet: the 1920s-style yacht Manhattan, the wooden, gaff-rigged schooner Adirondack and the yachts Catskill and Beacon.

America 2.0 will just miss a New York Harbor rendezvous with the Friendship of Salem, another vessel built by the Scarano company. A reconstruction of a square-rigged merchant ship built in 1797, the 178-foot Friendship of Salem visited North Cove last week. Built for the National Park Service, she is an educational vessel based in Salem, Massachusetts. (back to top)


Top photos courtesy of Scarano Boat Building. Bottom photo by Robert Simko.

partnersMWA PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Expanding every week, the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance is more than a coalition; it's a force. We are ferry captains, shipping executives, park directors, scientists, sailors, paddlers, swimmers, teachers, urban planners, architects and more. Together, we advocate for the best possible waterfront in the best possible city, a waterfront that is clean and accessible to all, with a robust maritime workforce and efficient, affordable waterborne transportation. Join us! Contact Louis Kleinman at lkleinman@waterfrontalliance.org.

Meet some Partners of the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance:
  • Gateway Bike & Boathouse   www.gatewayboathouse.org 

    The Gateway Bike & Boathouse is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charity based in Rockaway. We are an advocacy group for bike friendly roads and water access on the peninsula.

  • Girls at Play    www.watergirlsatplay.org

    Girls at Play LLC is dedicated to inspiring women and enhancing their lives through kayaking and yoga retreats, classes and trips.

  • Governors Island National Monument      www.nps.gov/gois
    For more than two centuries, the military communities on Governors Island were woven into the intricate social, political and economic tapestry that is New York City. From 1776-1996, Governors Island stood as a silent sentinel in New York Harbor, and provided protection of the ideals represented by the Statue of Liberty across the Bay. We invite you to explore the Island's history as it evolved from colonial outpost to regional administrative center for the U.S. Army and Coast Guard.
  • Great Ecology and Environments     www.greatecologyandenvironments.com
    Great Ecology & Environments believes that ecological systems are the key to solving environmental problems in today's world. Since 2001, GEE has worked with clients to add ecological, cultural, and economic value to developed, degraded or underutilized sites. Our interdisciplinary team of ecologically-focused science and design experts creates solutions that are both technically sound and aesthetically integrated into our client's vision. A nationwide consulting group, our offices are located in New York, California, and Connecticut.
    (back to top)  
NLWATERFRONT NEWSLINKS
 
Kayaking on the Hudson offers new perspective of Manhattan
The Record, August 17, 2011

New York Waterways captain keeps steady course
The Star-Ledger, August 16, 2011

A Week on the Water: On New York's Low Seas
The New York Times, August 12, 2011

Study on NY's Hudson finds unsafe sewage pollution
The Wall Street Journal, August 9, 2011
      

(back to top)

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