DEC/Parks Department Reverse Ridgewood Reservoir Culvert Plan

The decommissioned Ridgewood Reservoir in Highland Park is a natural oasis on the Queens-Brooklyn border.  Activists were worried that a state-mandated plan to cut culverts in the reservoir would have impacted the natural beauty of the area. Citizens were concerned that this could pave the way for future development.  (Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) click on images to enlarge.

Queens-Brooklyn

By Geoffrey Croft

For years the community fought vehemently against Mayor Bloomberg's $50 million PlaNYC proposal to clear out 20 acres of one of the basins for ballfields and develop the natural area for active recreation. 

It appears these efforts may finally be paying off. 

In what was one of the last remaining hurdles, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Parks Department are reversing course on a controversial $ 6 million dollar, two-year plan to cut large holes (culverts) into the three basins in Ridgewood Reservoir.  The move comes as pressure from environmentalists, area residents and elected officials were mounting to preserve the area exclusively as natural parkland.  

The State DEC has classified the Ridgewood Reservoir's three basins as a "Class C" High Hazard Dam, critics disagreed.   State officials originally mandated that the Parks Department cut culverts as part of an anti-flooding plan, a move which drew wide-spread criticism. 

The Parks Department is expected to submit a new application to the DEC shortly requesting the site be reclassified as a non-hazardous dam.  Plans are also in the works to map the basins as wetlands a move advocates and naturalists fighting to preserve the decommissioned dams requested four years ago.

Invasive species tower over the decommissioned Ridgewood Reservoir in Highland Park. Advocates want the $ 6 million dollars re-purposed and used to clear out invasive species and replace them with native flora which will among many things increase bio-diversity. 

In July, eight local elected officials sent a letter to Governor Cuomo requesting the plan be scrapped.  

Last week DEC Commissioner Joe Martins sent a letter to the elected officials informing them of the State's decision.  

"The Highland Park/Ridgewood Reservoir Alliance is cautiously optimistic that the reservoir will finally be getting the protection from development that the community has been fighting for since 2007," said Rob Jett,  HPRRA member and the Save Ridgewood Reservoir blog founder. 

"The next important follow up step will be the NYSDEC performing the promised wetlands mapping promised this fall. We had submitted an application for wetlands mapping to the state 4 years ago. In addition, the Ridgewood Reservoir habitats support over 150 species of resident, breeding and migratory species of birds. Many of those are Endangered, Threatened or of Special Concern by both state and federal agencies. For that reason we are asking that the state designate the reservoir a "Bird Conservation Area. 

The HPRRA will continue to work with the community, politicians and parks department to assure that our vision of Ridgewood Reservoir becoming a world class Urban Nature Sanctuary is realized," said Jett.

The environmental law firm Super Law Group were retained by HPRRA and played a key advisory role in the proceedings, acting as a liaison between the community and the Mayor's office, DEC and the Parks Department.  

Edan Rotenberg, a lawyer at the firm gave credit to the community and the elected officials for working together.  He looks forward to helping the community achieve further conservation goals via NY State DEC including  getting wetland status and recognition for endangered species. 

The DEC is being pressed for three things:  to map the wetlands in the Reservoir on its official state map of wetlands; recognize the Ridgewood Reservoir as an official Bird Conservation Area; and have DEC's "New York Natural Heritage Program" officially recognize the existence of rare and threatened plants and animals in the Ridgewood Reservoir.


American redstart at the Ridgewood Reservoir. (Photo: Steve Nanz)

New York Natural Heritage maintains New York's most comprehensive database on the status and location of rare species and natural communities. The information is used by public agencies, the environmental conservation community, developers, and others to aid in land-use decisions.

"We have an oral commitment from the DEC that they will map the wetlands in the park this Fall," said Edan Rotenberg.

"They are going to go through all three basins and look at the wetland to determine what parts of the basin or whether the whole basin should be classified as wetlands.  This is an environmental hot spot. There aren't many regional wetland forest habits left in New York City period. 

There are a number of endangered species in the reservoir, its important the state recognize this," he said.

What's Next?

Advocates are also pressing that the $ 6 million dollars be reallocated for much needed improvements. 

Community members and environmentalists have long advocated for the repurposing of two existing gate house buildings located on the basin's perimeter for an environmental center and Parks Enforcement Patrol and Ranger facility to help ensure the long-term viability and safety of the area.  

"We are glad that the NYC Parks Department finally recognized that the Ridgewood Reservoir is a habitat that should not be disturbed by construction and that it took the step of requesting reclassification to a low hazard dam," said Christina Wilkinson. 

"The money that was to be used for this project should now be re-purposed to clear out invasive species and replace them with native flora. Building a nature center and PEP command will go a long way to ensure the reservoir Highland park are properly used and safe." 

The community is pressing to use two of the reservoir's gatehouses located along the basin's perimeter to be used as an environmental center for public programs and a Parks Enforcement Patrol/ Ranger facility to help ensure the long-term viability and safety of the area.

Invasive vines are pervasive in Highland Park due to a lack of maintenance.  A long-term restoration and maintenance plan for the severally neglected park is vital.


Read/View More:

Parks Officials Say State Wants Ridgewood Reservoir Basins to Be Safer
NY 1 - July 10, 2014 - By Agnes Chung 
http://www.ny1.com/content/212041/parks-officials-say-state-wants-ridgewood-reservoir-basins-to-be-safer/

Plan To Cut Into Historic Ridgewood Reservoir Has Activists Fuming - 
Fears This Will Lead To Development
A Walk In The Park - July 6, 2014

City Considering Leaving Ridgewood Reservoir Natural

A Walk In The Park - October 5, 2012 

Cracks In Ridgewood Reservoir Found - Renovations Delayed

A Walk In The Park - January 13, 2012 

Central Park Vs. Ridgewood Reservoir Fence Discrepancy

A Walk In The Park - May 27, 2010 

Community Boards Not Happy With Ridgewood Reservoir Plans

A Walk In The Park - January 6, 2010 

Plan To Cut Into Historic Ridgewood Reservoir Has Activists Fuming - Fears This Will Lead To Development

Flood Hazzard?  The New York State DEC has classified the Ridgewood Reservoir's three basins as a "Class C" High Hazard Dam, critics disagree.  (Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) click on images to enlarge


The decommissioned Ridgewood Reservoir in Highland Park is a natural oasis on the Queens-Brooklyn border. Local activists are worried that a state-mandated plan to dig out culverts in the reservoir will destroy the natural beauty of the area. Park and State officials say it is necessary to prevent flooding, activists disagree. 

For years the community fought against Mayor Bloomberg's $50 million PlaNYC proposal to clear out 20 acres of one of the basins for ballfields and develop the area for active recreation. 

Community residents instead wanted the unique area as let along as a natural oasis.

Mayor Bloomberg finally got the message and cut funding for the project.

Critics of the culvert plan say the $ 6 million dollars would be much better spent clearing out the invasive species and providing facilities for educational programing and for security personnel.

Community members and envirmentailists have long advocated for the repurposing two of the existing gate house buildings located on the basin's perimeter for use as an environmental center and a Parks Enforcement Patrol/Ranger facility.  

These funds could play a vital role in the future success of a newly reclaimed natural area! 

 - Geoffrey Croft

Invasive species strangle heathy trees and dramically reduce bio-divercity. 



Queens/Brooklyn

Local activists are fuming over a city plan to cut culverts into the historic Ridgewood Reservoir in order to stave off the threat of future flooding. They say the $6 million plan — currently awaiting state environmental approvals — is unnecessary and wasteful of money, according to the New York Daily News.  

“It would have to rain 24 hours a day for months to reach capacity,” said Geoffrey Croft of New York City Park Advocates. 

Critics also worry the project will disturb the ecosystems in the defunct reservoir. 

“Construction will destroy the natural habitats within the basins, not to mention that it is also a colossal waste of taxpayer money,” said local civic activist Christina Wilkinson said. 

“Furthermore, if this weather event actually were to occur, allowing the basins to drain into a small catch basin on Vermont Place would be pointless as the sewer system would already be overflowing.” 


The reservoir, located on the Brooklyn-Queens border, was built in 1858 and supplied water to Brooklyn until 1959. 



But the Parks Department said it will face fines by the state if the work is not done, since the reservoir is considered a flooding hazard. 

The only other solution that would satisfy the state — which would involve extensive tree removal and ongoing maintenance — is more costly and intrusive, parks officials said.

The reservoir, located on the Brooklyn-Queens border, was built in 1858. It supplied water to Brooklyn until 1959.

Former Mayor Bloomberg announced 10 years ago that the site would be transferred from the city Department of Environmental Protection to the Parks Department as parkland.

         

The long abandoned gate houses along the reservoir basin's perimeter could be repurposed and used as an environmental center and a permanent station for Parks Enforcement Patrol officers and park rangers.


The Bloomberg Administration originally pegged the reservoir and surrounding Highland Park for renovations. But the $50 million proposal to clear out 20 acres for ballfields and develop the area for recreation died for lack of funds.   

A Tale Of Two Reservoirs? The community had also requested the fences in the redesign match the historical ones but Park Department officials said that could not be done for safety reasons.  The fence around the Central Park reservoir (left) however used the exact same design as in Ridgewood (right). (Save Ridgewood Reservoir) 

The city did complete a smaller project to repair pathways and lighting around the reservoir, and make the areas more handicapped accessible. Agency officials said the flood prevention project would not change the condition of the reservoir or reduce public access. 

But concerned citizens worried that the culverts could pave the way for future development. 

“It is my firm belief that (the Parks Department) crying crocodile tears when they say that they’d rather not breach the basins but are being forced to by the DEC,” said Rob Jett, who founded the Save the Ridgewood Reservoir website.

He and others worry that the city will revive old plans to clear parts of the reservoir to build the ballfields.   


Familiar bluet at the Ridgewood Reservoir. (Photo: Steve Nanz)

 Interpretive Sign.

Read More:

Parks Officials Say State Wants Ridgewood Reservoir Basins to Be Safer
NY 1 - July 10, 2014 - By Agnes Chung 
http://www.ny1.com/content/212041/parks-officials-say-state-wants-ridgewood-reservoir-basins-to-be-safer/

Plan to cut culverts in historic Ridgewood Reservoir has local activists fearful it will lead to development of the natural oasis   

New York Daily News -  June 4, 2014  - By Lisa L. Colangelo  

Arson In Prospect Park's Most Sensitive Habitat and Wildlife Area

A fire burns at Rocky Pass one Prospect Park's most sensitive habitat and wildlife areas.

(Photos and illustration: Rob Jett/Citybirder) Click on images to enlarge.

Brooklyn

By Geoffrey Croft

It was a close call this afternoon for one Prospect Park's most sensitive habitat and wildlife areas.

A fire was deliberately set on Rocky Pass and a witness saw three teenagers running away from the scene.

Bird watcher and naturalist Rob Jett, founder of Citybirder, was in Prospect Park's "Ravine" area at approximately 2:45pm when he heard a few teens fooling around on the pathway at "Rocky Pass."

"Shortly thereafter, I heard them laughing and running down the path towards the Nethermead Meadow. Immediately after I began to see smoke coming up from where they had just been, then I saw flames in the underbrush climbing the hillside. "

Jett quickly alerted the authorities and within a couple of minutes employees from the Prospect Park Alliance arrived including a crew from landscape management with shovels and rakes. A few minutes later NYPD patrol cars arrived.

Fast acting cops grabbed fire extinguishers from their patrol cars and emptied five of them putting out the fire.

FDNY arrived at the scene about 3:20pm. A law enforcement officer at the scene commented that the fire department's delay was caused because they were not familiar with location names within the park and had a difficult time finding it.

"Luckily, between landscape management workers creating a fire break and police officers with several small fire extinguishers, they were able to keep the fire from spreading through the entire woodlands at the Ravine. By the time FDNY arrived it was just smoldering with no open flames," said Mr. Jett.

Location of the fire.

"It could have been a lot worse. This is one of the most rich woodland habitats in all of Brooklyn and it could have burned to ashes without this quick responce. "

According to Jett, at least 20 species of birds nest in that area including the red tail hawk, and it contains Broolyn's last remaining forrest.

According to Jett and other park watchers, one of the biggest problems with this isolated section of Prospect Park is that it is rarely patrolled, either by NYPD or PEP. He says that homeless people and miscreants regularly hop over the fences at these two hillsides creating trash, fire hazards and other problems.

Making matters worse park workers say they are reluctant to go into those areas alone. In the summer months these supposedly protected sections of forest are trashed by people and illegal parties.

Jett says in the past he sent photos and complaint letters to former Prospect Park administrator Tupper Thomas regarding this area, but nothing was done to reign in the problem and he says it has only gotten worse.

In a April 14, 2008 email to Mr. Jett, Ms. Thomas acknowledged that there are problems in the area.

"(I) have been very concerned about the increased abuse for some time," Mr. Thomas wrote. "I have not seen the actual people doing the damage but have seen the effect and we had worked with the police on the large drinking parties that had been happening at night."

He hopes the new administration will take these issues more seriously and devote proper resources.

Park watchers have long complained about the limited funds being earmarked for the park, especially for its natural resources.

FDNY, and multiple NYPD units responded to the fire this afternoon.

Read More:

Arson suspected at Prospect Park wildlife area

The Brooklyn Blog - New York Post - February 29, 2012 - By Rich Calder

Prospect Park set ablaze

The Brooklyn Paper - March 1, 2012 - By Natalie O’Neill

Fire in Prospect Park, Witness Claims Arson

A fire broke out at Prospect Park's Rocky Pass,

and a witness says he saw teens laughing and fleeing the scene

Park Slope Patch - March 2,2012 - By Jamie Schuh