- Bluebelt
The
Staten Island Bluebelt (a.k.a. Bluebelt), is a very large scale system of stormwater best management practices (BMPs) that includes structural and nonstructuralstormwater management control measures taken to mitigate changes to both quantity and quality of runoff caused through changes to land use.The
Staten Island Bluebelt is an award-winning and unique project that has been under active construction onStaten Island ,New York , since the early 1990s.History
The Staten Island Bluebelt program was initiated in the late 1980s by New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection and is one of the Northeast’s most ambitious stormwater management efforts. The overall goal is to provide the necessary stormwater drainage infrastructure for a convert|12000|acre|km2|sing=on region on the southern end of the island while at the same time preserving the last great stand of freshwater wetlands in New York City. The bluebelt uses a series of carefully placed best management practices(BMPs) at the storm sewer/wetland interface to reduce flooding and improve water quality. Creation of a self-regulating ecosystem that is native to the Staten Island region is of primary importance to the program.
BMPs used in the bluebelt include stormwater wetlands, stream restoration, outlet stilling basins, and sand filters. Ninety-two stormwater wetlands are planned for the project, about half of which have been constructed to date (2008). In order to integrate the wetlands into the natural ecology, the construction process is advised by restoration specialists since general contractors are typically not trained in proper plant selection and installation. The planting design focuses on quick establishment of the preferred successional communities that will complement the surrounding landscape, before invasive species take over the site.(http://www.cwp.org/wetlands/articles/WetlandsArticle5.pdf)
ee also
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Low impact development External links
* [http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/dep_projects/bluebelt.shtml Staten Island Bluebelt Program] - New York City Deptartment of Environmental Protection
* [http://www.asla.org/lamag/lam05/november/ecology.html Landscape Architecture Magazine feature article] - Staten Island Bluebelt (November 2005).
* [http://www.forester.net/sw_0106_staten.html Stormwater Journal] - (2000-2001).
* [http://www.epa.gov/ednnrmrl/events/07-28-2005.htm US EPA Staten Island Bluebelt Seminar]
* [http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/dep_projects/bluebelt_video.shtml New York City Department of Environmental Protection Staten Island Bluebelt Project]
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