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NEW YORK
New York has identified nonpoint sources as the primary cause of water
quality problems in 91 percent of its priority waterbodies. The state's
Nonpoint Source Management Program provides a blueprint for dealing with
nonpoint source pollution. Funding through section 319 has enabled the state to
implement many management program recommendations and to begin to address
problems on priority segments. Efforts to improve water quality are underway on
waterbodies with statewide or national significance--Long Island Sound,
Onondaga Lake, Lake Champlain, and the Great Lakes areas. The state has created
a framework to - efficiently fund projects on smaller watersheds as well.
New York is coordinating more than 50 nonpoint source programs and numerous
federal, state, and local agencies. Priority source categories include
agriculture, on-site septic systems, construction, and diffuse urban runoff,
with section 319 funds contributing to each. In addition, by convincing
agencies to shift emphasis or refocus - efforts, New York has been able to
implement an integrated NPS control program, with section 319-funded staff
making coordination a reality.
Agencies Coordinate to Rout Runoff
Although many state waterbodies suffer from stormwater runoff in developed
areas, New York is focusing on preventing new development from causing further
problems. The effort to control construction site runoff and install permanent
controls aims to prevent problems during construction and once construction is
complete. The following activities, using some $285,000 in section 319 funds,
are highlights of New York's extensive information and education program to
control stormwater runoff from new development. The state's basic tools are two
manuals on stormwater runoff and erosion and sediment control. New York
Guidelines for Urban Erosion and Sediment Control was originally developed by
SCS. In 1991, section 319 funded $30,000 to reprint the manual, which contains
standards and specifications for erosion and sediment control measures common
to construction sites. Over 4,000 copies were sent to erosion and sediment
control professionals and federal, state, and local government units in New
York State.
The manual, which includes both vegetative and structural measures
(permanent and temporary), has been a valuable tool for planners, engineers,
local officials, contractors, and others responsible for development.
With some $130,000 in section 319 funds, the State Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC) produced Reducing the Impacts of Stormwater
Runoff from New Development. Funds were used for research, writing and editing,
and production. The manual describes water quality problems caused by urban
runoff and management practices to prevent these problems, and it suggests
performance standards for local governments to assure that practices are
installed. The manual also contains a model ordinance that can be adopted by
local governments. In June 1992, copies of the manual were sent to over 1,500
chief elected officials of local governments.
With some $50,000 in section 319 funds, DEC regional staff worked directly
with local governments, explaining the advantages of local ordinances and
assisting them in developing their own. From October 1992 through March 1994,
staff members made approximately 250 contacts with local officials. About a
half-dozen towns have adopted the model ordinance and a number of others are in
the process.
Training is an important part of any prevention program. From 1991 through
1994, SCS conducted over 110 training sessions for a total of 4,000
people--ranging from local officials and consultants to local governments to
federal and state agency staff. Sessions included
- 22 one-day erosion and sediment control training sessions for agency and
local government personnel. The basic course covered factors that influence -
erosion, elements of a sound control plan, SCS standards and specifications,
and hands-on - development of conceptual erosion and sediment control plans for
two development site examples.
- 17 two-day advanced erosion and sediment control field workshops, focusing
on developing a control plan for an actual construction site. Workshops
included evaluating potential problems in the field, planning management
practices to address specific site needs, and designing temporary and permanent
erosion and sediment control practices using a team approach.
- 6 one- and two-day training sessions on hydraulic and hydrologic
computations for technical personnel involved with SCS Technical Release 55.
Participants learned to compute the total runoff and peak runoff for small
urban watersheds.
- 3 two-day training sessions for New York Department of Transportation
design staff, as part of a major interagency effort to introduce regional staff
to stormwater management concepts. Topics included erosion and sediment control
standards, a conceptual plan for controlling erosion and stormwater runoff at
road construction sites, a hands-on design problem requiring oral group -
presentations, and a similar design problem for highway stormwater
management.
- 3 three-day urban stormwater, erosion, and sediment control short courses
through Syracuse University's Continuing Engineering Education Program.
Seminars discussed legislation, ordinances, and the new stormwater regulation
for sediment control, stormwater management practices, and urban hydrology and
resource protection.
Through cooperative agreements, $45,000 in section 319 funds have
contributed to the more than $94,000 cost of this training. SCS also received
$11,000 in section 319 funds to produce two sets of fact sheets on erosion/ -
sediment control and stormwater management and a slide/tape show to help DEC
regional staff explain the - advantages of local stormwater management
programs. The prevention effort has not ignored the general public. With $5,000
of 319 funds, a cooperative agreement enabled the Sea Grant Extension Program
to stencil storm drains in upstate New York with messages such as "Don't Dump:
Drains to River" and "Don't Dump: Drains to Drinking Water." The storm drain
stenciling program was promoted as "Gutter Talk" on 750,000 milk cartons.
Volunteer groups--such as the Boy Scouts, garden clubs, and local public works
departments-helped with the physical labor and education campaign. In a single
afternoon, 750 storm drains were stenciled in Watertown near Lake Ontario, with
Mayor Jeffrey Graham kicking off the event by stenciling the first drain.
Since Sea Grant initiated the project in 1992 in the Long Island Sound
area, more than 1,981 stencils have been used by 178 community groups, local
municipalities, and schools in 29 counties in the marine and Great Lakes
regions and New York City. Also working with the Connecticut Sea Grant Program,
some $14,000 in section 319 funds produced a video entitled Luck Isn't Enough:
The Fight for Clean Water. The video was originally produced to interest
community groups in nonpoint source pollution and environmental issues.
However, because of its great success, the video may be used nationally as a
public education tool.
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