reskilling - watershed awareness, manna jo greene
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Mid-Atlantic Transition Hub (MATH) Waterways Reskilling, November 23, 2013, Keynote Address - Watershed Awareness, Manna Jo Greene, Environmental Director, ClearwaterTRANSCRIPT
(845) 454-7673 x113
Watershed Awareness, Planning & ProtectionWatershed Awareness, Planning & Protectionin the Hudson River Basinin the Hudson River Basin
Saturday, November 23, 2013Saturday, November 23, 2013
Mid-Atlantic Transition HubMid-Atlantic Transition Hub
Manna Jo Greene, Environmental DirectorManna Jo Greene, Environmental DirectorHudson River Sloop ClearwaterHudson River Sloop Clearwater
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater is dedicated to protect the ecology of the Hudson River ecosystem
and quality of life for all the people who live in its watershed thru:
Education, Advocacy and Celebration.• Built in 1969, the sloop Clearwater serves as a moveable classroom, laboratory, stage, and forum.
• Clearwater sailed to Washington, DC in 1970 bearing petitions with hundreds of thousands of signatures and held an impromptu concert in the halls of Congress to help pass the Clean Water Act.
• Clearwater annually hosts the Great Hudson River Revival, the original environmental music festival, which features diverse music, dance, folk arts, crafts to spread its message of environmental stewardship, and participates in many other celebrations of the Hudson River.
• Clearwater advocated to get EPA to require GE to clean up PCB-contaminated sediments from 40 miles of “hotspots” in the Upper Hudson.
• Our mission has expanded to creating the next generation of environmental leaders and to promoting environmental justice (“EJ”). Founder Pete Seeger, 89, with Bruce Springstein
at Obama Inaugural Concert.
HUDSON RIVER SLOOP CLEARWATER, INC.
What is a watershed?What is a watershed?
An area of land An area of land that drains into that drains into a single body of a single body of water, such as the water, such as the Hudson River.Hudson River.
HUDSON RIVER SLOOP CLEARWATER, INC.
Pete SeegerPete Seeger::“Ghost dancing on one toe”“Ghost dancing on one toe”
Hudson River WatershedHudson River Watershed
•315 miles long315 miles long
•Drains 13,400 milesDrains 13,400 miles22
•Covers 5 states: Covers 5 states: NY, NJ, VT, MA, CT NY, NJ, VT, MA, CT 28% of NY’s land area 28% of NY’s land area
HeadwatersHeadwaters of the Hudson River: of the Hudson River: Lake Tear of the CloudsLake Tear of the Clouds
~ Mt. Marcy, Adirondack Park~ Mt. Marcy, Adirondack Park
~ Elevation 4, 293 ft. ~ Elevation 4, 293 ft.
MainstemMainstem:: View from View from Storm King MountainStorm King Mountain
~ Passes through 19 counties that ~ Passes through 19 counties that are home to 8 million people are home to 8 million people~ Lower 155 miles are tidal~ Lower 155 miles are tidal
Mouth:Mouth: New York HarborNew York Harbor
~ Ends at Verranzano Narrows~ Ends at Verranzano Narrows~~ Connects with NY/NJ Harbor EstuaryConnects with NY/NJ Harbor Estuary
TributariesTributaries carry water, nutrients, carry water, nutrients, pollutants and sediments through pollutants and sediments through the watershed.the watershed.
Ecosystems ServicesEcosystems Services
- Control flooding- Control flooding- Filter pollutants- Filter pollutants- Important habitat for fish and wildlife- Important habitat for fish and wildlife
Tributaries
Constitution Marsh, Garrison, NY
Wetlands
HUDSON RIVER SLOOP CLEARWATER, INC.
The lower The lower tidal portiontidal portion of the Hudson (below the Federal Dam in Troy) is fed by over 6,000 of the Hudson (below the Federal Dam in Troy) is fed by over 6,000 miles of tributaries making up 14% of the total flowmiles of tributaries making up 14% of the total flow..
Basic Watershed HydrologyGroundwater flowsto Surface Water
Aquifer: subsurface deposit that transmits and stores water
Ground water: water that flows through subsurface deposits
Ground-water recharge: precipitation that passes through the land surface to become ground water
Water-supply wells interrupt the natural flow of ground
water
How Ground Water Occurs:
Aquifers:• Bedrock• Sand & gravel deposits• Special case: Karst
Fractured bedrock
Deltaic deposit
Karst dissolution
- Pollution: nutrients, toxins, pathogens, debris - Erosion & Sedimentation (siltation)- Impervious Surface: Sprawl- Invasive Species- Dams- Special Cases: Karst & Isolated Wetlands- Climate Change
Threats to Groundwater Quality
Non-Point Sources: Salt loading
Point Source: End of Pipe
Source: University of Wisconsin, 2000Non-point pollution is diffuse. Contaminants are transported by stormwater and groundwater.
This diagram shows how development and its corresponding increase in impervious cover disrupts the natural water balance. In the post-development setting, the amount of water running off the site is dramatically increased.
Water Quantity (Drinking Water)(Source: Center for Watershed Protection , 1999)
Impervious SurfacesImpervious Surfaces++
Runoff and ErosionRunoff and Erosion
Deposition of Deposition of Sediments Sediments
and Pollutantsand Pollutants
Recipe for Disaster
Tributary Buffer ZonesTributary Buffer Zones
Wetlands Wetlands
Importance of Watershed Protection
Examples of Lack of Protection
• Santa Cruz, NM• Fenton River, CT• Ipswich River, MA
Fenton RiverSeptember,
2005
• Increase in impervious surfaces and intensity of storms leads to increased frequency and severity of flooding events
Threats to Watershed: Flooding
Erosion & Sedimentation
Failed sedimentation basin
Severe bank erosion
Destroys Habitat
HUDSON RIVER SLOOP CLEARWATER, INC.
Treasures and ResourcesTreasures and Resources
Historical and Cultural AssetsHistorical and Cultural Assets
Recreational Opportunities Recreational Opportunities Transportation/IndustryTransportation/Industry
Tourism Tourism
Hudson River WatershedHudson River Watershed: : • Critical for water supply, fish and wildlife Critical for water supply, fish and wildlife
habitat, open space preservation, and habitat, open space preservation, and recreational opportunities.recreational opportunities.
NYC’s Water Supply SystemNYC’s Water Supply System• ““Cat-Del” and Croton provides high-quality Cat-Del” and Croton provides high-quality
water to 9 million NYC residentswater to 9 million NYC residents
• 580 billion gallon capacity580 billion gallon capacity
• Watershed Protection vs. FiltrationWatershed Protection vs. Filtration
• Well Testing Laws; Aquifer ProtectionWell Testing Laws; Aquifer Protection
Ecosystems Protection Pays OffEcosystems Protection Pays OffCatskill System: Threatened with increasing
pollution due to development, ag runoff and other activities, the City faced a choice: build an artificial filtering system for $6-$8 billion or invest $1 billion in proper development and restoring the Catskills’ natural filtering purification system. Choosing to protect ecosystems saved City taxpayers $5 to $7 billion -- and increased rural property values. -- Penn State College of Ag Sciences, Coop Extension & Center for Biodiversity Research, Environmental Resources Research Inst.
Biodiversity: Our Living World: Your Life Depends On It! (Penn State U: University Park, PA 2001), p. 7
HUDSON RIVER SLOOP CLEARWATER, INC.
FisheriesFisheries
Striped BassStriped Bass
American ShadAmerican Shad
Atlantic SturgeonAtlantic Sturgeon
American EelAmerican Eel
Netting Shad Netting Shad in the Hudsonin the Hudson
Hudson River Fish Need Your Support
Hudson River Fish in Trouble: 10 of 13 Signature Hudson River Fish in Decline
Major causes include: • loss of habitat and spawning grounds, • overfishing and ocean bycatch, • low dissolved oxygen from sewage plant discharges, and • impingement, entrainment and thermal pollution from power plants.
_________
THREE SPECIES DOING WELL Striped bass and bluefish are voracious predators of smaller fish and shrimp. Spottail shiner, a minnow that feeds on zooplankton and benthic (bottom-dwelling) organisms, is also on the increase.
SPECIES IN JEOPARDY
American shad (Alosa sapidissima)
Atlantic tomcod (Microgadus tomcod)
Hogchoker (Trinectus maculates)
Bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli)
Alewife (Alosa psuedoharengus)
Blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis)
Striped bass (Morone soxotilis)
Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix)
Spottail shiner (Notropis hudsonius )
Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax)
White perch (Morone americana)
Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis)
White catfish (Ameiurus catus)
HUDSON RIVER SLOOP CLEARWATER, INC.
WildlifeWildlife
Some are on Some are on the rise...the rise...
Juvenile Bald EagleJuvenile Bald Eagle
While others While others strugglestruggle
# Fledged ‘93-03# Fledged ‘93-03
MinkMink Tree Swallow w/ tumorTree Swallow w/ tumor
HUDSON RIVER SLOOP CLEARWATER, INC.
Fish and WildlifeFish and Wildlife
Endangered Species ActEndangered Species Act
Critical Habitat DesignationCritical Habitat Designation
Conservation EasementsConservation Easements
Habitat PreservationHabitat Preservation
Reintroduction; RestorationReintroduction; Restoration
Watershed & Biodiversity ProtectionWatershed & Biodiversity Protection
VICTORY FOR BALD EAGLE PROTECTION
Notice of Intent to Sue resulted in agreement to reduce Bald Eagle mortality:
• Carcass removal program• Data collection & reporting• Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP).
Bald Eagle has since been delisted from the Federal Endangered Species Act; still threatened in NY State.
Threats to the Health of Threats to the Health of the Hudson River Watershedthe Hudson River Watershed
Acid Rain - SO2Acid Rain - SO2
Habitat DegradationHabitat DegradationLoss of biodiversityLoss of biodiversity
MercuryMercury
Persistent Contamination Persistent Contamination
Health ThreatHealth Threat
Smog - NOxSmog - NOx
AsthmaAsthmaRespiratory IllnessRespiratory Illness
Persistent Organic Pollutants: Persistent Organic Pollutants:
PCBsPCBs – – insulating oil used in electrical transformers insulating oil used in electrical transformers DDTDDT - - pesticide pesticide DioxinDioxin - - byproduct of many processesbyproduct of many processesMTBEMTBE - - gasoline additivegasoline additive TCE, PCETCE, PCE - - cleaner, grease removercleaner, grease removerPAHsPAHs - - produced from combustionproduced from combustion PBDEsPBDEs - - flame retardantflame retardantAPEsAPEs - - used in certain soaps and detergentsused in certain soaps and detergents
Emerging Contaminants: Pharmaceuticals, CaffeineEmerging Contaminants: Pharmaceuticals, Caffeine
HUDSON RIVER SLOOP CLEARWATER, INC.
PCBsPCBs• Ban on taking fish from the Ban on taking fish from the
Upper Hudson remainsUpper Hudson remains
• Fish advisories still in place throughoutFish advisories still in place throughout
• Remediation of upper Hudson PCB Remediation of upper Hudson PCB hotspots began in 2009; now more than hotspots began in 2009; now more than halfway completed, halfway completed, however…however…
• ~136 acres of PCB contaminated ~136 acres of PCB contaminated sediment is outside of the area sediment is outside of the area designated for dredging designated for dredging
Clamshell dredging
Invasive Species: Zebra MusselsInvasive Species: Zebra MusselsChanges in the Hudson following the zebra mussel invasion
(from studies of the Institute of Ecosystem Studies)
% change following the invasion
-100 -50 0 50 100 150
phytoplankton
small zooplankton
native mussels
large zooplankton
animals in deep-water sediments
dissolved oxygen
planktonic bacteria
water clarity
soluble reactive phosphoruslosses gains
animals in shallow-water sediments
Eurasian Water ChestnutEurasian Water Chestnut
Indian Point Nuclear Power PlantIndian Point Nuclear Power Plant
Liabilities:
• Aging, Leaking Facility
• Spent Fuel Storage: (Proposed long-term storage for high-level radioactive waste at Yucca Mountain is no longer an option; will be kept in dry cask storage on site.)
• Evacuation Impossible
Assets:
• Provides 2,000 mW of electricity
• Employs 1,250 people
• Emits less CO2 than coal, gas or oil
• Cleaner, Safer Alternatives Ignored
Model of groundwater contamination plume (shown in red) moving toward river.
EggsEggs LarvaeLarvae AdultAdult
Power plants kill fish by impingement, entrainment and thermal shock.
ThermalThermalplumeplume
FATE AND TRANSPORT OF RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPES FROM INDIAN POINT LEAKS AND OTHER RELEASES
-- Several communities in lower Hudson take drinking water from Hudson River, but it is not brackish. -- PCBs, which are present in water column and sediment, are readily be filtered out, but radioisotopes are not.-- Trace amounts of tritium, Sr-89/90, Cs-134/137 are released from contaminated groundwater under Indian Point. Sr-90 measured in pilot results. DEIS ignores vapor and particulate-bound isotopes.-- Tritium (tritiated water) is not removed by reverse osmosis; Sr and Cs difficult and costly to filter; create radioactive waste.-- DEIS doesn’t account for cumulative or synergistic effects of multiple exposures; humans have range of sensitivity; MCLs are averages determined by risk assessment; don’t protect most sensitive or vulnerable.-- Curies measure radiation emission intensity; REMs measure physiologic damage done. DEIS does not discuss REMs. ~ Precautionary Principle: Prevention; not remediation. Sound alternatives exist. ~
UWNY Proposed Desalination Project
Global Climate ChangeGlobal Climate Change
Hurricane Irene Hurricane Irene
Tropical Storm LeeTropical Storm Lee
Superstorm SandySuperstorm Sandy
Energy ConsumptionEnergy Consumption
Central Hudson (June 2002 - July 2003)
05
10152025303540
Coal Gas Oil Nuclear Hydro Other
Per
cent
Hydraulic Fracturing (“Hydrofracking”)
Copyright 2008 The New York Times Company
Opportunities Opportunities
Critical for water supply, fish and wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities.Critical for water supply, fish and wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities.
Open Space PreservationOpen Space Preservation
Hudson River Watershed Alliance“To protect, conserve and restore the water resources of the Hudson River Basin through collaborative outreach, education, networking, science, information sharing and technical assistance by and for the stakeholders of the region.”
HUDSON RIVER VALLEY WATERSHED ALLIANCE
PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS*
American Association of University WomenArm-of-the-Sea TheaterAudubon New YorkAudubon Society of NYBattenkill Watershed AllianceBottskill Baptist ChurchBrooks and Brooks, P.C.Builders Association of the Hudson ValleyCatholic Worker FarmCity of PoughkeepsieColumbia UniversityCornell Cooperative ExtensionCroton Watershed Clean Water CoalitionCUNY John Jay CollegeDhammakaya FoundationDutchess County Environmental Management
CouncilDutchess County Lakes CommissionDutchess County Soil & Water Conservation
DistrictEnvironmental Advocates of NYEnvironmental DefenseEsopus Creek ConservancyFairleigh Dickinson UniversityFederated Conservationists of Westchester CountyFishkill Creek Watershed CommitteeFishkill Ridge CaretakersFishkill Ridge Community HeritageFriends of Callicoon MountainFriends of the ShawangunksGardiner Democratic CommitteeGardiner Environmental CommissionGreene County Soil and Water Conservation
DistrictHudson Highlands Land TrustHudsonia Ltd.Hudson River National Estuarine Research
ReserveHudson Basin River WatchHudson River Estuary ProgramHudson River Sloop Clearwater
Hudson River Watertrail AssociationHudson River Valley Greenway ConservancyInstitute of Ecosystem StudiesJohn Burroughs AssociationKingston High SchoolLamont-Doherty Earth ObservatoryLocal Union #19 UBCJALand Use Law Center – Pace UniversityLeague of Women Voters of Mid-UlsterLloyd Environmental CommissionLower Hudson Coalition of Conservation DistrictsLMS Engineers, LLPMarbletown Environmental Conservation
CommissionMarist CollegeMid-Hudson Pattern for ProgressMid-Hudson Sierra ClubMohonk ConsultationsMohonk Reservation AssociationMoodna Creek CoalitionShawangunk Ridge Artists GuildSierra ClubMuseum of Industrial ArtNational Audubon SocietyNature ConservancyNorwood Community ActionNYC Dept. of Environmental ProtectionNY-NJ Trail ConferenceNYS Dept. of Environmental ConservationNYS Dept. of HealthNYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic
PreservationOnesquethaw-Coeymans Watershed CouncilOrange County Federation of SportsmenOrange County Peace & JusticeOrange County Water AuthorityPalisades Interstate Park CommissionPassaic River CoalitionPattern for ProgressPlan PutnamProtect the Plattekill Creek & Watershed
Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCESRamapo CollegeRamapo River CommitteeRamapo River Watershed CouncilRivers and Estuaries CenterRiverkeeper, Inc.Rockland County LegislatureRosendale Environmental CommissionSawkill Watershed AllianceScenic HudsonStudent Conservation Association, Inc.Shingebiss AssociatesSouthern Catskill AnglersSparkill Watershed ConservancySUNY/ESFSUNY/New PaltzSustainable Hudson ValleyTown Board of New PaltzTown of GardinerTown of GreenvilleTown of Lloyd Environmental Conservation
CouncilTown of MarbletownTown of MontgomeryTown of Red HookTown of RochesterTri-County Skaneateles Lake Pure Water Assoc.Trout UnlimitedTrust for Public LandUlster County Environmental Management CouncilUlster County Planning Dept.United NationsUS Army Corps of EngineersUS Environmental Protection AgencyUS Geological SurveyVillage of Cornwall-on-HudsonVillage of New PaltzWallkill River Task ForceWallkill Valley Land TrustWappinger Creek Intermunicipal CouncilWestchester County Department of Planning
* The organizations listed have participated in the formation of the Alliance, however actual membership in the Hudson River Valley Watershed Alliance has not yet been defined.
Wetlands Protection:
Prevent Filling & Draining
Value to watersheds:
• Pollutant removal• Flood storage• Groundwater recharge• Habitat• Shoreline/stream protection
Special Condition:
Isolated WetlandsVernal Pools (Intermittent Woodland Pools);
SWANCC exempted from protection
Riparian Corridors and Wetlands
Roles and Services:• Prevent “firehose” effect, erosion and channel incision
Regulations:• NYS DEC ( > 12.4 acres)• US Army Corps of Engineers ( > 0.1 acre)
Freshwater Wetlands & NWI maps.
Importance of field delineation.• Hydrophytic vegetation• Hydric soils• Standing water
The riparian or aquatic corridor is comprised of the stream and its rights-of-way.
Healthy stream channels diverge, converge, and meander along the natural stream path. c. 1999, Center for Watershed Protection
What is a Watershed Management Plan ?
Monitor, assess, plan, & implement
• Identify all key stakeholders
• Create shared watershed vision and articulate desired outcomes; share with community at large
• Gather information and data
• Make recommendations
• Implement
• Monitor and evaluate
Stream Monitoring: Physical and Chemical
Physical Survey
Weather conditions
Water temperature
Water level
Water appearance & odor
Channel dimensions
Habitat quality
Human land uses
Chemical Survey
- Nitrate-Nitrogen levels - Orthophosphate levels - Dissolved Oxygen - E.coli levels
Biological: Benthic Macro Invertebratesprovide information on stream health over time
Protective Regulations and Practices
• Clean Water Act• NPDES / SPDES• Storm Water Regulations (MS4)• Water Quality Standards• NYS Stream Classification• NYS Freshwater Wetlands
(>14.5 acres)• Army Corps of Engineers
Wetlands Jurisdiction (>0.1 acre)• NYS DOS Coastal Consistency• Low Impact Development
Better Site DesignGreen Stormwater Infrastructure
• Watershed Planning
Acknowledgements
www.hbrw.org
www.dec.state.ny.uswww.dec.state.ny.us/website/hudson/hrep.html
www.usgs.gov
www.cwp.orgwww.osi.org
www.ucswcd.org
Hudson River Sloop Clearwaterwww.clearwater.org
HUDSON RIVER SLOOP CLEARWATER, INC.
Thank you!Thank you!For more info on the Hudson RiverFor more info on the Hudson River
www.clearwater.orgwww.clearwater.orgor contactor contact
Manna Jo Greene Manna Jo Greene 845-454-7673 x 113845-454-7673 x 113
[email protected]@clearwater.org
Calendar: [email protected]: [email protected]
Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development
“Sustainable development means meeting the needs of present generations without compromising those of the future."
~ U.N. Commission on Environment & Development, Our Common Future, 1987
Defining Sustainability - The Four E's of Sustainability are:1 - Environmental Protection2 - Economic Prosperity (based on quality of life)3 - Social Equity4 - Effective Communication
HV Smart Growth Alliance* US Green Building Council – HV Chapter* Mid-Hudson Energy $mart Communities* LEED Certification; Living Bldg Challenge* Sustainable Agriculture; I.P.M.; Permaculture * Transition Movement* Mid-Hudson Regional Sustainability Plan, June 2013
The Natural Step
Four Conditions of Sustainability
• What we TAKE from the Earth: Minerals and fossil fuels - Substances from the Earth's crust must not systematically increase in the biosphere. This means fossil fuels, metals and other minerals must not be extracted at a faster rate than their redeposit and reintegration into the Earth's crust.
• What we MAKE: Pesticides and toxic materials - Substances produced by society must not systematically increase in nature. This means substances must not be produced faster than they can be broken down and reintegrated into natural cycles.
• What we do to the Earth (BREAK): Protecting intact ecosystems and species biodiversity - The physical basis for the productivity and diversity of nature must not be systematically deteriorated. This means the productive surfaces of nature must not be diminished in quality or quantity, and we must not harvest more from nature than can be recreated and renewed.
• How we use resources and meet basic needs (FAKE): There must be just and efficient use of resources with respect to meeting the needs of all people. This means that basic human needs should be met with the most resource efficient methods possible.
Alliance for Sustainability www.mtn.org/iasa The Natural Step www.naturalstep.org
Dr. Karl Henrik RobertDr. Karl Henrik Robert
Collaborative Land Use Planning
CLUP has these benefits:
• Community led and designed to enhance surrounding neighborhoods and region.
• Includes community-enhancing features (recreation, green space, walkability, traffic reduction, emergency services), which improve proposed projects.
• Valuable ecologically sensitive areas are protected and preserved.
• Neighborhoods gain an improved sense of safety and community. • No outside facilitator is necessary.
• The permitting process becomes less conflicted or oppositional, more efficient, and result in less litigation.
• CLUP information is available free, specifically designed to help a neighborhood group set up and run the collaborative planning process.
Founder: Karl Kehde, Smarter Land Use Project www.landuse.org
Environmental Justice (“EJ”) Movement: Dr. Robert D. Bullard, Father of Environmental Justice• 1970’s: Environmental Sociologist; identified systematic patterns of
environmental injustice in the siting of garbage dumps in black neighborhoods.
• 1994: Helped President Clinton draft an Executive Order mandating the consideration of EJ in federal programs. Now Director of the Environmental Justice Research Center at Clark Atlanta University, author of 12 books on environmental justice; recent focus on Hurricane Katrina aftermath.
Hazel Johnson, Mother of Environmental Justice, as designated at First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit.• 1982: Founded People for Community Recovery on Southside of Chicago to increase awareness that dangerous pollutants, such as lead, were disproportionately higher in her community; worked to remove asbestos contamination from the community’s schools.• Garnered national attention to the issue of environmental racism, testifying before Congress, hosting conferences and “toxic tours” of her community.
• The Environmental Justice movement seeks to not only combat environmental racism and redistribute environmental resources to all people, but also to promote “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies." ~ EPA Office of Environmental Justice , 1992
Transition Movement:Engaging the Community is at the Core of Transition
Purpose: To create locally self-reliant, resilient communities in the face of climate change, peak oil and economic instability.
Transition Training 2007
To Meet Essential Needs:
• Food
• Water
• Shelter
• Energy
Stakeholder-inclusive
Collaborative
Sustainable solutions
Stream Monitoring
• Physical• Chemical• Biological
Tier 1 : Introductory Investigation Primarily for educational purposes, providing a general awareness of river water quality.
Tier 2 : Preliminary Assessment Water quality problems require verification for inclusion in DEC’s Priority Waterbody List.
Tier 3 : In Depth Assessment Water quality problems incorporated into DEC’s Priority Waterbody List depending on the level of QA/QC employed.
This figure illustrates how upstream
development can widen & lengthen
the floodplain limit.
Upstream impervious surface = Downstream troubles
EVACUATION IMPOSSIBLE
“Peak Injury” Zone:
Nearly 20 million people live within 50 miles of Indian Point
“Peak Fatality” Zone:
17.5 mile radius
Emergency Evacuation Zone:
Before Witt Report: : 10 miles
Now: 2 mile radius, or “shelter in place”
“Opponents maintain that already-congested roads and bridges would make it impossible to evacuate the 305,000 people living within a federally mandated 10-mile evacuation zone, let alone people living as far away as New York City, which they believe could be jeopardized by a large radiation leak. Panic, they contend, would force people to flee willy-nilly, clogging roads and disrupting emergency workers. FEMA officials countered yesterday that they never expected all 305,000 people in the 10-mile zone to be evacuated in an emergency. Instead, they said, in a major leak everyone within a two-mile radius would be evacuated, and then a more limited evacuation of people in a narrow corridor downwind from the radiation could be evacuated or ordered to ‘shelter in place’ by staying put and closing windows and ventilation systems.”
~ NYT 7/26/03
Map of Westchester and Rockland Counties showing location of United Water of NY’s proposed desalination plant for Rockland County.
Courtesy of NYS DEC Office of Environmental Justice.
• Located 3.5 miles southwest of Indian Point, which is leaking radioactive water into Hudson River; isotopes include Sr-90, Cs-137 and tritium (tritiated water).
• Now a potential source of drinking water for Rockland County.
• Will take 10 M gpd to produce 7.5 M gpd of potable water, using reverse osmosis (RO).
• Desalination is highly energy-intensive.
• NYS DEC is lead agency in SEQRA process; positive declaration filed.
• Note proximity of Indian Point and the proposed desal plant to Potential Environ- mental Justice Areas (PEJA), in purple.
Peak OilPeak Oil
2008
Energy Efficiency and ConservationEnergy Efficiency and Conservation
Renewable EnergyRenewable Energy
Wind Power
Solar: Photovoltaics (“PV”) & Solar Thermal (hot water)
TidalTidal
Enhanced Geothermal
Systems (EGS):
Hot Rock or Deep Well
Geothermal >