Dutchess County — the ‘Saudi Arabia of water’

MILLBROOK — The freshwater forum held on Saturday morning, April 16, at the Cary Institute focused on preserving fresh water resources, which are so plentiful that hydrogeologist Russell Urban-Mead described the Hudson Valley region as the Saudi Arabia of water. Cary aquatic geologist Emma Rosi-Marshall began the morning with a fast-paced primer on freshwater, which constitutes only 2.5 percent of all of the earth’s water. Water quality, quantity and freshwater fauna are negatively affected by storm water runoff from the impermeable surfaces in urban areas, which reduce infiltration. Dams also change the direction of runoff and alter habitats and pollution upstream affects wells.Urban-Meade elaborated on the vastness of the Hudson Valley’s resources in what he described as “a world that’s thirsty for water.” Not only is water in the Hudson Valley plentiful, it falls with great regularity throughout the year, recharging aquifers. He explained the importance of “the tiny little spaces” in the soil that store groundwater and the differences in recharge rates between sandy soils and clay. Too many wells, contamination by gas stations, dry cleaners, road de-icers, septic systems and fertilizers all impact water quality and quantity and make regional groundwater planning a necessity. Cul de sacs big enough for helicopters?In the management strategies part of the program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Environmental Program Specialist Pat Ferracane focused on storm water management runoff requirements and green infrastructure. “Get away from the curb and gutter. Get away from the big basin,” Ferracane advised. The idea is to retain rainwater where it falls. Not only will runoff be reduced, it will actually cost 15 to 40 percent less to use green infrastructure. The process begins with site planning, described as the most critical step. Impervious cover, clearing and grading should be reduced, buffers preserved and development located in less sensitive areas. “Why should cul de sacs be large enough to land a helicopter?” asked Ferracane. Roadways, sidewalks, driveways and parking lots can all be reduced in size and made of pervious materials. By preserving the vegetative cover and minimizing impervious surfaces, runoff will be reduced and the predevelopment hydrology of the site replicated.Emily Vail, from the Hudson River Estuary Program, discussed green infrastructure techniques in contrast to the gray infrastructure of concrete pipes. Rain gardens allow storm water to infiltrate gradually, vegetative swales create natural above ground drainage paths, green roofs capture runoff, rain barrels store rain from roofs until it can be used, stream buffers can be restored. The benefits of green storage management include recharging ground water, reducing sewer overflows and improving the habitat for wildlife.The educational morning provided up-to-date information needed to make decisions about freshwater management for municipal officials, watershed groups, conservation advisory councils, planning boards and concerned citizens. The free program sponsored by the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Dutchess County provided three credit hours of New York state municipal training. “I insisted that our whole Zoning Board of Appeals [ZBA] committee come,” said Al Campanaro, head of Fishkill’s ZBA, noting the importance of such instruction.