Welcome to a WATERSHED Event!

Transcription

1 Welcome to a WATERSHED Event! Long-Term Flood Resiliency for Communities: A Watershed Management Approach April 16, 2015 Kim Sherwood Watershed Consultant from Chautauqua County, NY

2 WATERSHEDS THE FUNNEL, THE SPONGE, AND THE SLIDE

3 Who Cares?

4 Why You Might Care

5 Why You Might Care Flood damage homes, property, cropland, etc.

6 Why You Might Care Flood damage homes, property, cropland, etc. Landowner complaints

7 Why You Might Care Flood damage homes, property, cropland, etc. Landowner complaints Groundwater quality & quantity

8 Why You Might Care Flood damage homes, property, cropland, etc. Landowner complaints Groundwater quality & quantity Jobs & Quality-of-life issues for growing area

9 Why You Might Care Flood damage homes, property, cropland, etc. Landowner complaints Groundwater quality & quantity Jobs & Quality-of-life issues for growing area MUNICIPAL COSTS

10 What Is A Watershed?

11 Ridgeline

12 Ridgeline Precipitation

13 Precipitation Ridgeline Tributaries Lake Wetland Groundwater Runoff

14 Precipitation Ridgeline Tributaries Agriculture Rural Homes Lake Forestry Towns Industry Wetland Groundwater Runoff

15 Who s in-charge -- of watershed management? Photo: Rick Constantino

16 Lake Erie CONEWANGO CREEK WATERSHED North Branch Cattaraugus Watershed Chautauqua Conneaut Watershed Mill Creek Mud Run Cassadaga Creek Clear Creek Little Conewango Creek French Creek Watershed Upper Allegany Watershed Stillwater Creek Upper Allegany Watershed MOUTH

17 Chautauqua County Cattaraugus County Lake Erie CONEWANGO CREEK WATERSHED North Branch Cattaraugus Watershed Chautauqua Conneaut Watershed Mill Creek Mud Run Cassadaga Creek Clear Creek Little Conewango Creek French Creek Watershed Upper Allegany Watershed NY Stillwater Creek PA Upper Allegany Watershed Warren County MOUTH

18 Lake Erie CONEWANGO CREEK WATERSHED North Branch Cattaraugus Watershed Chautauqua Conneaut Watershed Mill Creek Mud Run Cassadaga Creek Clear Creek Little Conewango Creek French Creek Watershed Upper Allegany Watershed NY NY Stillwater Creek PA PA Upper Allegany Watershed MOUTH

19 Hypothetical Watershed Stream Network

20 Factors Influencing Stream Runoff (Water Quantity & Quality) Upland Watershed Factors watershed size and shape precipitation geology & soils vegetation land use impervious cover groundwater storage

21 Soils, Vegetation & Land Use

22 Soils, Vegetation & Land Use

23 Soils, Vegetation & Land Use

24 Soils, Vegetation & Land Use

25 Soils, Vegetation & Land Use

26 Soils, Vegetation & Land Use

27 Soils, Vegetation & Land Use

28 Compaction Effects Rate of Water Movement (in / hr) Water Movement Into Soils in Various Settings Ocean County, NJ Avg. Annual Precipitation = ~ 50 inches Woods Pasture Single House Subdivision Lawn 1 Source: Ocean County Soil Conservation District, June 2001

29 Impervious Cover

30 Impervious Cover

31 Groundwater Storage Loss

32 Municipal Costs

33 Municipal Costs

34 Factors Influencing Stream Runoff (Water Quantity & Quality) Stream, Time and Space Factors channel characteristics riparian function floodplain function watershed plumbing time & space

35 Channel Characteristics

36 Channel Characteristics Headwater streams: ~ 80% of any watershed Small & steep high energy Source of sediment & debris

37 Channel Characteristics Headwater streams: ~ 80% of any watershed Small & steep high energy Source of sediment & debris

38 Channel Characteristics

39 Channel Characteristics Lowland Streams: Historically meandered Relatively large & flat Deposition areas sediment & debris

40 Riparian Function NRCS

41 Riparian Function Functional Riparian Zones: Reduce Erosion Filter Pollutants Provide Fish & Wildlife Habitat NRCS

42 Floodplain Function

43 Floodplain Function Functional floodplains: Reduce stream energy & erosion Absorb excess water Slowly release water to the stream

44 Floodplain Function Functional floodplains: Reduce stream energy & erosion Absorb excess water Slowly release water to the stream

45 Watershed Plumbing

46 Watershed Plumbing

47 Changes in Time & Space A local example

48 Lakewood NY, 1938 & 2004

49 Lakewood NY, 1938 & 2004

50 Lakewood NY, 1938 & 2004

51 Cumulative Effects

52 Cumulative Effects SCENARIO A: Development Proposal: 20 New Homes - 20 acres All within the same watershed Constructed in 2015 Triggers: SEQR NYS DEC SWPPP Municipal Discussions? Wastewater Management Emergency Services, etc.

53 Cumulative Effects SCENARIO B-1 (2015): 10 Existing Homes 10 acres

54 Cumulative Effects SCENARIO B-2 (2017): 10 Existing Homes 10 acres No Proposal: 3 Additional Homes - 3 acres All within the same watershed Triggers: Municipal Discussions?

55 Cumulative Effects SCENARIO B-3 (2020): 10 Existing Homes 10 acres No Proposal: 4 Additional Homes - 4 acres All within the same watershed Triggers: Municipal Discussions?

56 Cumulative Effects SCENARIO B-4 (2023): 10 Existing Homes 10 acres No Proposal: 3 Additional Homes - 3 acres All within the same watershed Triggers: Municipal Discussions?

57 Cumulative Effects Individually minor, but cumulatively significant effects

58 Factors Influencing Stream Runoff (Water Quantity & Quality) Stream runoff is influenced by inherent and changed upland and stream characteristics of the watershed: watershed size and shape precipitation geology & soils vegetation & land use impervious cover groundwater storage channel characteristics riparian function floodplain function watershed plumbing time & space

59 Municipal Costs Rebuilt 5 times In 3 years: $15,000 Stabilized in 2005: $3,500

60 Municipal Costs Benefits Rebuilt 5 times In 3 years: $15,000 Stabilized in 2005: $3,500 Until 2009: $0

61 The Eight Tools of Watershed Investment

62 Who s in-charge -- of watershed management? Mayors / Supervisors Business Owners Conservation Groups Planning / Zoning Highway Departments NYS DEC Private Landowners All Of The Above Photo: Rick Constantino

63 A Lesson Learned... the Hard Way

64 Thanks for your time!

65 Comments or Questions?

66 Thank You...

67 Roundtable Discussions Group Discussion (10 minutes) Introductions, flooding stories, lessons learned Group Homework (20 minutes) Choose 1 (or more) from handout; discuss Report Back (2 minutes / group) Choose a Discussion or Homework topic; report your group s issue / concern