Updated: April 24, 2007

DEP Supports Volunteers in Cleanup of Plum Beach

As temperatures soared in anticipation of summer this past Sunday, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) helped local volunteers clean up debris at Plum Beach in Brooklyn. DEP provided the local organizations with heavy equipment, operating personnel and trash dumpsters, and by the end of the day, more than 120 cubic yards of material had been removed from the beach.

Most of the debris that affects New York City’s beaches is the result of sewer overflows during storms. Heavy storms wash litter from the City’s streets and other paved surfaces down storm drains and into overwhelmed sewers. These sewers then flush the debris into the harbor where it eventually washes back on to New York’s beaches. Excessive debris can limit the recreational use of City beaches and compromise the health of critical aquatic ecosystems.

In response to this problem, Mayor Bloomberg has identified water quality improvement as a central goal of his long term sustainability and planning initiative for New York City, PlaNYC. The Mayor’s plan calls for 90% of City waterways to be available for recreational use by the year 2030. To achieve this goal, DEP will work closely with the Mayor’s office to implement a comprehensive set of management strategies for New York’s Harbor and its many tributaries.

These strategies include wastewater treatment plant upgrades; the introduction of mollusks and other species to Jamaica Bay to naturally clean the water and replenish critical marine habitats; and the implementation of tree pits and other sustainable techniques to capture and manage storm water runoff from parking lots, streets and rooftops. These strategies will greatly improve the Harbor’s overall aquatic health and ensure that the City’s many waterways remain integral, thriving components of New York City’s robust natural landscape.

DEP hopes to schedule an additional cleanup day at Plum Beach in the future. On Saturday, April 28th, the Agency will work with the National Parks Service and the US Marines to cleanup the beach at Mill Basin Bridge.