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Stormwater

Rain and snow generate stormwater runoff that flows over the surface of saturated soils and over non-porous or impervious surfaces like roof tops and parking lots. Many contaminants, like fine sediment, metals, oils, nutrients from fertilizers and bacteria, are located on the surface. They’re easily dislodged and carried by stormwater into storm sewers, watercourses and eventually into drinking water supply reservoirs. Studies have shown that under certain circumstances, runoff generated during the first hour of moderate-to-high intensity storm events, commonly referred to as the first-flush, can have a greater pollutant concentration than raw sewage. It’s this first-flush that New York City’s many stormwater management programs are designed to treat.



Stormwater Retrofits

Stormwater Retrofits
The Stormwater Retrofit Program is administered by the Catskill Watershed Corporation to support the design, construction and maintenance of measures, called best management practices (BMPs), that address existing sources of stormwater runoff in the Catskill/Delaware watershed where it’s necessary to correct or reduce existing erosion and/or pollution.
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West-of-Hudson Future Controls Programs

West-of-Hudson Future Controls Programs
The MOA established two programs to finance stormwater management measures in new construction that are required by the City’s watershed regulations, which go beyond either federal or State requirements. The first program is the Future Stormwater Controls Program Paid for by the City, which covers eligible compliance costs for low-income housing and single-family houses and funds 50% of eligible costs for small businesses. The second program, administered by the Catskill Watershed Corporation, is the West of Hudson Future Stormwater Controls Program. It provides up to 50% coverage for the regulations-mandated portion of eligible costs, including, including maintenance, for small business and 100% of the extra costs for projects not funded by the City’s program.
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Kensico Planning and Retrofits

Kensico Planning and Retrofits
The Kensico Reservoir is the last stop for the 90 percent of the City’s water supply that comes from the Catskill/Delaware watershed before it’s sent into the distribution system at Hillview Reservoir. The protection of Kensico’s water quality is critical, and DEP has developed and implemented a number of stormwater management controls with public and private partners in the 8-square-mile watershed.
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Reservoir Levels

Current: 97.3%

Normal: 100.0%