November 25, 2020

Rain Gardens and Infiltration Basins are part of comprehensive $1.9 billion effort to reduce flooding in southeast Queens; a map and photos are available on DEP’s Flickr page.

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced that work has been completed on the construction of 170 specially designed curbside rain gardens and infiltration basins in the southeast Queens neighborhoods of Queens Village, Wayanda and Cambria Heights that have reduced roadway flooding and improved safety. Each installation has the capacity to collect and absorb up to 2,500 gallons of stormwater during each rainstorm and it is estimated that in total they will capture over 17 million gallons of stormwater annually. There are currently more than 10,000 green infrastructure installations, either completed or in construction, across the city.

“We are investing $1.9 billion to combat flooding and improve the quality of life for residents and businesses in southeast Queens,” said DEP Commissioner Vincent Sapienza. “Stormwater management in New York City requires a multi-faceted approach, which is why we are building out a comprehensive drainage system as well as green infrastructure, including rain gardens, to naturally absorb stormwater.”

“The completion of this green infrastructure is a significant investment in our borough’s future that will benefit the families of Queens Village, Wayanda and Cambria Heights,” said Queens Borough President Sharon Lee. “This work underscores the City’s commitment to alleviating chronic flooding in southeast Queens. The Department of Environmental Protection, led by Commissioner Sapienza, deserves our thanks for its dedication to protecting our residents and their property from flooding.”

“Stormwater management is a core solution to the issue of chronic flooding in Southeast Queens,” said State Senator Leroy Comrie. “I thank Commissioner Sapienza and his team at DEP for developing and installing these curbside stormwater absorption resources in our communities.”

“We are pleased that the DEP is continuing to make progress installing flood mitigation tools during this pandemic. Southeast Queens residents have struggled for years with routine flooding, and it's more important than ever that we address these quality-of-life issues and support our homeowners in every way we can,” said Council Member I. Daneek Miller.

“The communities of Cambria Heights, Wayanda and Queens Village occasionally experience flooding in various areas during heavy rains,” said Mark McMillan, District Manager of Community Board 13. “Being part of the Jamaica basin, it is important that these remedial measures are put in place to protect property and to assure that residents can comfortably enjoy the biggest investments most people have—their homes. We welcome the attention of DEP with these rain gardens and infiltration systems as innovative and unobtrusive ways to address the flooding issue.”

The de Blasio Administration is investing $1.9 billion to build a comprehensive drainage system and alleviate flooding in neighborhoods throughout southeast Queens, including Queens Village, Wayanda and Cambria Heights. The program, the largest of its kind, consists of 45 sewer projects overall, including 10 that are substantially completed and 11 that are in active construction.

Rain gardens supplement a robust drainage system and are built in city sidewalks and do not result in the loss of any parking spaces. Infiltration basins mimic existing sidewalk conditions and can have either a grass or concrete top. Like rain gardens, they vary in size, have curb cuts that allow stormwater to enter and overflow if they become saturated, and have been designed in a way that will allow them to manage up to 2,500 gallons each during a storm.

In partnership with the Departments of Transportation and Parks and Recreation, DEP conducts an extensive site selection process that includes geotechnical investigations and surveys. During construction, the rain gardens and infiltration basins are excavated to a depth of about five feet and are then backfilled with layers of stone and engineered soil. These layers contain void spaces that store the stormwater and promote infiltration. The addition of hardy plants further encourages infiltration through root growth and increases the capacity of the rain garden through evapotranspiration. Green Infrastructure is specifically designed so that all the stormwater is absorbed in less than 48 hours and dedicated maintenance crews ensure that they are functioning properly, including removing any trash that may have accumulated and pruning the trees and plants.

DEP has conducted extensive outreach in the Jamaica Bay watershed area, including briefing City Council members, Community Boards and numerous other neighborhood and environmental organizations. These meetings help to inform communities about the purpose of green infrastructure and the benefits it will bring to their neighborhoods, as well as plans for future construction.

To date, more than 4,000 rain gardens have been built within the streets and sidewalks of New York City, with approximately 5,500 more in construction now and thousands more planned for the next several years. Visit DEP’s Rain Gardens page for information about the site selection and construction process as well as frequently asked questions. For more information, you can also visit YouTube to watch a video of a rain garden in action, visit Flickr to view more photos, and visit our interactive Green Infrastructure map to see projects that are completed or underway.

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing approximately 1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water each day to more than 9 million residents, including 8.3 million in New York City. The water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the city, comprising 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels and aqueducts bring water to homes and businesses throughout the five boroughs, and 7,500 miles of sewer lines and 96 pump stations take wastewater to 14 in-city treatment plants. DEP has nearly 6,000 employees, including almost 1,000 in the upstate watershed. In addition, DEP has a robust capital program, with a planned $20.1 billion in investments over the next 10 years that will create up to 3,000 construction-related jobs per year. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.