Description

The project includes a bioswale to direct runoff to the wetland, a wetland forebay to collect sediment, the primary wetland body for stormwater retention/water quality improvement, and a riprap spillway with a concrete discharge apron to minimize erosion during storms that exceed the system’s capacity. The wetland is designed to infiltrate stormwater after precipitation ends.

The green infrastructure is part of the restoration and redevelopment of the Poughkeepsie Underwear Factory building and its conversion to residential units and commercial community space. After the building is restored, green infrastructure will manage 1.1 inches of runoff (90% storm per NYSDEC water quality volume guidelines) from the parking lot, sidewalks, roof, and other surfaces within the 22,717 ft2 catchment.  The project also improved public access along Fall Kill Creek, the northern boundary of the site, by installing concrete pavers with educational information.

NYSDEC has listed the Fall Kill as a creek with known impairments from urban runoff. Much of the creek’s run through Poughkeepsie is neglected and isolated from neighborhoods with insufficient public space, and poor water quality threatens the health of residents and ecosystems. Runoff reaches the creek unimpeded and untreated, creating flooding conditions and extensive damage to property during major storms. By implementing green infrastructure along the corridor, these conditions can be improved while enhancing habitat and benefiting water quality.    

Site Location

• Site Name: Poughkeepsie Underwear Factory
• Address: 8 North Cherry Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
• Owner: Hudson River Housing
• County: Dutchess
• Watershed: Fall Kill Creek
• Land use of site: Residential
• Can this site be visited? Yes
• Location on site: Adjacent to the south side of Fall Kill Creel along North Cherry Street

Practice Details

• Intent of design: improve the water quality of runoff entering the creek from the site and reduce the volume that enters during wet weather, helping to mitigate flash flooding common in urban watersheds
• Size of structure/capacity: ~1,500 square feet
• Size of drainage area: ~3,600 square feet
• Plants or materials used: sand based planting medium, rip rap, concrete, cover crop seed, and 5,042 native plant plugs of the following species: Andropogon gerardii, Andropogon virginicus, Aster novae-angliae, Baptisia australis, Baptisia tinctoria, Echinacea purpurea, Elymus riparius, Eupatorium coelestinum, Eupatorium purpureum, Heliopsis helianthoides, Mondarda punctata, Panicum virgatum, Penstemon digitalis, Solidago nemoralis, Sorghastrum nutans
• Mainenance: trash and sediment removal, weeding, erosion monitoring
• Maintained by: The contractor performs maintenance during the 2-year plant guarantee period, then it will be undertaken by Hudson River Housing

Design/Installation Informaion

• Design: eDesign Dynamics; LandMINE studio, and; Urban Landscape Lab, Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation
• Installation: Siegrist Construction, Inc.
• Other project partners: Hudson River Sloop Clearwater - Community Engagement; Hudson River Housing - Owner
• Date of installaion: May 2014
• Zoning change or special permit required: No
• Project cost: $126,000
• Form of payment: Grant funds (from the NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary Program, in partnership with New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission) and in-kind contributions from project partners

Additional Site Information:

Contact: Alexander Renner, eDesign Dynamics

Email: arenner@edesigndyanmics.com

Phone: (646) 688-3113