2001-03-26
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TOWN OF WAPPINGER 1t'
20 Middlebush Road ~
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. 12590 1
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March 26, 2001
TO:
Connie Smith, Town of Wappinger Supervisor and
The Wappinger Town Board
Re: Advise on how we can lessen the effects of man's activities and developments on the Town of
Wappinger's environmental quality.
Please review the following recommendations the CAC has listed and implement them, with
comments from the Town Planner (Mr. Wery) and Engineer (Mr. Paggi), on all developments. These
common practices, utilized in many other areas of the country, could help protect our wetlands and
improve our water quality.
WETLANDS
The CAe would like to protect our wetlands as much as practicable to preserve and protect the
biological and environmental integrity ofthe Town of Wappinger.
1. Adopt a "no net loss" policy and require the creation of wetlands when there is a loss of
wetlands on all property development. Improvements could be acceptable substitutes, such as
native plantings to improve the functions and values of the wetland being impacted.
2. Have the "Lawn" and "Wetland" areas permanently identified on the property with plantings
or other markers. This would also allow any potential owners to easily identify the presence
of wetlands on the property as well as limitations for expansion.
3. Please recommend a "Buffer Area" for each property abutting wetlands or watercourses. This
buffer area will promote pollution reductions prior to any runoff from reaching the wetlands,
help promote animal migration routes around any buildings or lawn areas used by home
owners, and the buffer area can also be used to improve animal habitat by the use of native
plantings.
STORMWATER
Stormwater runoff can contribute increased quantities of pollutants and soil erosion. This type of
non-source pollution can be controlled and minimized by using a few simple techniques. There
are many design manuals readily available, one is free on the web site www.stormwatercenter.net
- 2 -
Also, there have been many studies produced that have proven the effectiveness of the most
common stormwater treatment technologies.
1. Promote the use of infiltration of surface runoff as much as possible. This helps recharge
groundwater supplies, can reduce pollutant migration in runoff, promotes pollutant reduction
by using soils to clean the stormwater (like a septic system does for wastewater), and this will
help control any long-term erosion problems by reducing the source of erosion problems.
2. Reduce the creation of impervious surfaces as much as possible. Use engineering techniques
that could infiltrate stormwater while obtaining the parking spaces, travel lanes, sidewalks, etc.
as required by the regulations.
3. On large residential and commercial developments, have the design engineers prove and obtain
the EP A recommended 80% removal goal for total suspended solids (TSS) as a standard to
help protect our surface waters. The goal of 80% TSS reduction was selected because:
a) removal of 80% TSS is assumed to control heavy metals, phosphorus, and other pollutants
b) a number of states require / recommend TSS removal of 80% for all new developments
c) data show that certain structural controls, when properly designed and maintained, can
meet this performance level.
Please contact the CAC if the Town Board needs any information concerning these important
environmental issues.
Written by Scott LeRoy
Member of and in behalf of the
~~~p~er
. r ce Graff, Co-Chairpers n
cc: Mr. Jay Paggi, 56 Main Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Frederick P. Clarke Associates, Inc., Attention: Dan Wery, 350 Theodore Fremd Avenue, Rye, NY
10580