Introduction

The Staten Island Bluebelt, located in South Richmond , Staten Island , New York City, is a comprehensive watershed management plan which integrates structural and non-structural best management practices to positively affect water quantity and quality (New York City DEP, 2003).  This region is the least densely populated burrough of New York City and has the highest concentration of minimally disturbed wetlands in the city (New York City DEP, 2005a).  Before the implementation of the Bluebelt it was the last area of New York City without sanitary sewers and networked storm sewers. The Bluebelt system encompasses over one third of the land area of Staten Island and includes sixteen watersheds (Vokral, John  et al., 2001).

Staten Island Bluebelt location. (Image from NYC DEP. http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/dep/html/news/bluebelt.html)

In response to continued development of the South Richmond region of Staten Island , the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP) started planning in the early 1980s to address existing and anticipated flooding and water quality issues.  Because the majority of residential housing in this area uses septic systems, a major component of the Bluebelt plan is the simultaneous construction of a separate sanitary sewer system to address ground water pollution problems (Vokral, John et al., 2003; Vokral, John  et al., 2001).

NYC DEP engineers, citing the 1968 work of Ian McHarg on the never realized Richmond Parkway as inspiration and providing a framework, developed an innovated stormwater management plan for South Richmond (Vokral, John et al., 2003).  The Bluebelt plan integrates storm sewers and the existing wetlands, ponds, and waterways of South Richmond to protect against flooding and provide for water quality improvement. The strategy of integrating existing storm sewers, the existing hydrologic infrastrucure, and making best management practice improvements within the overall system allows maximum interaction among natural and urban landscapes (New York City DEP, 2005a). 

Aerial view south of Hylan Blvd. between Slater and Graham Ave. Staten Island, NYC showing the Blubelt integration into the urban environment. (Image from the Office of the Borough President, Staten Island, USA. http://statenislandusa.com/2004/bluebelt.htm)

The strategic goals of the Staten Island Bluebelt are to (New York City DEP, 2005a):

• Develop storm water management system utilizing existing wetlands.
• Collect street runoff in storm sewers; improve capacity of hydraulic structures.
• At sewer/wetland interface, use BMPs to mitigate impacts/flooding.
• Build separate sanitary sewer system.

 “Widely recognized for its success in improving quality of life for local residents, while simultaneously improving the environment, the Bluebelt program provides an elegant example of engineering natural systems and processes to achieve the following goals” (Hsu, 2006):

• Collection of contaminants from runoff.
• Introduction of aquatic plant species to absorb pollutants.
• Reduction of stormwater velocities.
• Recharge of groundwater supplies.
• Protects and improve natural areas within the urban fabric.

Schematic of the Bluebelt concept of pipe and wetland integration. (Image Image from NYC DEP. For in interactive version of this image go to http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/dep/html/news/bluebelt.html)

The accomplishments of the Staten Island Bluebelt are the (New York City DEP, 2005a):

• First capital project initiated in 1997 in Richmond Creek watershed
• To date, 37 BMPs completed
  • 19 Constructed storm water wetlands
  • 3 Stream restorations
  • 11 Outlet stilling basins
  • 4 Outlet structure modifications