Thursday July 13, 2006 - 5:30PM to 7:30 PM

THE GREENING OF NYC’S

FLOOD CONTROL INFRASTRUCTURE:

The Innovative Staten Island Bluebelt Program

Sponsors: Benjamin Moore, Computer Floors Inc./ASM, C/S Group, Forbo, Lutron Electronics, Natural Cork, Tate Access Floors, Zeftron and Zumtobel Staff Lighting

                     STATEWIDE SPONSOR:     

Speakers:

Dana Gumb, Director, Staten Island Bluebelt
NYC Department of Environmental Protection

Sandeep Mehrotra, P. E., Senior Associate, Hazen and Sawyer

This lecture will cover:

● Overview of the Staten Island Bluebelt program, an effort by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection to provide storm water management for about two-thirds of Staten Island by utilizing streams, ponds and other wetland areas.

● Initiated in the early 1990's, the Bluebelt provides a case study of how proper "green" engineering of storm water infrastructure can actually encourage the functioning of natural processes to meet human needs within the City.

● The lecture will feature a discussion of the special drainage facilities employed by the Bluebelt, known as Best Management Practices (BMPs).  Special attention will be given to constructed storm water wetlands, designed for sustainability.  The Bluebelt is the first large-scale application of BMPs in New York City and is one of the largest continuous systems of BMPs in the country.

● Engineering criteria for the green drainage system will be discussed along with BMP costs and lessons learned over the years that the Bluebelt team has designed, built and managed over 35 BMPs.

● The ongoing major expansion of the Bluebelt system into new watersheds in the middle part of Staten Island will be presented, especially the proposed man-made wetlands that will work with the tidal cycles to control flooding.

Speaker Biographies: 

Dana Gumb

Dana Gumb has been the Director of the Staten Island Bluebelt program for 16 years at the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).  DEP provides a potable water supply, sewage collection/treatment and storm water management for the five boroughs of the City.

The Bluebelt program is an effort to preserve and enhance streams, ponds and other wetlands in South Richmond, Staten Island for storm water management purposes in lieu of conventional storm sewers.  Based on the program's success, the Bluebelt system is expanding to the mid-Island part of Staten Island and to several locations in Queens.  The Bluebelt has won numerous awards including the 2003 Engineering Excellence Award from the New York Association of Consulting Engineers Inc. and the 2005 USEPA Region 2 Environmental Quality Award.

As Director, Dana has broad administrative responsibility for all aspects of the program, including land acquisition, management of major engineering consultant contracts, preparation of drainage plans and construction drawings, oversight of actual construction in the field and the supervision of field management staff.  Thus far Dana has overseen the acquisition by the City of about 350 acres of wetland property for inclusion in the Bluebelt.  Another 120 acres are to be added to the system.

Over the years Dana has written a number of articles about the Bluebelt for such publications as Civil Engineering magazine, Stormwater magazine and the American Institute of Certified Planners Casebook series.  Prior to serving as Bluebelt Director, Dana worked for two years at the New York City Department of City Planning and five years at a private consulting firm.  He holds a Master of Science degree in urban planning from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale College.  Dana has been a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners since 1987.

Sandeep Mehrotra, P.E., Senior Associate, is one of Hazen and Sawyer's water quality specialists, with particular expertise in the planning and design of "best management practices" (BMPs) for stormwater management and water quality enhancement. Mr. Mehrotra has participated in a variety of multidisciplinary projects involving stormwater management, CSO abatement, wastewater treatment process design, and sludge management. Mr. Mehrotra has over 20 years of experience and a proven track record in managing large, complex projects with multiple member firms and subconsultants, for the City of New York. Since 1994, he has been serving as Project Manager of the award-winning South Richmond Stormwater and Sanitary Drainage Management Plan, including planning, design, and construction oversight of the stormwater BMP and drainage facilities. He also managed the preliminary and final design of stormwater BMPs to protect the water quality of NYC's Kensico Reservoir. Mr. Mehrotra has a M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Miami University of Ohio and is a member of the Water Environment Federation.