Peconic Estuary Partnership - National Estuary Program - BIL Funding

DESCRIPTION:THE PEP 2020 COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLAN (CCMP) GUIDES THE PRIORITIES OF THE ORGANIZATION AND, AS SUCH, ALL PROJECTS AND PLANS DETAILED IN THIS WORKPLAN RELATE DIRECTLY TO THE ACTIONS ESTABLISHED TO ACHIEVE OUR FOUR GOALS: STRONG PARTNERSHIPS AND ENGAGEMENT, CLEAN WATERS, RESILIENT COMMUNITIES PREPARED FOR CLIMATE CHANGE, AND A HEALTHY ECOSYSTEM WITH ABUNDANT, DIVERSE WILDLIFE. THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT (IIJA OR 'BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW' OR BIL) PASSED THE U.S. SENATE IN AUGUST 2021 AND THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN NOVEMBER 2021. PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED IT INTO LAW ON NOVEMBER 15, 2021. THIS LEGISLATION PROVIDES AN ADDITIONAL $132 MILLION TO THE 28 NEPS OVER FIVE YEARS IN ADDITION TO REGULAR APPROPRIATIONS. FOR THE PEP THIS RESULTS IN AN ADDITIONAL $909,800 ANNUALLY FROM FY22 TO FY26 TO CARRY OUT WORK THAT ACCELERATES AND MORE EXTENSIVELY IMPLEMENTS THE 2020 CCMP, ENSURES BENEFITS REACH DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, AND BUILDS THE ADAPTIVE CAPACITY OF ECOSYSTEMS AND COMMUNITIES. THREE PROJECTS WILL BE EXECUTED UNDER THE FY22 BIL FUNDING. THESE PROJECTS ARE: 1. MEETINGHOUSE CREEK WETLAND RESTORATION - CONSTRUCTION PHASE OF A GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PROJECT. THIS PROJECT WILL CONSTRUCT A 1.2-ACRE STORMWATER WETLAND TO TREAT STORMWATER RUNOFF AND CREATE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY TO MANAGE INCREASED FLOODING. 2. SAG HARBOR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT - INSTALLATION OF TWO GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, WHICH ARE OUTLINED IN THE VILLAGE OF SAG HARBOR'S WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PLAN. THE TWO INSTALLATIONS WILL INCLUDE RAIN GARDENS AND ROAD AMENDMENTS FOR INCREASED STORMWATER CAPACITY AND ROAD RE-GRADING AND AMENDMENTS WITH THE USE OF IMPERVIOUS PAVEMENT. 3. GOOSE CREEK SUB-CATCHMENT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION - COMPLETION OF THE DISCHARGE REMOVAL IN THE SUB-CATCHMENT OF GOOSE CREEK, SOUTHOLD, NY. THREE MAJOR OUTFALLS WILL REQUIRE EXTENSIVE DRAINAGE TO BE INSTALLED AT THE CURRENT OUTFALL LOCATION AND UPSTREAM OF THE OUTFALL TO ENSURE THAT LOCALIZED FLOODING OF THE ROAD DOES NOT OCCUR.ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES UNDER EACH PROJECT ARE: 1. MEETINGHOUSE CREEK WETLAND RESTORATION - ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE OF A GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PROJECT. THIS PROJECT WILL CONSTRUCT A 1.2-ACRE STORMWATER WETLAND TO TREAT STORMWATER RUNOFF AND CREATE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY TO MANAGE INCREASED FLOODING. THE RESTORATION OF THIS STORMWATER WETLAND HAS FOUR OBJECTIVES: 1) TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN THE MEETINGHOUSE CREEK SUB-CATCHMENT; 2) TO PROVIDE INCREASED COASTAL RESILIENCY BY INCREASING STORM WATER CAPACITY IN THIS SUB-CATCHMENT USING RESTORED WETLAND FUNCTION AND INCREASING CAPACITY TO A 100-YEAR STORMWATER FLOOD LEVEL; 3) CREATE INCREASED COASTAL RESILIENCY IN A NEW YORK STATE DESIGNATED ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AREA; AND 4) PROVIDE INCREASED EDUCATION ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND COASTAL ADAPTATION USING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE TO THE COMMUNITY. ADDITIONALLY, WETLAND RESTORATION INCREASES THE ECOLOGICAL QUALITY OF THE HABITAT AND IMPROVES PLANT AND WILDLIFE DIVERSITY. 2. SAG HARBOR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT - ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE INSTALLATION OF TWO GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, WHICH ARE OUTLINED IN THE VILLAGE OF SAG HARBOR'S WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PLAN. THE TWO INSTALLATIONS WILL INCLUDE RAIN GARDENS AND ROAD AMENDMENTS FOR INCREASED STORMWATER CAPACITY AND ROAD RE-GRADING AND AMENDMENTS WITH THE USE OF IMPERVIOUS PAVEMENT. THE INSTALLATION OF TWO GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AREAS HAVE THREE OBJECTIVES TO: 1) IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN SAG HARBOR COVE AND SAG HARBOR BAY; 2) CREATE INCREASED COASTAL RESILIENCY IN A NYS DESIGNATED ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AREA THAT IS PRONE TO FLOODING AND PROJECTED TO EXPERIENCE INCREASED PRECIPITATION; AND 3) PROVIDE INCREASED EDUCATION ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, COASTAL ADAPTATION AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT USING GREEN IN