Why the Hutchinson River needs a management plan
Protecting our rivers can be done in many different ways. One way is through watershed planning, a comprehensive, stakeholder-driven process of assessing the current health of a river and all of the lands that drain to it, as well as identifying possible interventions to eliminate sources of pollution or bolster ecosystem and community well-being. The Hutchinson River, which runs through Westchester County through Scarsdale, Eastchester, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Pelham, and the Bronx before it empties into the Sound at Eastchester Bay, is in desperate need of this planning. Today, all segments of the lower Hutchinson River are listed on the New York State 303(d) list of impaired waterbodies.
To restore the Hutchinson River, Save the Sound and Westchester County have worked closely with local stakeholders to develop the Hutchinson River Watershed Plan following the US EPA 9 element plan (9E) approach. Through this planning process, the partners worked to:
- Identify nonpoint source pollution contributing to water quality impairment and risks associated with flooding, and propose management, restoration, and design recommendations to improve water quality and reduce flooding in the watershed;
- Identify implementable restoration and stormwater mitigation projects with a focus on those that provide flood mitigation and emphasize nature-based solutions; and
- Engage and educate municipal agencies, key stakeholders in the watershed, and the public through the formation of a Watershed Steering Committee, volunteer opportunities, public meetings, and webinars.
Funding for Phase I of the plan, which covers the Westchester County portion of the watershed was awarded to Save the Sound by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation through the Long Island Sound Futures Fund. This project was done in partnership with Westchester County Soil & Water Conservation District housed within the Westchester County Planning Department and was funded in part by NFWF and the Owens & Minor Foundation.
Click here to see the final watershed plan for the Westchester portion of the river.
Appendices:
Appendix A: Acronyms and Glossary
Appendix B: Hutchinson River Watershed Baseline Conditions Assessment
Appendix C: Hutchinson River Watershed Management Plan Stakeholder Meeting Participants
Appendix D: Watershed Opportunities Technical Memorandum
Appendix E: Detailed Field Assessment Findings for Restoration Opportunities
Appendix F: Summary Sheets for High Priority Restoration Opportunities
Appendix G: WTM Load Reduction Results Using Site-Specific Recommendations Restoration Scenarios
Appendix H: Quality Assurance Project Plan
Appendix I: WTM Technical Assessment Methodology
Appendix J: Public Comment Summary
Presentations
9/21/22 Hutchinson River Watershed Plan Kick Off Presentation
2/21/23 Hutchinson River Watershed Plan Second Public Meeting Presentation
2/7/24 Hutchinson River Watershed Plan Third Public Meeting Presentation
Links
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