Climate Resilience

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https://hdl.handle.net/1813/113370

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Otsego Lake Water Quality Constant Monitoring System
Yokota, Kiyoko (New York State Water Resources Institute, 2017)
High resolution, 24/7 water quality monitoring on Otsego Lake, Otsego County, NY was initiated with deployment of light and temperature loggers on a chain suspended from a marker buoy. It was subsequently upgraded to a full featured constant lake monitoring data buoy with real time data transmission capability, while the loggers are still used during winter for continuous data collection under ice. With NYSWRI support, we successfully established reliable field protocols for swapping of the logger chain with the data buoy at ice-out, maintenance of the data buoy throughout the open water season, and winterization of the data buoy anchoring system and attachment of the data logger chain after complete lake mixing. Real time data on select weather and water quality parameters from the data buoy have been made available to the public through the Otsego Lake Association web site as well as co-PI Yokota’s web page. Otsego Lake became a member site of the Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON), and recent data sets from the constant monitoring have been used in various GLEON research projects aiming to understand regional and global patterns in how lakes respond to changing climate and other anthropogenic influences.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Green Infrastructure
Vail, Emily; Walter, M. Todd (New York State Water Resources Institute, 2017)
Although green infrastructure is accepted as a technique to reduce runoff and improve water quality, questions remain about its effectiveness in the field. This study has three components: a quantitative assessment of runoff reduction in two municipal parking lots, a qualitative assessment of design features, and an analysis of the history of the Tannery Brook to provide context for modern restoration. In fall 2016, two municipal parking lots in Kingston, NY were reconstructed with several green infrastructure practices. Water level within 2 rain gardens, 3 bioretention areas, and 5 dry wells was measured for 28 storms May-November 2017 to better understand runoff reduction. Although certain maintenance issues have been identified, the practices are overall performing very well. The Tannery Brook is an excellent case study of the ways that we have perceived and managed water in cities over time. Its history and present state provide context for modern stream and stormwater management. By sharing the Tannery Brook's story, we can better understand urban waterbodies and what it might take to improve them in the future.
Dynamic sediment-discharge rating curve models to support climate-smart management of water quality in the New York City water supply system
Steinschneider, Scott (New York State Water Resources Institute, 2017)
The research conducted in this work developed dynamic (i.e., time-varying) sediment–discharge rating curves for the Esopus Creek, a tributary in the Hudson River Estuary Basin and a major source of water supply for New York City (NYC). These dynamic rating curves were created to help the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) understand 1) how sediment yield per unit of streamflow has changed over time at multiple temporal scales (daily-decadal), 2) what aspects of climate variability are responsible for these fluctuations, and 3) how these fluctuations could be modeled under future climate scenarios. The analysis emphasized the lasting impact of major floods on the flow-sediment relationship. This information is critically important because high suspended sediment following major floods threatens the ability of DEP to meet the requirements of NYC’s Filtration Avoidance Determination, which saves the city billions of dollars in avoided infrastructure costs for drinking water filtration. These events also disturb creek-side communities and aquatic ecosystems downstream on the Esopus Creek in Ulster County. This work will better enable NYC DEP to accurately generate and plan for scenarios of sedimentation under future climate with intensifying extreme events.
Land Use/Environmental Planning Field Workshop Activities, Spring 2018 Semester Activities
Frantz, George (New York State Water Resources Institute, 2017)
The CRP 3072/5072 Land Use & Environmental Planning field workshop in the Spring of 2018 conducted studies of drainage and stormwater runoff and stormwater management systems in the Patton Brook and Silver Stream watersheds that supply the City of Newburgh’s public water supply reservoir at Lake Washington. The studies are part of a larger response to the contamination of Lake Washington with the chemical PFOS. The goal of the studies was to develop a more holistic approach to stormwater management from all sources, in order to better protect the water supply for Newburgh. Course objectives included providing students with a working knowledge of stormwater runoff calculations, New York State design standards for managing stormwater, and the innovative uses of green stormwater infrastructure in runoff management.
The Uneven Social Landscape of Flood Risk: Implications for Outreach & Local Decision-Making
Kay, David (New York State Water Resources Institute, 2017)
The purpose of the project includes developing a better understanding of (1) the dimensions of flood risk in a estuarine system – critical with climate change related impacts, (2) how perceptions of flood risk are related to adaptation and mitigation strategies, (3) how responses to risks vary from one community to another, and (4) how varying perceptions of risk should inform/influence outreach strategies at the local level. The exploratory work has been focused on our central goal of developing an understanding of the social landscape of flooding risk and perception in the target cities -- honing in on Troy, NY as our initial in-depth point of exploration. The work in Troy has entailed a review of local press coverage, 10 semi-structured interviews with local professionals and residents, and 2 neighborhood-based focus groups. Predominantly informed by interviews, focus groups, and relevant literature, our work thus far suggests a series of insights that fall into four thematic areas: (1) Unknown flooding risk; (2) Uneven exposure to material and financial risks; (3) Factors influencing perceptions of risk; (4) Community/Civic capacity. This project seeks to provide valuable insights to inform local outreach strategies around flood risk, adaptation and mitigation.
Land Use/Environmental Planning Field Workshop Activities, Fall 2017 Semester Activities
Frantz, George (New York State Water Resources Institute, 2017)
The CRP 3072/5072 Land Use & Environmental Planning field workshop in the Fall of 2017 developed draft scenic resources protection strategies for the Town of Cornwall, Orange County, and the cities of Beacon and Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County. The objectives of the field workshop were to: • Provide each client community with a framework for identifying and protection scenic resources within their boundaries, including the river, river shoreline and adjacent uplands, and important scenic landmarks beyond, but contributing to the scenic character of the river and region; • Provide students with the opportunity for engaged learning and research, and to provide local government with technical support in developing local strategies to protect their scenic resources; • Promote intermunicipal cooperation in preservation of the scenic resources along the Hudson River.
Variability in water quality and the effect of climate change and teleconnections on lakethermal structure in the Sky Lakes of Shawangunk Ridge
Richardson, David (New York State Water Resources Institute, 2017)
Freshwater lakes are fundamental to human well-being, especially low-nutrient, clear-water lakes, which provide essential ecosystem services such as drinking water, recreation, cooling, irrigation, and fishing. However, such lakes are also endangered by climate change and anthropogenic activities, including watershed development, pollution, and food web alteration. Some of these anthropogenic impacts can cause a low nutrient lake to transition to a eutrophic state with dramatically reduced ecosystem services due to turbid water; frequent, sometimes toxic, cyanobacterial blooms; and hypolimnetic anoxia that can cause fish kills. Here, we will examine how watershed and climate drivers affect ecosystem structure and function in the critical headwater Sky Lakes along the Shawangunk Ridge with a particular focus on lake trophic state.
Quantifying the ecosystem services of nitrogen removal and carbon sequestration in restored urban tidal wetlands
Zarnoch, Chester (New York State Water Resources Institute, 2017)
Large scale wetland restoration efforts are common worldwide, and often motivated towards regaining lost ecosystem services such as nitrogen (N) removal and carbon (C) sequestration. Despite large monetary investment in wetland construction, research on the capacity for restored wetlands to retain C and remove N in eutrophic environments lags far behind. It is critical, however, to document these ecosystem services to help justify costs of restoration. In 2015-16 NYC Parks completed an assessment of 22 restored tidal wetlands in NYC that included measurements of habitat value and marsh structure but did not quantify N assimilation, N removal, or C sequestration. We measured C and N pools, and N fluxes including denitrification at four restored tidal wetland sites in the Harlem River. We expected differences among sites due to varying ages (4 years to 15 years post-restoration) and associated wetland community development. The results, however, show that there were few differences in wetland structure and function across sites. Rates of denitrification were high at all sites and averaged 465 μmol N m-2 h-1. These rates are higher than other reported values for natural and restored marshes suggesting that restored wetlands are hot spots for N removal in the Harlem River. The wetlands were also a sink for dissolved inorganic N (N retained rather than recycled), however, two of the four sites were sources of reactive P to the ecosystem likely due to reduced sediment. Overall, nitrogen removal and retention at these sites is very high and should be considered an important ecosystem service provided by these restored habitats. We found high above and belowground biomass of the salt marsh plant, Spartina alterniflora, at all sites. The high belowground biomass and accumulation of sediment carbon led to significant C sequestration at each of the sites. The wetlands sequestered an average of 50 metric tons of C per acre which would have an economic value of $2,000 per acre. The C sequestered at Harlem River wetlands is similar to values reported in natural wetlands suggesting this is also an important ecosystem service provided by the restored habitats. Future studies should consider seasonal differences in N cycling to better resolve estimates of annual N removal. Ongoing efforts aim to integrate the data into indices of marsh health with New York City Parks.
Design for Climate-resilient Hudson River Communities
Cerra, Josh (New York State Water Resources Institute, 2017)
This project investigated planning and design implications of emerging municipal climate adaptation interests by developing alternative strategies for two project locations, the Kingston Point Park area located in City of Kingston, New York and for the Hudson riverfront of the Village of Piermont, New York. The project was developed in the spring 2017 LA6020 second-year graduate design studio and the fall 2017 LA4010 fourth-year undergraduate studio at Cornell University Department of Landscape Architecture. Each project accessed a climate-adaptive design framework approach to understand projected climate change impacts, risks, and potential climate adaptation opportunities for the waterfront locations. Studio participants reviewed planning and policy documentation, conducted contextual analysis and site reconnaissance, interviewed stakeholders, and shared their initial design concepts with stakeholders for comment and revision. Each design team then developed an alternative design concept that addressed projected climate change risks in combination with urban revitalization goals and other interests. These concepts included provision for flood-adapted landscapes and structures, waterfront park and open space, green infrastructure, contributions to urban ecosystems, phased retreat strategies and/or other features. Final design boards were shared in an open house style format with stakeholders at the end of each studio. The alternative design concepts developed for these locations can serve as case studies for other municipalities seeking to confront climate risks to their water systems, built environment, ecosystems and community as their municipality changes and grows.
The Hudson Estuary Watershed Resiliency Project in 2018
Klocker, Carolyn (Cornell Cooperative Extension, 2018)
In 2018 the Hudson Estuary Watershed Resiliency Project worked directly with decision makers in 14 communities in the Hudson Valley to help them complete actions of the NYS Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Certification Program to enhance their ability to adapt to climate change through resiliency planning and implementation.

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