With the Ridgewood Reservoir finally being designated as a historic landmark and the majority of it's 50 acres now protected as wetlands, it is time to wrap things up here.
My first posting was on March 7, 2007. Unless things change, this will be my last. The blog, however, will remain online as an archive of the community struggle to protect this special place. Thank you for your support.
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Since word has gotten out about the successful campaign to protect the Ridgewood Reservoir all of the folks involved have been sending/receiving congratulations messages. I thought I'd share one of the more poignant notes. It was from Mickey Cohen. Mickey is a naturalist and, more important, a New York State certified wetlands delineator. Many years ago he surveyed the reservoir habitats for us and created a report of his findings. That report, ultimately was one of the key pieces that helped clinch the state protection that we needed. Here is his email:
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On Jan 9, 2019, at 1:01 PM, Mickey Maxwell Cohen wrote:
Good morning, Steve, and congratulations upon the Ridgewood Reservoir wetlands finally having been recognized as worthy of protection.
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| Source: NY State Department of Environmental Conservation |
From the Queens Gazette:
Ridgewood Reservoir Now Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
2018-02-14 / Front Page
The National Park Service moved rapidly to add the Ridgewood Reservoir to the National Register of Historic Places on February 2, 2018. The Reservoir was listed on the New York State Historic Register on December 7, 2017 with Federal approval initially anticipated for April, 2018.
NYC H2O, a nonprofit that provides education programs on New York City’s water system and ecology, wrote the Historic Register Application for the Reservoir. Since 2014, NYC H2O has brought 3,000 Brooklyn and Queens students on free Water Ecology and Engineering field trips to the Ridgewood Reservoir to experience New York City’s water system up close and learn to appreciate their city’s reliance on natural and engineered systems for clean water.
NYC H2O’s Executive Director Matt Malina testified at the New York State hearing that, “The Ridgewood Reservoir is a majestic place that deserves to be listed on the National Historic Register as a cultural and ecological treasure to be discovered by generations to come. In the course of bringing a new generation of New Yorkers to visit and experience the site, we realized that that we had become stakeholders in advocating for its preservation. The support of elected officials, community leaders and organizations has been critical to preventing its demolition and in advocating for its future.”
“For years, our community has been fighting to preserve the Ridgewood Reservoir, and today’s accomplishment is an important milestone,” said Congress Member Nydia M. Velázquez. “The Reservoir is a piece of living history that transcends generations of New Yorkers. What was once a feat of engineering is now home to a diverse array of flourishing wildlife. This history deserves to be cemented on the National Register of Historic Places.”
State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., a member of the NYS Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation, agreed. “Having the Ridgewood Reservoir recognized on the New York State Historic Register back in December, and now having it listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is an amazing achievement.” “I am pleased to see that the National Park Service moved so quickly to place the Ridgewood Reservoir on the list, officially preserving its natural beauty, its historic context to Brooklyn and Queens, and its educational importance to students for future generations. Congratulations again to NYC H2O and all the advocates who fought for the preservation of the reservoir. My thanks to all who worked tirelessly on protecting the Ridgewood Reservoir.”
His colleague, NYS Senator Michael Gianaris, added, “The Ridgewood Reservoir is an environmental gem for the residents of both Brooklyn and Queens that will be preserved for future generations to enjoy.”
The historic Ridgewood Reservoir is a 50-acre natural oasis that serves diverse communities on the Brooklyn/Queens border. The Reservoir is located today in Highland Park, which is run by the New York City Parks Department. It was built in 1859 to supply the once independent City of Brooklyn with high quality water. Its increasingly vast scale still did not suffice to quench the needs of the fourth largest city in the country. Water thus helped drive Brooklyn’s 1898 consolidation with New York City. The Reservoir itself only became obsolete with the addition of new reservoirs in the Catskills in the 1950s.
By 1989, it was mostly drained. Since then, nature took its own course and has provided New Yorkers with a perfect case study of ecological succession. A lush and dense forest has grown in the two outside basins—each with a unique variety of flora—while a freshwater pond with waterfowl sits in the middle basin. That pond is on the path of the Atlantic Flyway and is an important source of freshwater to migrating birds from nearby Jamaica Bay.
Today we see a 19th-century feat of engineering whose intact, large basins are surrounded by parkland. The Ridgewood Reservoir provides us with a cautionary and ultimately inspiring tale as to how citizens can work together to protect a site whose adaptive reuse ensues from its being reclaimed by nature.
Queens Borough President Melinda Katz said, “The Ridgewood Reservoir was an engineering marvel in the 19th century and merits recognition as a landmark in urban history, engineering history and environmental history. The reservoir offers insight into the environmental history of Brooklyn, Queens and Nassau County, and as such is an invaluable opportunity to study nature.”
“As a strong supporter of preserving the Ridgewood Reservoir, my thanks to NYS Parks for adding this wonderful site to both Historic Registry lists” said Assembly Member Catherine Nolan. “Thank you to Governor Andrew Cuomo, NYS Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey, Queens Community Board 5, NYC H2O and all of the residents and organizations that have advocated for the reservoir over the last decade. It is important to preserve the Ridgewood Reservoir for future generations”.
“The recent listing of the Ridgewood Reservoir on the National Register of Historic places is wonderful news and a great victory for the community and area activists along with myself and the other elected officials. We have advocated and supported this mission because the Ridgewood Reservoir is a cultural and ecological treasure. The Reservoir contains over 100 species of birds and wildlife. This special listing for the reservoir will forever protect it from development and preserve it for generations to come,” said NYS Assembly Member Mike Miller.
“I have always believed that it is important to protect our cultural treasures. I’m proud to have supported the listing of this site to the New York State Register of Historic Places, and now the National Register of Historic Places, both of which will preserve this wetland as an excellent environment to study nature and Brooklyn’s history for future generations. We thank NYC H2O for taking the lead in writing the Historic Register proposal,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.
Said NYC Council Member Rafael Espinal, “I congratulate NYC H2O and all those who worked hard to make sure this treasure is placed on the National Register of Historic Places so that it may be preserved and maintained. This designation is a true testament to the beauty, history, and value of the Ridgewood Reservoir.”
“While the Reservoir no longer provides necessary water supply to residents, it stands as a testament to the ingenuity of New Yorkers, who, when faced with a problem like a water shortage, undertake stunning engineering and urban planning projects in order to create solutions. I am so grateful for the efforts of local advocates, under the leadership of NYC H2O, in securing protection for this incredible site,” said City Council Member Robert Holden.
“We are thrilled that the Ridgewood Reservoir has been recognized by the National Park Service for its unique historic value, ecological richness, and exceptional character,” said NYC Parks’ Queens Borough Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski. “NYC Parks is fully committed to working with the community to further enhance the reservoir and preserve the site as natural open space.”
The NY State and National Historic Register filing is available for download here:
http://www.nych2o.org/ridgewood-reservoir-historic-register.html.
The National Historic Register approval is listed here:
https://www.nps.gov/nr/listings/20180202.htm.
Historic and contemporary photos of the Reservoir can be viewed at www.drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B2tlHSn1_l6FdlhPbHUtbWR4eUk?usp=sharing
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From our friends at NYC H2O.
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I just received the following email. A huge thank you to Matt Malina and the folks at NYC H2O. There have been so many folks from concerned residents to various community organizations, local community boards, city / state / federal politicians who worked to save the Ridgewood Reservoir from development, but NYC H2O gave the final, necessary big burst of energy to get it done:
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From: Jennifer Betsworth (PARKS)
Date: Dec 7, 2017 2:39 PM
Subject: Ridgewood Reservoir
All –
I’m happy to confirm that the State Review Board voted unanimously to recommend the Ridgewood Reservoir for nomination to the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Congratulations! Early next week, the structure will be formally listed on the State Register and the package will be mailed out to the National Park Service. You should receive a letter notifying you along the way. It typically takes about 2-3 months to hear back from the NPS, and I’ll let you know once I’ve heard any news.
Matt – it was great to finally meet you, and to have you and Steve speak on behalf of the project. The board always enjoys hearing from the people behind the projects, who have worked diligently and passionately to bring them to fruition.
Have a great weekend!
Jennifer Betsworth
Historic Preservation Specialist
NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation
Peebles Island State Park
P.O. Box 189
Waterford, New York 12188
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From the QNS website:
Ridgewood Reservoir will soon be added to the state Wetlands Map, preserving the site
By Anthony Giudice
Monday, November 20, 2017 / 3:15 PM
After years of advocacy by local elected officials, residents, and environmental experts, the Ridgewood Reservoir will soon be added to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Wetlands Maps as a designated wetland.
In a letter to Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, a staunch supporter of making the Ridgewood Reservoir a wetland, DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos notified Nolan that the wetlands within the reservoir are of “unusual local importance,” making them eligible to be added to DEC’s official wetlands map.
“The Reservoir is truly a unique site which consists of natural and largely undisturbed habitats for many species of animals,” Nolan said in a statement. “I welcome the state’s strong interest in preserving this site in its entirety for future generations. Thank you to Governor Andrew Cuomo, NYS Commissioner Basil Seggos, Queens Community Board 5 and all of the residents and organizations that have advocated for the reservoir over the last decade. I look forward to working with DEC and our community as we work through this formal process.”
The wetlands at the Ridgewood Reservoir can be added to the map through the multi-step process of a map amendment.
The map amendment process involves the following steps:
• Publishing a public notice announcing the intent to make the map amendments;
• The availability of the draft maps and supporting documentation;
• A public comment period; and
• A public meeting.
“Following the public hearing, DEC will consider and respond, as appropriate, to all proposed modifications to the wetland boundaries, make any necessary changes, and then finalize and publish the map amendment,” Seggos wrote in the letter to Nolan. “DEC, in association with the NYC Park Department, has completed the wetland delineation on the site, with the intention of adding them to the official DEC Wetland Maps.”
The three basins within the Ridgewood Reservoir are home to more than 100* species of birds — including at least five that have been listed as Threatened or of Special Concern in New York state — several different species of plant and fauna and a wide variety of tree species.
*As of this writing the list is up to 158 bird species
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Please note the location correction. Meeting is taking place at the Redeemer Lutheran School not the church.
In the 10 years since we've begun this process, I'm going to guess that this is at least the 10th community input meeting with the Department of Parks and Recreation. Please share this with all interested parties as we need to make certain that Capital Projects isn't planning any surprises:
Just published in the Queens Courier:
Ridgewood Reservoir gets another supporter in the push for federal wetland designation
Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez wants to see the Ridgewood Reservoir receive Wetland Designation.
By Anthony Giudice / agiudice@ridgewoodtimes.com / Thursday, July 20, 2017 / 11:00 AM
The push to grant the Ridgewood Reservoir federal recognition as a wetland under the Freshwater Wetlands Act got another supporter: Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez.
On July 11, the Congresswoman wrote a letter to Eileen Murphy, the director of Congressional and Federal Affairs with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), outlining her support of the reservoir becoming designated as a wetland.
“The Ridgewood Reservoir is a local environmental gem that we should protect for future generations,” Velázquez said in a statement. “Granting the reservoir wetland status would [mean] that legal environmental protections under the Freshwater Wetlands Act would be extended to the reservoir, aiding its preservation.”
In her letter, Velázquez noted the reservoir’s history of serving the Queens and Brooklyn communities as a water supply, as well as an asset to Highland Park by providing flood protection by holding back water and slowing stormwater runoff.
She also pointed out the Ridgewood Reservoir’s importance to the ecological environments created by the reservoir and its three basins, and its use as an educational tool for local schools and residents.
“We strongly believe the Ridgewood Reservoir merits said wetland designation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for its urban, engineering and environmental significance,” Velázquez wrote. “We respectfully urge you to exercise your authority and render this designation.”
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The following piece was just published in the "Village Voice":
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Saving Queens’ Secret Wetlands
by Ryan Goldberg
June 27, 2017
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| Asters grow around the old reservoir. courtesy Matt Malina / NYCH20 |
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| Ridgewood Reservoir circa 1887. George Brainerd |
Dear Concerned Friends of Ridgewood Reservoir,
As many of you may know, the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation (DoPR) is hosting two back-to-back meetings on June 21 at 6pm and 7pm at St. Pancras School on 68-20 Myrtle Ave:
• 6pm - Public Hearing by DoPR to accept comments on the proposed designation of the Ridgewood Reservoir as a Critical Environmental Area (CEA).
• 7pm - Unveiling of the new DoPR development plan for Ridgewood Reservoir.
It is my understanding that the CEA, while offering no direct benefits or protections, would establish policy which would affect future decisions and additionally this designation might also be an aid to gaining future funding. However, I'm not sure it should be supported in its current form. The maps provided in the application must be amended to show the wetland in Basin 3, west basin. Also, the special importance of that wetland must be clearly articulated. Without these edits, I can imagine the CEA actually serving as evidence supporting the notion that development of Basin 3 would cause no significant environmental damage.
I would remind one and all that DoPR has never planned to negatively impact the natural habitats of Basins 1 or 2, that this fight has always been about their intentions for the approximate 26 acres which is Basin 3, an area nearly equal in size to Basins 1 and 2 combined. Although the CEA application mentions findings in Basin 3 by the Round Mountain Ecological survey and two DoPR Natural Resources Group studies indicating the existence of wetland, those findings are directly contradicted by the map included in the CEA which shows no wetland in Basin 3 while wetland habitat is clearly marked in Basins 1 and 2. DoPR mentions that three plant species, listed as Threatened or Endangered in New York State, have been observed in Ridgewood Reservoir. Omitted is the fact that those three species were found in Basin 3. One of those species was found only in Basin 3. Two of the species are wetland species one of which being an obligate wetland species. Clearly, Basin 3 contains a highly treasured freshwater wetland which DoPR's planNYC and NYSDEC ECL Article 24 were created to protect.
If this application is to be submitted prior to long awaited wetland mapping from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), DoPR could use the map produced by certified wetland delineator, Mickey Cohen, in his 2009 wetland delineation of Ridgewood Reservoir. That map, which is simply a mark up of DoPR's own geodetic survey map, would be far more accurate. But DoPR should be urged to push NYSDEC for wetland mapping. For years we have made several request including a 2013 formal request and in a 2014 response to Congresswoman Velazquez et al., NYSDEC Commissioner Martens promised field work would start in the fall of that same year. Unless something has happened in the last two weeks, no one from NYSDEC has done soil samples, a requirement for wetland mapping. I should note that Kenneth Scarlatelli, the current NYSDEC Regional Natural Resources Supervisor, has indicated NYSDEC would be holding a hearing in July in which it’s finding would be made public and that the required soil samples would be done by then. I find Mr. Scarlatelli refreshingly forthright and have no reason to doubt him, despite NYSDEC’s past history of delays.
In the community listening session hosted by NYCH2O, Queens Borough Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski, announced the welcome news that DoPR has officially taken the plan for building active sports facilities off the table. However, when pressed for details or even a general understanding of what the new plan would be, we were told that we would have to wait until the June 21 meeting.
I urge everyone who can make it, to attend these extremely important meetings. We must push DoPR to correct the contradictions and omissions in the CEA application. We must push NYSDEC to conduct the science required by its own rules. In the last year there have been numerous community meetings hosted by NYCH2O in which the public has been united in seeing Ridgewood Reservoir developed as an historic site and wildlife refuge. Please join us in getting the job done.
Stephen R. Nanz
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Wetlands mapping of the Ridgewood Reservoir by the NYS Department of Environment Conservation has been one of the community's major objectives for 10 years. The NYSDEC, for unknown reasons, has been dragging their feet on this. Below is a document from 2009 by then Mayor Bloomberg. It covers some very important issues, many of the same arguments we've been using for years. From the summary page:
Wetlands are an important component of the City’s vision for a greener, greater future set out in PlaNYC. Wetlands help improve water quality and control floods by trapping pollutants, capturing stormwater runoff, sequestering carbon dioxide, moderating storm surges, providing habitat for local and migratory birds, fish and other wildlife, and creating a unique opportunity for New Yorkers to observe wildlife and to undertake other quiet, contemplative recreation. For those reasons, the City owns and manages thousands of acres of wetlands as open space, and the National Park Service controls extensive tracts of wetlands in and around Jamaica Bay and Staten Island. Other wetlands within the city are protected by Federal and New York State regulations, but the scope and vigor of those protections is uncertain.
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NYC H2O, working with Raft Landscape, has developed an interesting vision for the future of the reservoir. Check it out at this link. I recommended browsing some of their other projects on the linked website.
From NYC H2O:
From QNS online:
Status change aims to keep the beautiful Ridgewood Reservoir a natural open space
The Ridgewood Reservoir has been reclassified by the NYC Parks Department.
By Anthony Giudice / agiudice@ridgewoodtimes.com / Thursday, April 27, 2017 / 3:00 PM
The city Parks Department recently took an important step toward preserving one of Ridgewood’s most beautiful places.
The Ridgewood Reservoir‘s status as a dam was reclassified by the New York City Parks Department after the agency completed a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) application, effectively lowering the site’s hazard rating from Class C “High Hazard” to Class A “Low Hazard.”
This new classification removes the need to create any breaches in the dam, allowing the Ridgewood Reservoir to remain as a natural treasure for all those who visit. Since the reservoir was taken off‐line as a water supply source, it has become a uniquely naturalized area in New York City, serving as an important ecological resource as well as a public recreation space.
“The Ridgewood Reservoir is home to a number of native flora and fauna, making it one of Queens’ most diverse natural areas,” said Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski. “The reclassification of the dam is an important step forward to ensure the preservation of this treasured green space.”
The NYC Parks Department said it is fully committed to preserving the Ridgewood Reservoir as a natural open space for the community.
“The Ridgewood Reservoir has always been such a unique and beautiful part of our community, and now, thanks to the dam reclassification, it always will be,” said Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley. “Thank you to the Parks Department for the new designation and ensuring our greenspace is preserved in this bustling city.”
The Ridgewood Reservoir — located in the northeastern portion of Highland Park — was built back in 1859, and was originally used to supply Brooklyn with water up until 1959, as new reservoirs in the Catskills provided water. It was completely decommissioned in the 1980s.
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Below is the official press release from the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation website:
NYC PARKS COMPLETES RIDGEWOOD RESERVIOR DAM HAZARD RECLASSIFICATION, PRESERVING THE DAM AS NATURAL OPEN SPACE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 20, 2017
http://www.nyc.gov/parks
NYC Parks has successfully completed a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) reclassification of the Ridgewood Reservoir, lowering the dam hazard rating from Class C “High Hazard” to Class A "Low Hazard." This new designation eliminates the need to create any breaches in the dam, preserving it as a natural treasure for the local community.
“The Ridgewood Reservoir is home to a number of native flora and fauna, making it one of Queens’ most diverse natural areas,” said Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski. “The reclassification of the dam is an important step forward to ensure the preservation of this treasured green space.”
“The Ridgewood Reservoir has always been such a unique and beautiful part of our community, and now, thanks to the dam reclassification, it always will be,” said Council Member Elizabeth Crowley. “Thank you to the Parks Department for the new designation and ensuring our greenspace is preserved in this bustling city.”
NYC Parks is fully committed to preserving the dam as natural open space. In the years since being taken off?line as a water supply source, the reservoir has transitioned into a naturalized area that is unique within NYC and serves as an important ecological and public recreation resource.
The Ridgewood Reservoir is a former water supply reservoir located within Highland Park, straddling the Brooklyn-Queens border. The reservoir was constructed in 1858 and served as part of the water supply system for Brooklyn until 1959. The reservoir is divided into three basins separated by embankments and has been substantially drained for many years.
The Ridgewood Reservoir is located within the northeastern portion of Highland Park, and is a component of a larger green corridor formed by the park and several adjoining cemeteries. The site sits atop a ridge formed by the Wisconsin ice sheet’s terminal moraine, the Harbor Hill Moraine. Rising more than 100 feet above the surrounding outwash plain, the reservoir affords dramatic views over its surroundings to nearby cemeteries, East New York, Woodhaven, the Rockaways, Jamaica Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
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