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Water Management Plan & EIS
In recent years, measures have been implemented to mitigate the impacts of citywide droughts; however, the vast majority of community gardens in NYC still access water from nearby fire hydrants to irrigate plants and vegetables. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided funding for watershed programs. In 2022, the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program awarded more than $46 million in funding for water management to NYC community gardens. The investment will subsidize critical on-site infrastructure improvements to ease water access to more than 200 food-producing GreenThumb community gardens under the jurisdiction of NYC Parks across the city. This investment in NYC’s social infrastructure will allow thousands of volunteer land stewards citywide to grow more healthy and fresh food while providing vibrant green spaces for all New Yorkers.
Program Information
The Water Management Plan is supported by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). New York City has benefited since the 1940s from improvements NRCS has supported to the system of upstate watersheds and reservoirs that provide the city’s drinking water. In addition, NRCS’s programs upstate have enhanced agricultural land, thereby strengthening regional food systems.
The Water Management Plan & Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will create opportunities for GreenThumb gardeners in food-producing gardens to access piped water connected to New York City’s water system. These new connections will enhance the reliability and quality of water for use in GreenThumb gardens.
The Water Management Plan & EIS will provide new water connections to food-producing community gardens throughout New York City. To access the grant funding, NYC Parks GreenThumb must author a Water Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), to outline the method of water delivery and potential environmental impacts that may occur during construction and implementation. The project will be executed in three phases: planning, design, then construction. In 2024, NYC Parks will complete research, host public participation events, and write a project plan to be approved by a congressional committee.
For a community garden to be eligible for on-site water infrastructure through the Water Management Plan & EIS, it must be food-producing as of Fall 2023, within NYC Parks jurisdiction, and not have an internal water connection.
Project Timeline
The Water Management Project is broken up into three phases and will be completed by the end of 2030. NYC Parks GreenThumb is currently in the planning phase.
Planning
The planning phase of the project requires the completion and federal approval of a Watershed Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Water Management Plan & EIS received a Certificate to Proceed (CP) from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in January of 2024. Throughout the watershed & EIS process, the project team identifies natural resource concerns with constructing water management connections to community gardens, facilitates public participation, and explores alternatives for water supply in New York City community gardens. At the end of 2024, the project team will author a comprehensive Water Management Plan & EIS to undergo city, state, and federal approvals.
Design
After the Water Management Plan & EIS receive all appropriate approvals, the project team will proceed to the design and construction of water management connections. The project team will reach out to all the selected community gardens to begin scoping the design of the RPZ system. The city team will determine placement and construction design through a series of contracts and drawings for the garden to approve. Once the gardener and project management reach an agreement on the design and placement of the RPZ system, the team will submit the design completions until NRCS approval. After NRCS approval, the project team will submit the designs for Office of Management and Budget’s Certificate to Proceed with construction. It is estimated this process will take two years for all community gardens selected to participate.
Construction
After receiving the Certificate to Proceed from the office of Management and Budget, the construction process will begin. Construction procedures differ by garden size, city line connections, seasons, adjacent properties and more. The garden should expect and prepare for substantial excavation of property as well as the site’s closure during construction. Activities include site protection and mobilization, excavation, erosion controls and environmental compliance, water utility service connection, as well as garden restoration. One year after completion, there is an inspection meeting to see the connection is working properly. The construction of all gardens selected for participation is estimated to take three years.
Public Scoping Meeting
The project team hosted three in-person open-house public scoping meetings, with an opportunity to participate virtually. The purpose of the meetings was to identify natural resource concerns regarding on-site water infrastructure in community gardens. The scoping meeting ensured all problems, opportunities, measures, plans, or effects pertaining to urban community gardens were considered.
All comments received will be incorporated into the Environmental Impact Statement and considered in the evaluation of all three alternatives.
Participate Virtually
Participate virtually by watching the below pre-recorded project presentation, downloading the information boards, and submitting comments online.
Watch the pre-recorded project presentation above or on GreenThumb's YouTube page.
Follow along by downloading the Scoping Meeting Presentation transcript
En Español
Watch the pre-recorded project presentation in Spanish above or on GreenThumb's YouTube page.
Follow along by downloading Scoping Meeting Presentation transcript in Spanish
Online Comments
Submit your comments below prior to the end of the comment period June 25, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. This project is ongoing therefore will have more opportunities for feedback in the future.
Download the Water Management Plan
Read the full water management plan and fill out questions to let us know what you think.
Share Your Comments Online
Fill out an online survey to provide your comments and thoughts on the project.
For all inquiries regarding this project, please contact gardenswatersupply@parks.nyc.gov or Project Manager Allie Smith at allison.smith@parks.nyc.gov or (917)-602-5309.
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