MakingWaves - News from the Division of Water

This Week's Updates:

• Public Comment Period Extended for Draft SPDES Multi-Sector General Permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity
• Final Greenwood Lake Phosphorus TMDL Implementation Plan
• Reminder: Cutoff Date for Fertilizing Lawns is December 1
• DEC Accepting Applications for Urban and Community Forestry Grants
• Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative Funding Provided

Public Comment Period Extended for Draft SPDES Multi-Sector General Permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity

DEC is extending the public comment period until November 18, 2019 for the draft permit for modifications to the SPDES Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity (GP-0-17-004).

Copies of the draft permit and fact sheet describing the changes are available on DEC’s MSGP web page.

For more information, including how to comment, view the October 30 Environmental Notice Bulletin.

Final Greenwood Lake Phosphorus TMDL Implementation Plan

DEC has published a Greenwood Lake Phosphorus Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Plan for New York State to support an EPA-approved TMDL for New York and New Jersey. This plan articulates phosphorus reduction requirements for the Greenwood Lake Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) operators: Village of Greenwood Lake, Town of Warwick, Orange County and New York State Department of Transportation. These required reductions, along with additional recommended phosphorus reduction practices, are intended together to improve the water quality in Greenwood Lake.

Visit DEC’s Clean Water Plans web page to download the Implementation Plan and TMDL.

Reminder: Cutoff Date for Fertilizing Lawns is December 1

If you plan to fertilize your lawn this fall, remember that it is against New York State law to fertilize lawns between December 1 and April 1. Some areas also have local laws about selling and using lawn fertilizers.

Visit DEC’s Lawn Fertilizer web page for more information. The law does not apply to agricultural fertilizer or fertilizer for gardens.

Choose a lawn fertilizer with no phosphorus.

Lawn fertilizer can have unnecessary phosphorus that runs into waterbodies. Excess phosphorus in freshwater lakes and ponds can cause algae overgrowth, with serious impacts to the environment and public health.

DEC Accepting Applications for Urban and Community Forestry Grants

DEC is accepting applications for Urban and Community Forestry Grants through December 4, 2019 at 2 p.m. Grants are available for tree planting, maintenance, tree inventory, community forest management plans, and educating those who care for public trees. Urban trees and community forests improve water quality and reduce flooding, along with many other benefits. For more information and how to apply, visit DEC’s Urban Trees and Community Forestry Grants web page.

Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative Funding Provided

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced the state is providing a total of $84 million to advance 43 projects in Monroe and Wayne counties as part of the first round of funding under the Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI). REDI was launched by Governor Cuomo in May to increase the resilience of shoreline communities and bolster economic development in the region.

The projects comprise of a range of at-risk assets, including shoreline stabilization, public health and safety, critical water and wastewater infrastructure, marinas and harbors, and land loss/value, among other priorities, with an emphasis on natural or nature-based features and green infrastructure. For more information, view Governor Cuomo’s October 23 press release.