Kissena Park Watershed Restoration
The gentle valley that makes up Kissena Park was the original route of the Hudson River before the end of the last Ice Age, and the path it took still courses with freshwater springs and creeks. At least it did, until recently. Until about 20 years ago, the stream that went through Kissena Park ran freely from its source on the east side of Kissena Park Golf Course north and west towards Kissena Lake, then west towards the Queens Botanical Garden, where it once again had been piped underground decades earlier.
Now, the stream is diverted into a sewer 100 feet west of Kissena Lake. Kissena Lake has been filled with New York City drinking water, which has a higher temperature and phosphate levels, causing algae blooms that are killing off the wildlife. Although funding in place to dig wells in the lake in order to return natural groundwater has been achieved, it is only one small step in rehabilitating the entire stream habitat.
As your next Councilperson, I will push for:
Restoration of the creek habitat and other small lakes that dotted Kissena Park from 164th Street west to Main Street.
Biological study of all native and non-native plant and animal species in the watershed, and an official mapping of the original watercourse.
Interagency cooperation between all pertinent New York City and State agencies and elected officials to fund, plan and execute a restoration of the creek habitat.
Now, the stream is diverted into a sewer 100 feet west of Kissena Lake. Kissena Lake has been filled with New York City drinking water, which has a higher temperature and phosphate levels, causing algae blooms that are killing off the wildlife. Although funding in place to dig wells in the lake in order to return natural groundwater has been achieved, it is only one small step in rehabilitating the entire stream habitat.
As your next Councilperson, I will push for:
Restoration of the creek habitat and other small lakes that dotted Kissena Park from 164th Street west to Main Street.
Biological study of all native and non-native plant and animal species in the watershed, and an official mapping of the original watercourse.
Interagency cooperation between all pertinent New York City and State agencies and elected officials to fund, plan and execute a restoration of the creek habitat.