In 2016, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)'s accomplishments included the activation of the new water delivery tunnel to Staten Island, continued work on the Rondout-West Branch Bypass Tunnel, and the installation of an oyster bed in Jamaica Bay. Watershed maintainers in the Bureau of Water Supply have received additional training on climbing and trimming trees. A composting program has been launched at the DEP's Lefrak City headquarters.
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has started to develop solutions to heavy rainfall and associated physical and societal impacts by conducting the Cloudburst Resiliency Planning Study, focusing on a pilot area in Southeast Queens. The purpose of this project is to provide insight on ways to advance climate resiliency projects and traditional stormwater solutions to mitigate inland flooding and accommodate future increase in rainfall intensity through integration with ongoing urban planning and development.
Drinking Water Supply and Quality Reports are prepared annually by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection in accordance with the New York State Sanitary Code and the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, which require all drinking water suppliers to provide the public with an annual statement describing the sources and quality of its water supply.
New York City has committed $1.7 billion toward a comprehensive drainage system for southeast Queens currently under development by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Thanks are extended to DEP employees who worked critical jobs through the holidays. The DEP's involvement in blood donation through the New York Blood Center has reached a milestone with its 23,000th donor.
Holiday greetings from Acting Commissioner Vincent Sapienza. Thanks are extended to those who participated in holiday toy drives in New York City and upstate. The Department of Environmental Protection is assisting students at DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx in creating a stormwater swale with recycled porcelain. Work is finished on a $7 million project to replace two bridges at the upper end of Rondout Reservoir in Sullivan County.
Reports on the development, progress and achievements of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection's source water protection programs established to maintain the Filtration Avoidance Determination (FAD) for the Catskill/Delaware portion of the New York City water supply.
The Bureau of Engineering Design and Construction (BEDC) of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has unveiled a reorganization plan that reflects the absorption of new functions and developments. Hazardous trees around the J. Waldo Smith Monument near Ashokan Reservoir will be removed to allow for the creation of a public lawn. The DEP is preparing a $10 million sewer upgrade project along 9th Street in the Gowanus and Carroll Gardens neighborhoods of Brooklyn.