Interview with Peter Rostenberg of the Fishkill Ridge Caretakers on Fishkill Water Supply Threat
By Michael Boyajian
How Long Has The Fishkill Ridge Caretakers Been Advocating for the Groundwater?
FRC: For almost 4 years, the Fishkill Ridge Caretakers sought to protect the groundwater upgradient from the largest public water supply in southwest Dutchess County, the Village of Fishkill Public Water Supply .
How Has The Town Of Fishkill Reacted to Your Efforts?
FRC: The Town of Fishkill Town Planner mocked us at a public hearing and later that week in the Poughkeepsie Journal. He stated that FRC could not possibly understanding the depth of the mine owner’s ‘site specific hydrogeological assessment’ that theTown had approved.
Later that month, the DEC discovered an 18 inch pipe that passed from a cement plant, under US Route 9 and which discharged onto the floor of the mine.
Have Officials Ever Toured the Site?
FRC: On September 23, 2003, Town officials including the town’s lawyer, DEC Judge Wissler, Montfort officials toured the Southern Dutchess Sand and Gravel mine. Their visit was photographed by Denis Callinan , FRC member and Shenandoah Rd resident. As a victim of a Federal Superfund site, his neighborhood was slated to receive water from Clove Creek. He used to say “Don’t victimize us twice!!”
What About The Developer’s Permit?
FRC: The Monforts received their permit to dig product from below the surface in 2006, but the Family did not mine. The view you see in our photographs were not new because hikers back in the 90’s also saw large water ponds on the mine floor. Their permit at the time allowed them to mine to within 5 feet of the top of the groundwater. Obviously, they exceeded that limit. Below is part of the Highland Valley Draft Environmental Impact Statement…Judge for yourselves if the Town of Fishkill should be the Lead on this project. Judge for yourselves if no floodway mitigation is necessary.——————————————————————1.6.4 Surface and Groundwater Resources1.6.4.1 Potential Impacts1.6.4.1.1 Surface WaterThe Project Sponsor proposes to develop the site as a 210-unit residential project as an alternate to subaqueous mining for which the site is currently permitted. The development of the Highland Valley site will develop approximately 55.39 acres or 72.3% of the 76.63-acre site. Development of the project will create approximately 15.3 acres of new impervious areas including the construction of new roads, new homes, driveways, etc. The total area of impervious surfaces, i.e. roads, the project area. Approximately 36.85 acres of new lawn area will be created as part of this project, equivalent to 48.1% of the project site. Approximately 24.48 acres, or 31.9%, will remain as open space. Out of the 24.48 acres of open space, 21.24 acres will remain as undeveloped. The remaining 3.24 acres will remain as open space areas in the development area.This new ground cover results from the conversion of approximately 5.5 acres of woods, approximately 1.2 acres of existing residential/industrial development and approximately 47.34 acres of the existing Southern Dutchess Sand & Gravel mine. The remaining 21.24 acres of the property will remain as open space along the Clove Creek corridor as part of the newly proposed “ Highland Valley Park ”. The pre-development drainage patterns, i.e. drainage basins and pri mary design points, remain the same after development. The majority of the runoff generated by the development of this site shall be discharged below grade into the subsoil.The layout has been designed to minimize disturbances to wetland areas and minimize indirect impacts associated with the development. As currently proposed, there are no impacts on wetlands.The Project Sponsor intends on utilizing on-site stormchambers on each proposed lot to intercept runoff from the roof leaders and driveways. The new lawn areas will serve as biofilter strips for runoff. This methodology for stormwater pollutant removal is accepted by the NYSDEC and is outlined in the New York State Guidelines for Urban Erosion and Sediment Control.The proposed project will not adversely impact the surface water.1.6.4.1.2 GroundwaterThe Project Sponsor has reached an agreement with the Village of Fishkill with respect to a water supply for the proposed Highland Valley project. It is estimated that the project site will require an averaged daily flow of 49,350 gallons of water per day. (210 units x 235 gallons per day per bedroom = 49,350 gallons per day) [FROM JIM: this number of gpd per bedroom (235) is not necessarily acceptable by the Dept and depends on a lot of factors; however, this is between the supplier and the purchaser and it will be up to E.Fishkill to determine/accept how much water the project will need. Regardless, E Fishkill has a lot of excess water and they will be able to supply the project even if the number is higher.]It is the intent of the Project Sponsor to install a sanitary sewer lift station that will discharge via a PVC force main to an existing pump station located on the Dutchess Mall property.Therefore, sewage disposal will not impact groundwater, the Clove Creek or the NYSDEC regulated wetlands areas. The design of the lift station and the force main shall be reviewed and approved by the Dutchess County Health Department.1.6.4.2 Mitigation MeasuresThe project is currently approved for subaqueous mining which would allow the mining of soil below the water table. The Project Sponsor is proposing the Highland Valley project as an alternate to subaqueous mining. This will eliminate any future mining below the water table.Furthermore, the site plan has been engineered using Best Management Practices which will mitigate post-development impacts upon existing surface water or groundwater.There will be no floodway impacts as a result of this project, and therefore no floodplain mitigation is required. End