GREEN-WOOD CEMETERY STORMWATER MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENTS

Brooklyn, NY:  eDesign Dynamics (EDD) served as the lead consultant on a stormwater management improvements project at The Green-Wood Cemetery, a 478-acre historic cemetery in Brooklyn, NY. The project was awarded via the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation’s (EFC) Green Innovation Grant Program (GIGP) and includes three (3) components: a Continuous Monitoring and Adaptive Control System (CMAC) system in Sylvan Water to draw down water levels before rain events; a water re-use system in Sylvan Water for irrigation use; and Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavers (PICP) in the Cemetery’s roadways.

The purpose of the CMAC system was to utilize Green-Wood’s largest waterbody, Sylvan Water, as a stormwater management system by using a Real Time Control (RTC) to draw down water levels before a rain event. In doing so, Sylvan Water can store up to 700,000 gallons of runoff per rain event, reducing wet weather flows to New York City’s combined sewer system. For the CMAC system, EDD performed a Hydrologic & Hydraulic (H&H) analysis using EPA’s Stormwater Management Model (SWMM 5) to calculate drawdown levels and peak flow rates. EDD also incorporated a pump and filtration system in Sylvan Water using a deployable “water dog sled” to allow for on-site irrigation during the growing season.

The final element of the project included Green Infrastructure (GI) design services for a series of PICP systems in Green-Wood. EDD performed an existing conditions assessment, produced construction drawings, and performed construction administration services. The PICP system will manage up to 33,000 gallons of stormwater runoff per rain event.