STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AT THE SCIENCE MUSEUM OF LONG ISLAND
Green Infrastructure at the Leeds Pond Preserve and Science Museum to Improve Water Quality in Long Island Sound (NY)
Since 2020 the Science Museum of Long Island, with funding from National Fish and Wildlife Association and the Long Island Sound Futures Fund embarked on a project to design and install a green infrastructure demonstration on the Leeds Pond Preserve on how to effectively mitigate stormwater runoff. The project will prevent 2,641,936 gallons of polluted stormwater from entering Manhasset Bay.
Harvesting and Channeling Rainwater
Catch, Divert, Contain
Theaverage annual rainfall in Manhasset LI is 47 inches, 9 inches more than the United States average. Just an inch of rainwater on a 2,000 sq ft roof yields 1,200 gallons of water.
Nassau and Suffolk County rely on groundwater aquifers for our drinking water which makes management of our stormwater a priority.
Managing our runoff, which also includes melted snow, helps prevent flooding, minimize erosion and keeps our water cleaner by managing groundwater that may contain sediment and pollutants like car fluids and fertilizers.
Several methods to collect and contain rainwater can be found on Science Museum of Long Island grounds.
Rain Barrels Save Rainwater
Rain barrels collect rainwater from the roof that can be recycled for various landscaping uses thereby reducing water usage throughout the year and potentially reducing water bills.
Rain Gardens Are Beautiful and Beneficial
Rain gardens create a natural filtration system that is typically planted with deep-rooted native plants that are adapted to our local soils and climate while creating a habitat for butterfiles, birds and beneficial insects.
Swales Slow the Flow
Swales and dry creek beds are flat-bottomed, shallow drainage features thet channel water to other places. They are designed to slow the flow of water and let it soak into the soil. Bioswales along paved surfaces manage stormwater runoff.
stabilization on flat ground and sleep slopes or in stormwater control channels at the roadside.
Geocels Protect and Stabilize
Geocells are interconnected honeycomb-like panels about 8 1/2 inches thick. These are installed 4 in below grade and filled with gravel, soil or other materials. Geocells are used for erosion control and stabilization on flat ground and sleep slopes or in stormwater control channels at the roadside.
