DESCRIPTION: The Spring Creek North project area is a 47-acre portion of Spring Creek Park located adjacent to the banks of Spring Creek and Ralph’s Creek, located in northern Jamaica Bay bouncing counties of Kings and Queens. The proposed ecosystem restoration project seeks to improve the habitat in Spring Creek Park and Jamaica Bay. The construction, maintenance, and improvement of the network of channels in Jamaica Bay required the dredging of millions of cubic yards of material. Most of this material was deposited in nearby wetland areas, profoundly degrading the salt marsh community at Spring Creek.
The overall project purpose is to improve the environmental quality (water, diversity, and wildlife habitat) of Spring Creek, its tributary Ralph’s Creek, and their associated salt marshes, as part of the overall Jamaica Bay ecosystem. The project would be accomplished by excavating and re-contouring uplands to intertidal elevations; re-contouring existing wetlands to improve hydrologic conditions and wetland function; removing invasive vegetation; and replanting with native plant species. The Project would restore approximately 43.2 acres of degraded habitat to 0.7 acres of low marsh, 12.9 acres of transitional and high marsh, 5.2 acres of scrub shrub wetland, 11.3 acres of maritime grassland, 3.4 acres of maritime scrub shrub upland, and 9.7 acres of maritime forest.
AUTHORIZATION: Continuing Authorities Program, Section 1135(b) of the Water Resource Development Act (WRDA) of 1986, as amended [33 U.S.C. 2309(a)]. The Water Resource Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) of 2014 (f), further amended Section 1135(d) of WRDA 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2309a (d)) increasing the $5,000,000 maximum federal expenditure to $10,000,000.
STATUS: A Feasibility Study was initiated in 2001 in partnership with NYC Parks to prepare an Integrated Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment (FR/EA). Field sampling including topography, soil (geotechnical, Hazardous Toxic Radioactive Waste (HTRW)), hydrology, vegetation surveys, wetland delineation, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance, alternatives development, engineering designs and Federal/State Regulatory documents were completed. A draft FR/EA was prepared in 2010 which exceeded what was then the maximum federal expenditure of $5 Million including both planning and construction costs. The restoration plan was then reevaluated to decrease overall costs and the and the Draft FR/EA was revised in October 2013.
The District executed a Feasibility Cost Share Agreement (FCSA) in November 2014 with NYC Parks to complete the Feasibility Study. The Final report was approved in April 2018 and a Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) was executed between the District and NYC Parks on August 10, 2018 to complete the Design and Implementation Phase. Field sampling including wetland delineation, topographic/bathymetric surveys, bio-benchmarking survey, tree surveys, hydrodynamic data collection/modeling and utility surveys were completed in 2019-2020. The 30% designs (November 2021), Value Engineering Study (December 2021), geotechnical sampling/supplemental topographic surveys (January 2022) and 60% Plans & Specifications (P&S) were completed in December 2022. The 90% and draft 100% P&S submittals were completed in May and November 2023, respectively. The Final 100% P&S were approved in March 2024.
Federal construction funds of $7,370,000 were included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2022 and an additional $498,000 was received to reach the $10,000,000 federal funding cap for feasibility, design and construction. NYC Parks and NYCDEP funding for construction was received in June 2024. The construction contract solicitation was issued September 23, 2024 and can be found on--https://sam.gov/opp/c06149a9bf19459193429fcf9fa1c364/view. Bid opening was held on January 16, 2025 and the construction contract was awarded on February 20, 2025 to H&L Contracting LLC. Construction will be implemented in 2025 and 2026.
STUDY COST
Total Feasibility Study Cost: $1,045,796
Federal: $572,898 and Non-Federal: $472,898
DESIGN
Total Design Cost: Approximately $2,897,000
Federal (75%): $1,815,000 and Non-Federal (25%): $605,000
Non-Federal (100%- additional NYC Parks Enhancement Activities): $477,000
IMPLEMENTATION COSTS: Construction Contract: $17,745,000
CONTACT:
Ms. Lisa Baron, Project Manager
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NYD
Phone: (917) 790-8306 and (646) 385-1429
E-mail: lisa.a.baron@usace.army.mil
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278-0090
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS: NY-08 (Congressman Hakeem Jeffries) and NY-5 (Congressman Gregory Meeks)