The Town of Lewisboro is undertaking a stormwater retrofit project in the vicinity of Mead Street and Lake Waccabuc. The purpose of the project is to collect, safely convey, and treat stormwater runoff from a drainage area approximately 25 acres in size in order to reduce sediment and phosphorous pollutant loading into the lake. Stormwater runoff from this drainage area currently discharges untreated into Lake Waccabuc. The project is being funded through a grant from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) as part of a regional program to protect the NYC Watershed drinking supply system.
The drainage area subject to this project includes a portion of Mead St and the residential properties along the west side of the road from East Ridge Road to Chapel Road. Stormwater runoff from this area is conveyed via Town-owned storm drains as well as a section of the Waccabuc Creek toward an existing wetland area and meadow north of Tarry-A-Bit Drive and ultimately into the lake.
A shallow wetland basin will be constructed on the Long Pond Preserve owned by the Nature Conservancy. Stormwater runoff from the existing and improved Town storm drain system will be diverted to the basin to treat flows prior to discharge into the lake. The project will also include the restoration of a section of Waccabuc Creek currently heavily eroded by stormwater flows. Upon completion, the area of the basin and stream restoration will be planted with a variety of wetland and meadow plants. Any portions of the stone wall that are damaged as part of the construction activities along Mead Street will be repaired. This project will remove an estimated 3.5 kg of phosphorus load from the lake annually. All work will take place on the land of the Nature Conservancy or within the Town right-of-way. No work on other private properties will be required to complete this project.
Members of the Three Lake Council and of the Town Lakes Committee have reviewed this Town project, and support its goals and implementation plan.