Alley Creek - DEP

Environmental Protection


Drinking WaterWastewaterStormwaterNYC Waterways

Long-Term Control Plans
Harbor Water Quality
Trash in Waterways
Waterbody Advisories

Long-Term Control Plans

Harbor Water Quality

Trash in Waterways

Waterbody Advisories


Alley Creek

During the mid-1800s there was a thriving commercial shellfishery in Little Neck Bay, which was particularly known for the harvest of small hard shell clams that became known as Little Neck clams. However, the developing suburban population in the adjacent watershed placed pollution pressures on the resource, and the condemnation of the shellfish beds due to pollution took place in 1909. Development of the area as a commuter suburb of New York City had significant physical impacts on the waterbody, particularly in terms of biological habitat. The Cross Island Parkway, built in the late 1930s along the western shoreline of the Bay, radically transformed the previous natural shoreline habitat. Similarly, the Long Island Railroad, the Northern Boulevard and the Long Island Expressway running along the east-west corridor disrupted wetland areas along either side of Alley Creek at the southern end of Little Neck Bay.

However, since the 1960s there has been particular interest by local environmental groups and by various city, state and federal agencies to restore some of the natural wetland areas that were degraded by previous development.

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Long Term Control Plan

DEP completed a Long Term Control Plan (LTCP) to better understand CSO impacts on water quality within Alley Creek. Throughout the LTCP’s development the City collected water quality data, performed extensive modeling, held multiple public meeting and analyzed potential projects based on costs and anticipated water quality. To learn more about the Alley Creek LTCP and other improvement projects, download the factsheet.

Alley Creek CSO LTCP Fact Sheet

The Alley Creek Long Term Control Plan was submitted to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in June 2013, resubmitted in November 2013, and resubmitted again in June 2014. DEC approved the plan on March, 7 2017.

Article 78

Alley Creek LTCP 11/12/2013 resubmission

Alley Creek LTCP 06/30/2014 resubmission

Alley Creek LTCP - Final Public Comment Response Summary

Alley Creek DEC Approval Letter

Public Meetings

Alley Creek LTCP Queens Borough Cabinet Meeting

September 12, 2012 – Queens Borough President Office, Queens

September 2012 Queens Borough Cabinet Presentation

Alley Creek LTCP Kickoff Meeting

October 24, 2012 – Alley Pond Environmental Center, Queens

Alley Creek Kickoff Meeting Summary

Alley Creek Kickoff Meeting Advertisement

Alley Creek Kickoff Meeting Agenda

Alley Creek Kickoff Meeting Presentation

Alley Creek CSO LTCP Kickoff Meeting Fact Sheet

Alley Creek LTCP Public Meeting 2

May 1, 2013 – Alley Pond Environmental Center, Queens

Alley Creek Meeting 2 Summary

Alley Creek Meeting 2 Advertisement

Alley Creek Meeting 2 Agenda

Alley Creek Meeting 2 Presentation

Alley Creek LTCP Public Meeting 3

November 17, 2015 – Queensborough Community College, Queens

Alley Creek Meeting 3 Presentation

Alley Creek Advisory Group Kick-Off Meeting

December, 12, 2022 – Zoom Meeting

Watch the Recording on YouTube

Waterbody/Watershed Facility Plan

The Alley Creek Waterbody/Watershed Facility Plan (WWFP) was submitted to DEC in June 2009.

Alley Creek WWFP

Additional Materials

Alley Creek LTCP - DEC Comments 1/23/15

Alley Creek LTCP - DEP Response to DEC Comments 5/6/15

Alley Creek LTCP - Appendix H: Supplemental Documentation May 2015

Get Involved

For more information, please email ltcp@dep.nyc.gov and visit our LTCP Program webpage.