Flushing Bay - DEP

Environmental Protection


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Long-Term Control Plans
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Long-Term Control Plans

Harbor Water Quality

Trash in Waterways

Waterbody Advisories


Flushing Bay

Located in north-central Queens, Flushing Bay is bounded by the East River to the north between LaGuardia Airport and the community of College Point. The bay is designated as all the water south of this point to the mouth of Flushing Creek. The Flushing Bay assessment area is composed of 6,423 acres of land in Queens, NY. Combined sewers serve most of this area and discharge to ten CSOs, seven in the Tallman Island service area and three in the Bowery Bay service area. Generally, sewage generated in the area east of Flushing Bay is treated at the Tallman Island Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) and sewage generated in the area west of the bay is treated at the Bowery Bay WRRF.

Urbanization of the Flushing Bay watershed brought increased population, increased pollutants from sewage and industry, construction of sewer systems, and physical changes affecting the surface topography and imperviousness of the watershed. Consequently, the area has experienced a significant increase in the amount of runoff discharged to the waterbody. Runoff transported via roof leaders, street gutters and catch basins into the combined and separate sewer system discharge directly to Flushing Bay since the wetlands surrounding Flushing Bay have been eliminated. Thus, urbanization has simultaneously decreased retention and absorption of runoff during transport and decreased the travel time for runoff to reach the waterbody. When combined with the increased runoff due to increased imperviousness of the watershed, the end result is increased peak discharge rates and higher total discharge volumes to the waterbody during wet weather and lower flow volumes during dry weather periods.

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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 Flushing Bay. 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 Flushing Bay LTCP and other improvement projects, download the factsheet.

Flushing Bay: Improving Water Quality by Reducing Impacts of Combined Sewer Overflows

The Flushing Bay Long Term Control Plan was submitted to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) on December 29, 2016. DEC Approved the plan on March 7, 2017.

Flushing Bay LTCP

Flushing Bay LTCP Final Public Comment Response Summary

DEC Approval Letter

Public Meetings

Flushing Bay LTCP Kickoff Meeting

September 30, 2015 – Al Oerter Recreational Center, Queens

Flushing Bay Kickoff Meeting Advertisement

Flushing Bay Kickoff Presentation

Flushing Bay Kickoff Meeting Boards

What is a Combined Sewer Overflow

Current Water Quality Standards Updated

NYC Wastewater Drainage Areas and Wastewater Collection Facilities

Types of Green Infrastructure

Potential LTCP Alternatives

NYC’s Combined Sewer Areas and LTCP Waterbodies

Combined Sewer Overflow in NYC

Nine elements of a Long Term Control Plan

Flushing Bay LTCP Alternatives Meeting

October 26, 2016 – USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Queens

Flushing Bay LTCP Alternatives Meeting Presentation

Flushing Bay Alternatives Meeting Advertisement

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Waterbody/Watershed Facility Plan

The Flushing Bay Waterbody/Watershed Facility Plan was submitted to DEC in August 2011.

Flushing Bay WWFP

Additional Materials

Flushing Bay - Public Comment Response Summary

Get Involved

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