Flushing 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


Flushing Creek

Flushing Creek, a one mile-long open channel, is located in the northern part of central Queens. It flows north from its head located 300 yards south of the Van Wyck Expressway and discharges into the southern end of Flushing Bay just downstream of its crossing under the Whitestone Expressway. In total 9,954 acres drain into Flushing Creek, of which 7,830 acres are served by combined sewers draining to either the Tallman Island or to the Bowery Bay Wastewater Resource Recovery Facilities. There are a total of three CSOs that can discharge to the Creek.

The present character of Flushing Creek and its drainage area is considerably different than the character of its pre-urbanized condition. In preparation for the 1939 World’s Fair, a large tidal marsh was filled in to construct Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, and Willow and Meadows Lakes were formed in the process. Over the years, three principal open stream tributaries to Flushing Creek, in addition to their attendant wetlands, have been lost.

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

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

The Flushing Creek Long Term Control Plan was submitted to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) on December 2014. DEC approved the plan on December 2014.

Flushing Creek December 2014 LTCP

Flushing Creek Final Public Comment Response Summary

DEC Approval Letter

Public Meetings

Flushing Creek Kickoff Meeting

June 11, 2014 – P.S. 020 John Bowne, Queens

Flushing Creek Kickoff Meeting Advertisement

Flushing Creek Kickoff Presentation

Flushing Creek Kickoff Summary and Comments

Flushing Creek LTCP Public Meeting 2

October 23, 2014 – Al Oerter Recreational Center, Queens

Flushing Creek 2nd Meeting Advertisement

Flushing Creek 2nd Meeting Presentation

Flushing Creek 2nd Meeting Summary and Comments

Flushing Creek LTCP Public Meeting 3

September 30, 2015 – Al Oerter Recreational Center, Queens

Flushing Creek 3rd Meeting Advertisement

Flushing Creek 3rd Meeting Presentation

Flushing Creek Alternatives Summary Sheet

Waterbody/Watershed Facility Plan

The Flushing Creek Waterbody/Watershed Facility Plan was submitted to DEC on August 2011.

Flushing Creek WWFP

Additional Materials

Friends of Flushing Creek Comments on Flushing Creek LTCP Options

Flushing Creek LTCP Retained Alternatives Comments

SWIM Coalition Comments on Flushing Creek 2nd Meeting Presentation

Flushing Creek LTCP - DEC Comments 3/23/15

Flushing Creek LTCP - DEP Response to DEC Comments 5/22/15

Flushing Creek LTCP - DEC Comments 6/10/15

Flushing Creek LTCP - DEP Response to DEC Comments 8/7/15

Flushing Creek LTCP - DEP Response to DEC Comments 8/9/15

Flushing Creek LTCP - Supplemental Documentation May 2015

Flushing Creek LTCP - Supplemental Documentation June 2015

Flushing Creek LTCP - Public Comment Response Summary

Get Involved

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