Wetland Bank - Orange County, New York


ATR Associates is assisting a private client obtain a return on a 'non-productive' property near West Point in Orange County, New York, by developing portions of the property as a wetland bank.  The property is the site of a former paper mill, and also contains a small industrial waste landfill on the eastern site.  The property is largely within the FEMA 100-year floodplain and Moodna Creek, which flows through the center of the property, shows signs of incision, bank erosion, and invasive species - including purple loosestrife and Japanese knotweed.

ATR Associates is developing the concept for the wetland bank, including the prep-aration of a draft pro-forma economic analysis. We are providing regulatory coordination with staff at the NYDEC, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the U.S. NRDC, the U.S. EPA, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The project will involve demolition of the existing mill, demolition of two houses, removal of the landfill, repositioning a spring to its original location, and removing soil along both banks of the creek to re-connect the creek with its floodplain.  This will return the wetland hydrologic regime to both bank areas, and will provide additional flood management and erosion protection. It will also remove large portions of the invasive plants.

The single remaining house will be reconditioned and will serve as a kayak/canoe supply store.  The wetland bank will also include access to the creek and will serve as a kayak/canoe put-in/take-out area.
 

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