-----Original Message-----
From: gnchome@kqsi.com
To: Gary Comorau
Sent: Tue, Aug 5, 2014 5:14 pm
Subject: Save the RIdgewood Reservoir !
Highland Park / Ridgewood Reservoir Alliance
77-15 62nd Street Glendale NY 11385 (718) 456-2621
Dear Supporter:
Our organization has been working since 2007 to preserve and protect the Ridgewood Reservoir and Highland Park. Our efforts were instrumental in convincing the NYC Department of Parks to scale back their original plans for development and eventually they simply restored the path, replaced and improved the lighting and removed some invasive species.
Phase I was a success!
But now the reservoir is once again in danger. The DEC has mistakenly classified the reservoir as a Class “C” “High Hazard” dam. To have it reclassified as a Class “D” “Negligible or No Hazard” dam, NYC Department of Parks has plans to breach basin 3, the largest basin, with an 11’ x 14’ tunnel, and then build a road in it. The plan calls for breaches in each of the basins.
The reservoir is not a dam and this project, estimated to cost $6,000,000 - $11,000,000, will destroy important wetlands and irreversibly change the character and uniqueness of the site. NYC Department of Parks wanted to start construction in August 2014, but we have been able to get a short postponement.
If the Ridgewood Reservoir is lost it cannot be reclaimed. Please support our effort to preserve the site.
Please sign our petition on Change.org telling DEC to reconsider its outdated assessment and stop this destruction.
If you can, we would appreciate your signing our support letter at SaveTheReservoir. This will be sent to NYSDEC Commissioner Joseph Martens and NYSDEC Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver as well as Mayor Bill DiBlasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Please forward this email.
Thanks for your support
Gary Comorau
President HPRRA
To learn more about the site and our organization go to RidgewoodReservoir.
