Welcome/Introductions

Agenda

• Presentation

Project Description

Efforts to date

Potential Opportunities

• Question / Answer / Discussion

• Open Session / Annotate Plans

What is an Adaptive Management Landscape Plan?

• A way to use landscaping to:

Increase carbon sequestration

Improve environmental (heat, wind) conditions

Improve overall aesthetics

Enhance quality of life in the vicinity of the bridge

….continuous effect with time and plant

growth.

• New air quality studies

• Plaza routing and ramp configurations

• Customs processing / operations

• Former Episcopal Church Home Property

What an Adaptive Management Landscape Plan is not about

What this Adaptive Management Landscape Plan is about

• Increase carbon sequestration

• Improve environmental (heat, wind) conditions

• Improve overall aesthetics

• Enhance quality of life

…in the vicinity of the Peace Bridge

Project Study Area – Canada

Project Study Area – United States

Efforts to Date – Preliminary Analysis (CA)

Efforts to Date – Preliminary Analysis (U.S.)

Public Realm Trees

Legend:Existing TreePotential Planting Location No Planting Allowed

Stakeholder Meetings to Date

• City of Buffalo DPW

• Councilmember Rivera

• Niagara Gateway Columbus Park Association

• Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy

• Clean Air Coalition

Information gained in these meetings will assist in the

design phase

Initial Site Analysis – Air Quality

• Airshed in urban areas is influenced by various

regional and local sources of emissions

(e.g. industry, motor vehicles, residential

heating, diesel engines, etc.)

• Studies indicate levels are within EPA limits

Initial Site Analysis – Air Quality

• NYSDEC, in collaboration with community

volunteers (CACWNY), is conducting air quality

monitoring as part of a Special Study to

investigate specific pollutants of concern,

including:

Volatile organic compounds (e.g., benzene,

ethylbenzene, toluene, xylene)

Carbonyls (e.g., acetaldehyde, formaldehyde)

PM2.5, black carbon, and ultrafine particles

Vegetation & Air Quality

Trees and other vegetation can directly and indirectly improve air quality.

• Production of oxygen and removal of carbon

• Temperature reduction of micro-climate and reduction of secondary air pollutants

• Removal of pollutants, e.g. nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and Ozone (O3)

• Modification of wind dispersion patterns that may or may not benefit local air quality

Landscape Best Practices

Landscape Best Practices

Landscape Best Practices

Approach

• Review background information (studies, monitoring

data, etc.) to understand issues related to air quality

• Confirm primary pollutants of concern – either regional or

local source

• Identify potential locations for increasing trees and other

vegetation

• In consultation with the community develop landscape

plans considering best species and maximum benefit

• Calculate carbon sequestration potential of new

vegetation as part of PBA objectives for carbon footprint

reduction

Potential Opportunities

Public Realm Trees

Pat Sole Park

Other Opportunities Question / Answer / Discussion

Next Meetings

• April (TBD)

Present Preliminary Design

Gather further Public feedback and ideas

• May (TBD)

Present design/anticipated phasing

Begin Open Session

THANK YOU!!