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Alley Creek
During the mid-1800s there was a thriving commercial shellfishery in Little Neck Bay, which was particularly known for the harvest of small hard shell clams that became known as Little Neck clams. However, the developing suburban population in the adjacent watershed placed pollution pressures on the resource, and the condemnation of the shellfish beds due to pollution took place in 1909. Development of the area as a commuter suburb of New York City had significant physical impacts on the waterbody, particularly in terms of biological habitat. The Cross Island Parkway, built in the late 1930s along the western shoreline of the Bay, radically transformed the previous natural shoreline habitat. Similarly, the Long Island Railroad, the Northern Boulevard and the Long Island Expressway running along the east-west corridor disrupted wetland areas along either side of Alley Creek at the southern end of Little Neck Bay.
However, since the 1960s there has been particular interest by local environmental groups and by various city, state and federal agencies to restore some of the natural wetland areas that were degraded by previous development.
Long Term Control Plan
DEP completed a Long Term Control Plan (LTCP) to better understand CSO impacts on water quality within Alley 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 Alley Creek LTCP and other improvement projects, download the factsheet.
The Alley Creek Long Term Control Plan was submitted to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in June 2013, resubmitted in November 2013, and resubmitted again in June 2014. DEC approved the plan on March, 7 2017.
Public Meetings
Alley Creek LTCP Queens Borough Cabinet Meeting
September 12, 2012 – Queens Borough President Office, Queens
Alley Creek LTCP Kickoff Meeting
October 24, 2012 – Alley Pond Environmental Center, Queens
- Alley Creek Kickoff Meeting Summary
- Alley Creek Kickoff Meeting Advertisement
- Alley Creek Kickoff Meeting Agenda
- Alley Creek Kickoff Meeting Presentation
- Alley Creek CSO LTCP Kickoff Meeting Fact Sheet
Alley Creek LTCP Public Meeting 2
May 1, 2013 – Alley Pond Environmental Center, Queens
- Alley Creek Meeting 2 Summary
- Alley Creek Meeting 2 Advertisement
- Alley Creek Meeting 2 Agenda
- Alley Creek Meeting 2 Presentation
Alley Creek LTCP Public Meeting 3
November 17, 2015 – Queensborough Community College, Queens
Alley Creek Advisory Group Kick-Off Meeting
December, 12, 2022 – Zoom Meeting
Waterbody/Watershed Facility Plan
The Alley Creek Waterbody/Watershed Facility Plan (WWFP) was submitted to DEC in June 2009.
Additional Materials
Get Involved
For more information, please email ltcp@dep.nyc.gov and visit our LTCP Program webpage.