At the end of East Hampton’s Cove Hollow drainage corridor, untreated stormwater once dumped directly into Georgica Pond—fueling algae blooms, flooding nearby roads, and harming adjacent wetlands. Today, this long-overlooked area is being transformed into a one-acre green infrastructure system designed to intercept, filter, and slow runoff before it reaches the pond.
In partnership with the Town and Village of East Hampton, VHB designed a nature-based solution that layers vegetated swales, stone infiltration trenches, and native plantings to mimic natural hydrology. The system captures and treats runoff on site, including the removal of pollutants, easing the burden on downstream ecosystems. Additional storage capacity temporarily detains runoff during heavy rains and tidal fluctuations, reducing peak flow volume and velocity. This alleviates stress on the pipe corridor and significantly lowers flood risk to nearby roads and adjacent wetlands. Beyond water management, the design also focuses on ecological restoration, removing invasive species and replanting the site with native vegetation to strengthen the local ecosystem.
Guided by detailed topographic surveys and drainage analyses, the design adheres to the standards outlined in the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's (NYSDEC) Stormwater Design Manual. VHB facilitated permitting coordination with NYSDEC and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the project is nearing completion, pending final approvals.
By integrating stormwater filtration, pollutant removal, and flood detention, the Cove Hollow drainage system enhances water quality, mitigates flood risks, and bolsters East Hampton’s resilience by protecting surrounding infrastructure and ecosystems against storm events and tidal surges.
