Common questions about the campaign

Of the 435 removals in the Final EIS, BPCA says about 40 are for poor tree health and would happen regardless, and about 395 are “due to the project’s construction” (Findings Statement, May 2025, Table 1). In its May 2026 written replies to residents, BPCA described those as trees “located within the limits of work,” or close enough that “the root zones of the trees would be impacted,” plus trees inside the 15-foot zone along the wall. The public record presents the removals by category, not tree by tree.

Asked in writing, FEMA Region 2 answered that it “does not impose a fixed vegetation-free zone requirement,” and that for a floodwall like this one “There are no vegetation standards. Whatever they certify as appropriate.” Details in the fact sheet →

BPCA’s current tree map (May 14, 2026) marks 502 mature trees for removal, up from 435 in the Final EIS — more than 40% of the 1,181 trees it inventoried in the project area, and 139 of the South Esplanade’s trees.

The ask isn’t to stop the wall. It’s a second opinion from someone not tied to the design contractor, and each tree judged on its own instead of a blanket clear zone.

In BPCA’s own words, about one-third of the replacements will have 4- to 8-inch trunks, and “the balance will be 3-in caliper” or multi-trunk trees “8ft to 14ft at time of planting” (BPCA construction update, May 2026).

BPCA’s own tree inventory records 1,769 BPC trees with a measured trunk; 1,646 of them are larger than the smaller replants. At NYC growth rates, a 3-inch replant needs roughly 30 years to reach the size of an average BPC tree today.

The 15 feet comes from Army Corps guidance for levees and floodwalls (EP 1110-2-18). Even where that guidance applies, the 15 feet is a minimum a formal variance can reduce (¶2-2.d).

And federal law bars the Army Corps from requiring the removal of existing trees “unless the specific vegetation has been demonstrated to present an unacceptable safety risk” (WRRDA 2014 §3013(g)) — judged tree by tree, not as a blanket.

State law gives BPCA itself the power to build the project and make its contracts (Public Authorities Law §1974), and the board elects the President who runs the project day to day (BPCA bylaws).

The Governor appoints the members with the State Senate’s consent and can remove one for “inefficiency, neglect of duty or misconduct in office” after a hearing (§1973). Legislators and oversight bodies can press BPCA, but can’t order it to stop.