Walker Valley Camp

 Too Many Cooks?

The project site had previously been operated as a summer camp with a maximum occupancy of approximately 100 campers / staff. The existing camp facilities were isolated near the access to Walker Valley Road, leaving a majority of the approximately 41 acre site in its natural wooded state. The project involved the conversion of the facilities to a culinary camp with 350+ campers and staff, including the addition of several bunk houses and renovation of existing buildings. MNTM completed the necessary testing and design of both the onsite public water system and onsite septic system.

Due to the existing topography and federal wetlands located throughout the site, the camp was separated into upper and lower areas. The majority of the existing and proposed improvements were located at the upper camp. The lower camp, bounded on the north by the Platte Kill, contained bunk houses and outdoor recreation facilities.  MNTM prepared a full site plan for the eighteen (18) proposed buildings, including the layout of all water and sewer services connections. In accordance with NYSDEC Green Infrastructure techniques, individual dry swales were designed at each of the proposed buildings for localized treatment of stormwater runoff. Based upon our analysis of the proposed runoff, additional stormwater detention measures were not required.

To accommodate the expansion, MNTM completed the development of a public water supply well, including all necessary testing and reports. We worked closely with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) to approve the new artesian well. Based on the water quality and quantity testing results, we designed a treatment and storage system to service the camp in accordance with all required NYSDOH regulations.
With an anticipated wastewater flow of over 16,000 gallons per day (gpd), expansion of the onsite sewage disposal system and updates to the SPDES permit were required. Our engineers completed the testing and design of an in-ground “eljen” gravelless absorption trench system serving a majority of the camp facilities. This included the design of a 100% reserve system in accordance with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) requirements. A portion of the existing and proposed facilities were routed to the existing sewage disposal systems on the site. We worked directly with NYSDEC during their review to complete the necessary joint testing and address any concerns. Design of the wastewater collection and conveyance system included multiple effluent pump stations, septic tanks, and grease traps serving the culinary use.