The Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy and a team of science students from New York City College of Technology, led by professors Dr. Nasreen Haque and Dr Niloufar Haque, joined forces to explore the bottom of the Gowanus Canal to investigate a mystery in the abyss of toxic sludge that lies beneath.
The participants suspect a thin layer of mucus-like substance and host microbial colony, which apparently thrives in the completely anaerobic bottom of the Gowanus Canal where there is zero dissolve oxygen.
“We are presuming that 100 of years of habitual industrial toxic chemical dumping along with years of residential waste and storm water discharge in the canal is creating quite a concoction of toxic soup, that along with new chemical compounds we have introduced to the system makes the canal an ideal condition where new bacteria and viruses can develop. Getting to the bottom of this is what inspired this research project. In order to reclaim this battered natural resource and protect public health, dredging the canal to remove the toxic sediment is a crucial part of its restoration. There exist sediment decontamination technology today, whereby toxic sediment is being decontaminated to create safe EPA approved bi-products, such as top-soil, glass and cement. This should make cleaning up the Gowanus Canal quite feasible. There is even such an existing Federally funded sediment decontamination project in New Jersey…well what about one for NY State, on the Gowanus Canal? A strong environmental and coastal policy regulating development along the Gowanus Canal is also another crucial factor, both for the future of our environment as well as to protect public health and that of existing and the future property owners. Our last northeaster showed significant signs of the impact of water rising in the region, as the Gowanus Canal flooded 50 feet onto land at 2nd and Bond streets. These new developing conditions deserve close attention. Getting our students engaged and making available our unique skills and resources to the local academic and scientific community as well as developing new leaders for the environment is a sentinel component of our work. We hope it begins to seed a sustainable environment for the future of our children and all living things,” said Ludger K. Balan, founder and environmental program director.
The Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy is a not-for-profit environmental and cultural organization that has worked in New York Harbor for close a decade. The organization is committed to active participation in the restoration, conservation, protection as well as public education for our coastal resources, with a special focus on the urban estuary and the community to lives, learns, works and plays in and along its shores.
Scientific diving and conservation support is only a segment of their mission. They also host various environmental education through recreation activities, offering opportunities for New Yorkers and visitors to come to come the waterfront get on the water in a safe and convenient way to explore and discover the ecological significance of the urban estuary, and at times to also investigate the cost of human impact. They host an annual eco-cruise series, Get On The Water NYC!
Urban Rivers Tours aboard their unique 32-foot human powered vessel that is culturally and historically significant and offer the public an opportunity to take a virtual exploration of the underwater environment beneath NY Harbor, through their unique and original live underwater video exploration, with live underwater narration and audience participation.
Through their robust environmental education program, “Estuary Ecology Field Trip and Workshop,” they offer schools, and summer day camp program opportunities for expeditionary learning in a living environment. Each field trip provides fun and hands-on activities, such as water quality monitoring, seining and catch and release fishing for environmental investigation, scientific exploration, inquiry and discovery.
These programs are commonly offered both along the Red Hook Waterfront at Valentino Park and on the Gowanus Canal. Though the Gowanus Canal is one their most environmentally challenging project sites, they also host programs on Jamaica Bay, East River, Coney Island and Gravesend’s Bay, Canarsie Fresh Creek, and the Upper Bay along Red Hook and Sunset Park’s waterfront.
The Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy also offers volunteer and membership opportunities. To find out more information about these programs and how you can get involved, call 718-802-9874 (downriver) or 718-901-3331 (upriver).
©Courier-Life Publications 2007
The participants suspect a thin layer of mucus-like substance and host microbial colony, which apparently thrives in the completely anaerobic bottom of the Gowanus Canal where there is zero dissolve oxygen.
“We are presuming that 100 of years of habitual industrial toxic chemical dumping along with years of residential waste and storm water discharge in the canal is creating quite a concoction of toxic soup, that along with new chemical compounds we have introduced to the system makes the canal an ideal condition where new bacteria and viruses can develop. Getting to the bottom of this is what inspired this research project. In order to reclaim this battered natural resource and protect public health, dredging the canal to remove the toxic sediment is a crucial part of its restoration. There exist sediment decontamination technology today, whereby toxic sediment is being decontaminated to create safe EPA approved bi-products, such as top-soil, glass and cement. This should make cleaning up the Gowanus Canal quite feasible. There is even such an existing Federally funded sediment decontamination project in New Jersey…well what about one for NY State, on the Gowanus Canal? A strong environmental and coastal policy regulating development along the Gowanus Canal is also another crucial factor, both for the future of our environment as well as to protect public health and that of existing and the future property owners. Our last northeaster showed significant signs of the impact of water rising in the region, as the Gowanus Canal flooded 50 feet onto land at 2nd and Bond streets. These new developing conditions deserve close attention. Getting our students engaged and making available our unique skills and resources to the local academic and scientific community as well as developing new leaders for the environment is a sentinel component of our work. We hope it begins to seed a sustainable environment for the future of our children and all living things,” said Ludger K. Balan, founder and environmental program director.
The Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy is a not-for-profit environmental and cultural organization that has worked in New York Harbor for close a decade. The organization is committed to active participation in the restoration, conservation, protection as well as public education for our coastal resources, with a special focus on the urban estuary and the community to lives, learns, works and plays in and along its shores.
Scientific diving and conservation support is only a segment of their mission. They also host various environmental education through recreation activities, offering opportunities for New Yorkers and visitors to come to come the waterfront get on the water in a safe and convenient way to explore and discover the ecological significance of the urban estuary, and at times to also investigate the cost of human impact. They host an annual eco-cruise series, Get On The Water NYC!
Urban Rivers Tours aboard their unique 32-foot human powered vessel that is culturally and historically significant and offer the public an opportunity to take a virtual exploration of the underwater environment beneath NY Harbor, through their unique and original live underwater video exploration, with live underwater narration and audience participation.
Through their robust environmental education program, “Estuary Ecology Field Trip and Workshop,” they offer schools, and summer day camp program opportunities for expeditionary learning in a living environment. Each field trip provides fun and hands-on activities, such as water quality monitoring, seining and catch and release fishing for environmental investigation, scientific exploration, inquiry and discovery.
These programs are commonly offered both along the Red Hook Waterfront at Valentino Park and on the Gowanus Canal. Though the Gowanus Canal is one their most environmentally challenging project sites, they also host programs on Jamaica Bay, East River, Coney Island and Gravesend’s Bay, Canarsie Fresh Creek, and the Upper Bay along Red Hook and Sunset Park’s waterfront.
The Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy also offers volunteer and membership opportunities. To find out more information about these programs and how you can get involved, call 718-802-9874 (downriver) or 718-901-3331 (upriver).
