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History of the Gowanus Canal

Located in Brooklyn, New York, the canal was built to accommodate industrial users and commercial shippers in the growing neighborhoods of south Brooklyn. After completion of the main canal in 1870, it became an active waterway, important to the expansion of commerce and industry of the city. However, years of industrialization and urbanization, coupled with inadequate systems for sewage disposal transformed this into a polluted, stagnant degraded waterway. In 1911, in response to increasing levels of water pollution, the City built a "flushing tunnel" to disperse pollutants by using a propeller to flush water from the Canal to Buttermilk Channel.

Over time, some believed the long-term effects of the pollution posed a great health risk to area residents and discouraged the private sector from investing in this area. Coupled withthe decline of industrial and commercial use, the area became run-down , with the canal serving as a major deterrent to redevelopment instead of an attraction.

Today, there is strong support to revitalize the canal and the surrounding community from various organizations like the Gowanus Canal Community Development Corporation, FROGG, The Urban Divers, The City of New York Community Board 6, Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation and politicians such as Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez.

Background on the Study

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection are cost-sharing an estimated $5 million feasibility study to assess the environmental problems and potential solutions to restore the ecological health of the Gowanus Canal to aid and compliment other activities to revitalize the area.

Please click here for the project fact sheet.

For the past few years, the Corps has been sampling and studying areas within the canal to assemble work plans, reports, and upland assessments. This information is being used to compile a draft Feasibility report, which is currently underway and expected to be released in August 2007. This report will contain extensive environmental documentation and restoration recommendations needed for the Corps to move the study into design phase and eventually into construction phase.

Completed Sampling

There have been several sampling programs and studying work completed to date
(click here for relevant reports and data) to help establish existing ecological conditions of the Gowanus Canal and Bay.

•  Bathymetric Surveys-- Produced the profile for the canal to characterize existing conditions. This information was necessary for the Hydraulic/Hydrologic modeling (i.e., Hydrodynamic Modeling).

•  Geotech Sampling--Characterization of the sediments physical conditions, which is required to determine potential for dredging.

•  Hydrological Modeling (Existing Conditions)--Used for an evaluation of existing water quality with a functioning flushing tunnel.

•  Initial Screening of Alternatives--Developed initial set of alternatives along with their costs and benefits.

•  Biological Sampling- Identified what species are using the Canal, determined the number and types.

•  Cultural Resources Assessment--Determined the historic significance of the canal

•  Sediment Sampling For Contaminates (Two Phases)--

-Phase 1: Determined types of contaminates, their general depth and aerial extent.

-Phase 2: Focused on first two feet of the sediment, which affects the benthic community.

Upcoming Work in 2006

Additional work will be completed throughout 2006 to develop alternatives to solve the existing water resource problem within the study area.

•  Habitat Evaluation Models--Models the function of the habitat in its existing condition vs. various restoration options. This work will include input of a committee (state, federal and possibly local scientists) for creation of the model. It will also utilize the bioaccumulation model output as a degradation factor.

•  Bioaccumulation Model--Models how the contaminants are impacting animals by accumulating in higher predators. This model utilizes sediment data collected last fall.

•  Alternatives Development-- Identify different restoration solutions to be considered along with the associated costs, benefits and other requirements.

•  Initiation of Environmental Impact Statement--This is a key document that the Corps is required to produce under the NEPA process to assess the benefits and environmental impacts of the proposed Gowanus Canal and Bay Study. This document will utilize all the information compiled through various studies and reports.

•  Public Coordination--Provide information updates and hold formal meetings to gain valuable public input.

Click here for a comprehensive list of reports prepared by or for the US Army Corps of Engineers New York District with regard to the Gowanus Canal and Bay Study