Gowanus Patrol 7/2/12
July 10, 2012
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We patrolled the Gowanus Canal using an aluminum skiff which we carry aboard our “Mother Ship” patrol boat, the R. Ian Fletcher.
The Feds, the EPA, are mandating a massive Superfund cleanup on the Gowanus. NYC and NYC Department of Environmental Protection continue to resist, “don’t worry, trust us, we’ve got a plan, we’ll take care of it.”
This is what we saw on the July 2nd. Just my opinion, but I don’t think we can leave it to NYC anymore. We spent the day taking educators, local bloggers and activists on patrols in the skiff so they would have these sites, and smells, firmly in mind when they went to a public meeting on the proposed EPA cleanup that evening in Brooklyn.
Message to the EPA…please BRING IT, and thanks.
Gull has faith
A Combined Sewer Overflow. One of many. The water is black near the outfall.
Egret
When we stir up bottom sediment it’s putrid
Public access
Gowanus snot hanging off a power cable
I'm not really sure this is water anymore.
Massive, garage door size Combined Sewer Overflows at the inner/north end of the Canal. This wouldn’t be such a fun place in rain. A water slide from Hell.
A dead rat
A beautiful Black Crested Night Heron on the ladder at the public launch. The Gowanus used to be a beautiful and wonderfully productive salt marsh. Life waits for us to make it so again.