Thermal Light Painting of the Gowanus Canal Can we find out if water temperature differences of industrial inflows and old streams can be mapped ?
Manhattan
Manhattan
Historic Landfilled Tidal Marsh
nal a C us
an
Gow
The Canal
Gowanus Watershed
Gowanus Canal Superfund Site
Canal Gets a Million Gallons of Sewage A DAY
WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT ?
WHY MAP BURIED STREAMS?
STREAMS WE ARE MAPPING
URBAN WATER CYCLE
IT RAINS
NOT FOUND WATER GOES INTO PIPE
ECOLOGICAL WATER CYCLE
FOUND WITH KITE & BALLOON MAPPING
SOME WATER GOES INTO PIPE
WHAT WE WANT:
INFILTRATION & STREAM RESTORATION
WHAT ARE BEST SITES ?
The Gowanus Canal Conservancy
Map: Susannah Drake, dlandstudio, 2010
BERGEN STREAM RESTORATION
SECOND STREET SPONGE PARK
BROUWERS BROOK RESTORATION
DENTONS SPRING RESTORATION SECOND AVE BIOSWALE
WANTS TO REDUCE SEWER OVERFLOWS AS PART OF ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION PLAN
USING BALLOON CAMERAS TO MAP PLANTS & HISTORIC STREAMS
Brouwers Brook Balloon Aerial July 2011
Mapping the historic streams of the Gowanus Canal Are there clues in the water’s color ? YES – DARKER MEANS FRESH WATER, MILKY = SEWAGE
BURIED STREAM RUNS OVER TOXIC PLUME OF OIL LEFT BY OLD GAS PLANT www.grassrootsmapping.org
1766 stream
Heron photo: 2007 Bob Gusskind
Photo:Robert Gusskind 2007
Setting up the trial and error process of scientific inquiry for local issues
IS BERGEN STREAM MAYBE HIDDEN BEHIND A HOLLOW PART OF THE CANAL’S EDGE ?
BEING WARMED BY SOIL, WOULD THE OUTFLOW BE WARMER THAN THE OPEN WATER ?
KITCHEN TABLE SCIENCE: Parts needed for Thermal Light Painting of the Gowanus Canal
Simulation of Time Lapse “Glow Doodle” Photography we want to take Photo: www.dentontaylor.com
NEXT STEP : WEB CAM
Exploring New York City Sewer History ‌ with radio controlled Ninja Turtles
www.publiclaboratory.org www.gowanuscanalconservancy.org www.gowanusdredgers.org