MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION MATERIAL
So you want to swim in the Gowanus Canal ?
What Kind of Water Quality Do You Think We’ll Need ?
The Gowanus Canal gets a million gallons of sewage a day
Don Wildman, TV host of the “Off Limits” travel show showing off Gowanus Canal sewage overflows. Paddle provided courtesy of the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Photo: The Travel Channel, 2011
The higher the water quality class, the less sewage allowed BAD SD -> I -> SC -> SB -> SA GOOD WHAT WE HAVE - THE WORST THERE IS
WHAT WE WANT – SAFE FOR HUMAN CONTACT
Class SD Allows for Fish Survival (maybe) (the worst there is – no human health standards)
Muskrat swimming in Gowanus Canal at 2nd Street
VS
Photo: Adam Katzman,June 2011
Photo: Eymund Diegel, October 2011
Dead striped bass at Union Street
WHAT WATER QUALITY CLASS IS SUITABLE FOR CURRENT USES ?
Class SC Allows you to swim (safely) (not perfect, but good enough – cant swim after heavy rain)
WATER QUALITY SHOULD MEET HEALTH STANDARDS FOR CURRENT RECREATIONAL USES
In 2011, over 800 canoers used Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club canoes. Gowanus Dredger Canoer looking at drowned rat after Combined Sewer Overflow discharge event, , Gowanus Canal at Union Street, July 2011. Eymund Diegel, 2011
Souzis & Hamburger Wedding, Gowanus Canal at Carroll Street Photo: Katia Kelly, Pardon Me For Asking, September 2011
WATER QUALITY SHOULD MATCH CURRENT USES
CHILDREN SHOULD BE ABLE TO TOUCH WATER WITHOUT HEALTH RISKS Canoer picking up flowers thrown into Gowanus Canal water during Flushing Tunnel Centennial Celebrations Photo: Eymund Diegel, June 2011
Oceans of Blood, Art Raft Event on the Gowanus Canal at 2nd Street
Photo: Oceans of Blood, 2010
PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE FUN
Children playing at the edge of the Gowanus Canal, Gowanus Canal Conservancy Clean & Green Citizen Cleanup Event, 2nd Ave and Gowanus Canal Photo: Eymund Diegel, June 2011
CHILDREN SHOULD BE ABLE TO PLAY SAFELY
Fisherman at Carroll Street Bridge & Gowanus Canal
Photo: Lisanne, Found in Brooklyn, 2009
RESIDENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO FISH
International School of Brooklyn students looking at “How Bridges Work”, an open air “City as Classroom” program of the Gowanus Dredgers & Proteus Gowanus, Carroll Street Bridge & Gowanus Canal Photo: Eymund Diegel, March 2011
LOCAL SCHOOL CHILDREN SHOULD BE PROUD OF THEIR CANAL’S WATER QUALITY
Amara Diegel looking at a temporary street art “Garfield” installation on the Carroll Street Bridge. Anne Percoca’s “Gowanus Shrine” installation, 4th Street Basin, Gowanus Canal . According to NYC DOT, who funds the Street Art programs, any art work that comes in contact with Gowanus Canal water has to be disposed of as a “hazardous waste” because of the Canal’s current water rating. Photo: Eymund Diegel, 2007 and 2011
WATER BASED ART NEEDS CLEAN WATER
Ellie Feighery on a Gowanus Dredgers Canoe, next to the first Street Basin landfill at the Gowanus Canal Canal water quality must be improved through both Superfund and Clean Water Act laws working together. Photo: Eymund Diegel, 25 March 2012
WE SHOULD LEAVE A LEGACY WE CAN BE PROUD OF
Krista Leahy, Pratt Gowanus Studio, 2011
More images of Gowanus Canal Uses available for download at www.proteusgowanus.org or by Googling “Hall of the Gowanus” T-shirts available at www.cafepress.com/gowanus