Gowanus Canal Fact Sheet:

- A 1. 5 mile historic and tidal estuary that flows in Brooklyn. Tidal Estuaries are a nusery for marine wildlife. They are often compared to a rain forest as they produce an abundance amount of organic matter, even more that a forest its size. The Gowanus Canal runs through Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Park Slope, Gowanus and Red Hook. Five Bridges crosses the canal. From Butler Street to the Hamilton Street Bridge she discharges into The Gowanus Bay at her southern end. At her northern end she is connected to the East River ( Buttermilk Channel) by a man made tunnel.

The Gowanus Canal was named by the Dutch after a Chielf of the Lenape Language Group of Indigenous people's who lie in the area at that time " Chief Gowanee". They were close related to the Carnasie.

Once a vital marine wildlife habitat ( Gowanus Creek), her natural resources sustained large populations of people. She produced oysters the size of dish plates. She was the catalyst for the first export indutsry out of Brooklyn. "Gowanus Oysters".

Heavily polluted by industrial and residential population, she was neglected for more than half a century. She became as cesspool for polluters. The Gowanus Canal is currently under study for restoration. Her flushing station was repaired after more than 30 yrs of abandonment. Since the repair of her pumping station, some marine wildlife has begun to appear in this resilient waterway. At least 12 species of fish have been documented in our traps thus far. Stripped Bass, Blue Fish, Winter Flounders, Blue Crabs , Oyster Toad Fish , Pipe Fish, Sea Robbin, Minnows, Shrimp, American Eel, Black Fish have been documented from our traps.. The pump is a turn of the century technology that works very poorly and is constantly breaking down. DEP is slated to completely upgrade the pumping station in 2012.

The Gowanus Canal has some of the most contamintated sediments in NY Harbor. The Army Corp of Engineers stated that there is at least 20 ft of fly ash covering the natural sediment of the Gowanus Canal.

The Urban Divers Gowanus Monitor Project: Recent Water Quality Sampling: ( July 15, 03, : DO- 2.3ppm/ 30%, PH- 7.5, Temp 21.4C, Salinity 23.6, Phosphate-0.4ppm, Nitrates- 0.4 ppm. Secchi ( Turbidity) - 52 in. Depth approx 15ft. Tides: outgoing. Time: 12:14PM. New Species Found: American Eel- July 19th- (more on Canal Health)

Join us on Future Eco- Cruise Sundays to learn more about this historical canal which flows in Brooklyn.