gowanus canal draft research notes on thermal mapping for finding old streams

Thermal Light Painting of the Gowanus Canal Can we find out if water temperature differences of industrial inflows and old streams can be mapped ?

Gowanus Canal

Manhattan

Gowanus Watershed

The Canal

Historic Landfilled Tidal Marsh

Manhattan

Gowanus Canal Superfund Site

Canal Gets a Million Gallons of Sewage A DAY

WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT ?

STREAMS WE ARE MAPPING

ECOLOGICAL WATER CYCLE

URBAN WATER CYCLE

IT RAINS

WATER GOES INTO PIPE

INFILTRATION & STREAM RESTORATION

SOME WATER GOES INTO PIPE

NOT FOUND

FOUND WITH KITE & BALLOON MAPPING

WHY MAP BURIED STREAMS?

WHAT WE WANT:

WHAT ARE BEST SITES ?

The Gowanus Canal Conservancy

Map: Susannah Drake, dlandstudio, 2010

DENTONS SPRING RESTORATION

BROUWERS BROOK RESTORATION

SECOND AVE BIOSWALE

SECOND STREET SPONGE PARK

USING BALLOON CAMERAS TO MAP PLANTS & HISTORIC STREAMS

WANTS TO REDUCE SEWER OVERFLOWS AS PART OF ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION PLAN

BERGEN STREAM RESTORATION

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

www.grassrootsmapping.org

BURIED STREAM RUNS OVER TOXIC PLUME OF OIL LEFT BY OLD GAS PLANT

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

Exploring New York City Sewer History …

with radio controlled Ninja Turtles

WEB CAM

NEXT STEP :

www.publiclaboratory.org

www.gowanuscanalconservancy.org

www.gowanusdredgers.org