gowanus canal swim team membership application information packet, 2012

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONMATERIAL

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

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

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

Class SD Allows for Fish Survival (maybe)

(the worst there is – no human health standards)

Class SC Allows you to swim (safely)

(not perfect, but good enough – cant swim after heavy rain)

VS

WHAT WATER QUALITY CLASS IS SUITABLE FOR CURRENT USES ?

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WATER QUALITY SHOULD MEET HEALTH STANDARDS FOR CURRENT RECREATIONAL USES

Gowanus Dredger Canoer looking at drowned rat after Combined Sewer Overflow discharge event, , Gowanus Canal at Union Street, July 2011. Eymund Diegel, 2011

In 2011, over 800 canoers used Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club canoes.

WATER QUALITY SHOULD MATCH CURRENT USES

Souzis & Hamburger Wedding, Gowanus Canal at Carroll Street Photo: Katia Kelly, Pardon Me For Asking, September 2011

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

PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE FUN Oceans of Blood, Art Raft Event on the Gowanus Canal at 2nd Street Photo: Oceans of Blood, 2010

CHILDREN SHOULD BE ABLE TO PLAY SAFELY

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

RESIDENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO FISH

Fisherman at Carroll Street Bridge & Gowanus Canal Photo: Lisanne, Found in Brooklyn, 2009

LOCAL SCHOOL CHILDREN SHOULD BE PROUD OF THEIR CANAL’S WATER QUALITY

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

WATER BASED ART NEEDS CLEAN WATER

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

WE SHOULD LEAVE A LEGACY WE CAN BE PROUD OF

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

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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