Riverkeeper: Empowering Gowanus Canal and Newtown Creek
CASE STUDY CHALLENGE Riverkeeper: Empowering Gowanus Canal • Raise awareness of the environmental issues related to the and Newtown Creek Communities to Prevent New York Harbor, call attention to the freshwater resources in the Stormwater Pollution region and educate the public Founded 50 years ago by a group of fishermen determined to reclaim the declining Hudson River from polluters, Riverkeeper has grown into the SOLUTION • Riverkeeper conducted a river’s most effective advocate. Riverkeeper’s vision is for clean, swimmable community-wide education effort waters, a Hudson River teeming with life, and safe and abundant drinking through a storm drain a stenciling water supplies. To reach their goals, Riverkeeper performs scientific research, initiative in the neighborhoods enforces environmental laws, advocates for legal protections, and organizes surrounding Gowanus Canal and and educates grassroots activists. Newtown Creek, working with four partners: the Gowanus Canal Challenge Conservancy (GCC), the Newtown As the most densely populated urban waterfront in the nation, New York Creek Alliance (NCA), the SWIM City’s waterways are plagued by toxics, sewage, garbage and debris. Each Coalition, and the and the New York City Soil and Water Conservation year, billions of gallons of polluted stormwater empty into waterways when it District rains – carrying the oils, contaminants, and garbage from our streets, parking lots, and industrial sites. Communities have an important role to play “street RESULTS level” in keeping their waterways clean by learning about wastewater systems • Partners NCA and GCC assessed and where their storm drains empty. Environmental justice communities are their neighborhoods and identified disproportionately impacted as they struggle for open space opportunities and lists of locations to map and stencil.
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