2015 ANNUAL REPORT 543 Union Street #1E Brooklyn, NY 11215 718.541.4378 GOWANUS CANAL CONSERVANCY 2015 ANNUAL REPORT Dear Friends, Partners and Members, Since its inception, the Conservancy has advocated for an open space network that would support and protect the health of the Gowanus Canal while providing access to its shores and vibrant public parks and corridors for the people who live, work and play in the neighborhood. In 2015, that vision started to become a reality. Construction began on the Sponge Park, which will transform the end of 2nd Street into a canal-fronting park that captures and filters stormwater. Additionally, as plans for new development and Superfund-related infrastructure emerge on the north end of the canal, it is clear that better (and more) public space is a priority, particularly along the canal’s edge. As these projects unfold, we are working closely with diverse local partners like Fifth Avenue Committee, Gowanus Alliance, Arts Gowanus, Old Stone House and others to ensure that these emerging public spaces not only reflect the community’s interests, priorities and needs, but weave together into an interconnected Greenscape, maximizing the health, resiliency, vibrancy and beauty of our Gowanus neighborhood. Throughout the next year, we will continue to reach out to residents, businesses and partners to get your input on the priorities for the Greenscape, with an eye toward designing a community-based masterplan that reflects the unique qualities of Gowanus. To learn more about the Greenscape initiative and how you can help, please visit our website www. gowanuscanalconservancy.org. We not only welcome your input, we need it! Ben Jones Board Chair LETTER FROM THE CHAIR SMITH ST ATLANTIC AVE GOWANUS WATERSHED PROSPECT PARK We envision the evolution of an Open, Clean and Alive Gowanus Canal and Watershed with accessible, connective open space; clean water, soil and air; and vibrant ecological, business and cultural activity. MISSION & VISION GOWANUS CANAL CONSERVANCY 2015 ANNUAL REPORT VOLUNTEER We empower community members to implement EDUCATION positive change through We teach community hands-on interventions. members of all ages about the complex environmental, social and political issues of the Gowanus so that they can be advocates for change. CAPITAL We build, monitor and maintain innovative landscapes that test best practices and improve the DESIGN resiliency and sustainability of We facilitate community the Watershed. conversations about the Canal and Watershed design and planning. PROGRAMS The Clean-Up The Gowanus Canal is one of America’s most polluted waterways, due to historic industrial contamination and ongoing combined sewage Gowanus overflow. Declared a Superfund site in 2010 by the Canal US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Canal is in the beginning stages of an estimated $500 million clean-up, which will be paid for by Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs). Dredging The primary historic industrial contamination in the canal is coal tar from 3 Manufactured Gas Plants. The off-gassing of this contamination causes the ranbow slicks often seen on the surface of the canal (at left). EPA, National Grid and other PRPs are working together to design and coordinate dredging an average of 10’ of heavily contaminated sediment from the bottom of the Canal. Less contaminated sediment below will then covered with a multi-layer cap. In 2015, the team conducted numerous tests, including a cutting-edge technology to stabilize the sediment below. Dredging is projected to start in late 2016 or early 2017. Find out more at www.gowanussuperfund.com, or by getting involved with the Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group (CAG) www.gowanuscag.org. WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE? GOWANUS CANAL CONSERVANCY 2015 ANNUAL REPORT Gowanus Gowanus Canal Watershed Long Term Control Plan The NYC Department of Environmental Protection is working to reduce an annual 377 million gallons of combined sewage overflow (CSO) into the Canal from the Gowanus Watershed during rain events. The Watershed consists of about 1,800 acres of densely developed land and 122,000 residents, which contribute wastewater to the CSOs. The two major strategies are: 1. Two large underground sewage detention tanks - an 8 million gallon tank on the north end of the Canal, and a 4 million gallon tank near the middle - will increase the holding capacity of the combined sewage system, lessening CSOs into the Canal. The locations of the tanks are to be announced in early 2016. 2. Curbside rain gardens, or bioswales, will divert and absorb street water, keeping it out of the combined sewage system and lessening CSOs into the Canal. There are currently 11 bioswales in the watershed, and about 90 more under construction. Find out more at http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/cso_long_ term_control_plan/gowanus_canal_ltcp.shtml Compost Volunteers hand-produced 44,218 pounds of compost from local food waste. Volunteers distributed 13,800 lbs of this compost to tree pits and gardens throughout the neighbohood, to nurture soil health and permeability. Nursery Volunteers propagated 600 native plants to invigorate local gardens and street ends. Wildflower Corridor Volunteers built and installed 24 wildflower planters to activate the 9th St Wildflower Corridor. VOLUNTEER STEWARDSHIP We empower community members to implement positive change through hands-on interventions. 2015 Funders: Council Members Brad Lander, Carlos Menchaca, and Stephen Levin, Citi Foundation, City Parks Foundation, ConEdison, Etsy, FedEx, Morgan Stanley Foundation, Patagonia, Rockefeller Foundation, Time Warner Cable-Connect a Million Minds GOWANUS CANAL CONSERVANCY 2015 ANNUAL REPORT Open Space Stewardship Volunteers cared for 3900 square feet of open space in the Gowanus, removing 1862 pounds of trash and installing 515 native plants. Urban Forestry Volunteers measured and mapped 3075 street trees to inform GCC and City maintenance plans. Volunteers actively stewarded 265 street trees, enhancing the health of our urban forest. 56 Events 921 Volunteers 4,474 Service Hours 2015 Partners: 27th St BA, Apiary Studio, Arborpolitan, ArtsGowanus, Atlantic Ave BID, Balmori Associates, Brooklyn Brewery, BIG!Reuse, Dykes Lumber, DSNY, Friends of Thomas Green Park, Forth on Fourth Avenue, Fungi Perfecti, Future Green Studio, Gowanus Alliance, Greenbelt Native Plant Center, Greenspace on Fourth, GrowNYC, Old Stone House, Park Slope Food Coop, Urban Arborists, NYC DPR, NYC Wildflower Week, NYRP, Riverkeeper, TreesCount!2015, TriLox, Whole Foods Bioswale Maintenance Curriculum We provided 10 hours of lessons and field-based training for 25 volunteers to steward the 6th Street Green Corridor. Urban Ecology Lectures 216 people attended a series of 5 lectures and expert panels diving into the dynamic roles of plants, wildlife, and infrastructure in our urban ecosystem. EXPO Gowanus 150 people learned about clean-up and revitalization projects proposed and slated for the Gowanus Canal and Watershed. EDUCATION We teach community members of all ages about the complex environmental, social and political issues of the Gowanus so that they can become better advocates for change. GOWANUS CANAL CONSERVANCY 2015 ANNUAL REPORT STEM Gowanus 50 Urban Ecology Curriculum Watershed We launched a 32-lesson curriculum for middle schoolers Schools to immerse in Gowanus field studies and create site design proposals, and tested it with 6 teachers and 250 students. School Clean & Green 419 K-12 students worked 626 hours to propagate native plants, compost food waste and steward gardens at the Salt Lot. 996 Youth 498 Adults 4,080 Education Hours 627 Service Hours 2015 Partners: Trees New York, TreeKit, Urban Memory Project, Azavea, Threes Brewing, Gowanus Souvenir, The American Legion (school partners on last page) 2015 Funders: Con Edison, Google, National Grid, NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Tiger Baron Foundation, USDA Forest Service 6th Street Green Corridor Monitoring We worked with Drexel University to install a weather station and other state-of-the-art monitoring equipment in 7 of the 11 bioswales in the 6th St Green Corridor. This equipment will be used to comprehensively measure the project’s performance over the next three years. CAPITAL We build, monitor and maintain innovative landscapes that test best practices and improve the resiliency and sustainability of the Watershed. GOWANUS CANAL CONSERVANCY 2015 ANNUAL REPORT 6th Street Green Corridor Maintenance Our Staff and Volunteers spent 99 hours maintaining the bioswales, removing 389 pounds of trash and 196 pounds of weeds. This experience is directly informing the content of our Bioswale Maintenance Curriculum. 11 Bioswales 293,786 Gallons Stormwater Managed 2015 Partners: Drexel University, eDesign Dynamics, Perfetto Contracting Co. 2015 Funders: NYC Dept of Environmental Protection, US Environmental Protection Agency (secured by Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez) Gowanus Greenscape Vision The Gowanus Canal has begun a period of rapid physical changes, that range from a $500 million clean-up to development pressure to climate change. Public open spaces are emerging as a result of these changes. In 2015, we launched a community planning process to develop a vision for how these discrete spaces become a vibrant public space network. DESIGN ADVOCACY We facilitate community conversations about the future of Gowanus Canal and Watershed design and planning. GOWANUS CANAL CONSERVANCY 2015 ANNUAL REPORT EXISTING PUBLIC SPACE MANUFACTURING