Gowanus Canal:

Low Impact Development and the Gowanus Canal Superfund Site

Jake Stehr
LAND 7250
October 20, 2014
1

The formation of New York City has created a series unique and difficult conditions for
Low Impact Development practices. New York City evolved out of the Dutch settlement into
one of the densest cities in the United States. This urban condition creates the need for
innovative approaches to the implementation of LID (low impact development) principles. The
difficulty of using LID in New York City is one of the reasons that makes it a locations that can
use and benefit from the reduction in stormwater runoff, as well as an attempt to reduce the heat
island effect. The Gowanus Canal is one of those locations that has been drastically altered and
changed by intense urbanization, and also has suffered recently due to the aging infrastructure,
and the continued increase in population.
The Gowanus Canal is a 1.8-mile-long, man-made canal in the Borough of
Brooklyn in New York City.
1
The Gowanus Canal when the Dutch arrived for settlement was
at the time a wetland. The canal at this point and time no longer has natural wetlands to allow for
naturalized infiltration and ground water flow. The shoreline to the canal has also been hardened
and channelized, and there are no longer any signs of naturalized vegetation. The canal is located
in a, mixed residential-commercial-industrial area. It borders several residential neighborhoods,
including Gowanus, Park Slope, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens and Red Hook, with housing
located within one block of the canal.
2
The buildings that abut the canal are typically fall under
the use of light industry and commercial zones that use the canal for their economic enterprises.
The canal has gone under revitalization and rezoning starting in 2009 into high density
residential zone. This trend along the canal has continued to advance and has left the few
industries that are still functioning operational along canal. The canal according to the EPA is
used not only for mercantile trade and transportation of goods, but also in a recreational sense as
well as the location for houseboats.
The history of the project will allow for us to understand the complication of the issues
that are facing the Gowanus Canal today. The Gowanus Canal started off as a small creek that
prior to the 1840s was being dammed and used to power tide mills.
3
This was some of the first
alterations that were being constructed by European settlers. The creek was quickly fated to
change when the State of New York began the process of constructing the canal. In 1848, the

1
Pg. 10 Mugdan, Walter E. RECORD OF DECISION Gowanus Canal Superfund Site
Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. N.p.: EPA, n.d. PDF.
2
Pg. 10 ibid.
3
Pg. 11 Ibid.
2

State of New York authorized construction of the Gowanus Canal to open the area to barge
traffic, flush away sewage, receive stormwater and fill the adjacent lowlands for development.
The canal was constructed in the mid-1800s by bulkheading and dredging.
4
When the canal was
completed it quickly became one of the nations most important industrial canals.
The importance of the Gowanus Canal is what aided in its eventual selection as an EPA
superfund site. The canal was home to, heavy industries that included manufactured gas
plants, coal yards, cement manufacturers, tanneries, paint and ink factories, machine shops,
chemical plants and oil refineries.
5
This in combination with the combined sewer system makes
for a volatile combination of pollutants that have lingered to this day. According to the EPA this
was taken into account when the Gowanus Canal was constructed. The initial canal design
recognized the likelihood of stagnant pollution problems and proposed various flushing
solutions.
6
However, in the 1800s these systems were not built or put into place to deal with
the foreseen pollution. So, in 1911 NYC started a program to address the stagnate pollution in
the canal. The process of pumping clean water into the canal would be one that proved
problematic over time. In the 1960s the constructed flushing tunnel fell into disrepair. It existed
in this condition till 1999.
7
However, during this time the Clean Water act was passed, which
meant that the uncontrolled polluting of the canal only lasted for ten years. As the American
economy has changed over time industrialization of the region has been on a decline. This has
been a positive for the decrease in the number of pollutants that can be found in the canal,
however, this does not mean that the majority of pollution has not remained in the sediment that
lines the canal.
The major source of pollution that continues to pollute the canal comes from the
combined sewer system, and unpermitted pipe outfalls continue to contribute contaminants to
the canal.
8

The issue of the combined sewer system is an expensive one that many of the older cities
have had to deal with. It was impossible for these location to understand the amount of people
who would come through and settle in this region and area during the population boom. NYC is
attempting to alleviate a small fraction of the pollution through a sewer separation program that

4
Ibid.
5
Ibid.
6

7
Ibid.
8
Ibid.
3

will initially focus on Carroll Street.
9
This is not a small undertaking by total area, as it covers
close to 100 acres, it will only alleviate under 10 percent of the overflow issues related to the
combined sewer system. This construction project will interrupt the systems that are put into
place, and are not slated to be completed until 2022. This undertaking will be an expensive
project for the city to undertake.
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) is also going to
be implementing green infrastructure to also help reduce the flow of sewage into the canal. The
green infrastructure that is being proposed will have an estimated 10 percent reduction in the
amount of stormwater that is entering the combined sewer system over the next twenty to thirty
years.
10
The two project that are slated to be constructed are the DL and Studios Sponge Park,
which will be located at Second Street. The other project that is supposed to be constructed is the
Gowanus Conservancy green infrastructure at 2
nd
and Park Slope. These projects are mainly
being supported through federal and NYC grants. These projects will connect to create a canal
front promenade that will provide needed greenspace for local citizens, and will become more
important as zoning continues to change.
Dlandstudio was, founded in 2005 by Susannah C. Drake. Prior to starting an
independent practice, Susannah worked for architects and landscape architects in New York,
Cape Cod, New Hampshire, Wyoming and San Francisco. Exposure to diverse ecosystems,
population densities, and scales of operation enriched her vision of what makes places truly
special.
11
The project of the Gowanus Sponge Park has been one of dlandstudios award
winning projects, and this is for good reason. The studio put in a lot of effort to make sure that
the project reaches construction. When you begin to understand the hard work that went fort to
even receive the permits needed for the project the perseverance and passion that went into this
design. The dlandstudio says, The Sponge Park design equally values the aesthetic,
programmatic, and productive importance of treating contaminated water flowing into the
Gowanus Canal, an EPA Superfund site.
12
The project is attempting to create a working
landscape that can deal with the increase pollution that comes from the complicated nature of a
layered urban system. The inland systems are mainly attempting to deal with the storm runoff to

9
PG. 15 Ibid.
10
Pg. 15 Ibid.
11
"About - Dlandstudio." About - Dlandstudio. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2014.
12
"About - Dlandstudio." About - Dlandstudio. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2014.
4

alleviate the combined sewer system overflow. The other aspect of Sponge Park that is
dlandstudio is recommending is a floating remediation wetlands to deal with the pollution that
flows down the canal. The way that the project looks at the site is interesting because it views the
landscape as a machine.
The first component of the machine that is being constructed are the bioswales leading
up to a bioretention basin at the end of Second Street.
13
When looking at this landscape as a
machine it become important to understand what it will be able to do and how it will function.
The nuts and bolts of the design are not how it relates to the aesthetic value of the site - through
Drake and Yong Kim would argue that they have aesthetic concern- the site needs to have strong
components that allow for the completion of a goal. This system will be able to, catch 4,500
cubic feet of water rolling down just this one street on a rainy day.
14
In correspondence with
Susannah Drake this pilot project was, designed for the 90% storm or 1.2. Could have done
more but this is what was required by the regulatory agencies.
15
When this has been pushed in
the articles that have been written about the construction and the amount of water that can be
infiltrated in the bioretention basin and bioswales it seems that this is a lot of water, however, it
was designed for the minimum requirement. It is difficult to judge the ability of the site to handle
more runoff because of the many constraints that were placed upon the site due to the layers of
ownership that come into influence upon a location adjacent to a navigable canal.
The design and placement of these systems has been selected to fit within the fabric of
the existing community. To Drake this does not only mean the neighborhood component, but
also the industrial uses that happen along the canal. In the design these institutions or factories
that abut the Gowanus Canal are not a hindrance to the promenade, but can play a role in the
design form and provide points of interest to the members of the community who will eventually
use the canal for recreation. The project also is attempting to reclaim the public use of the canal
for the citizens of Brooklyn. This means that it will no longer just be there for industrial practices
but for play and the enjoyment of everyday citizens. This is done through the addition of boat
ramps and location where interaction with the water can be achieved by pedestrians. The
recreational area that will be added through the project is an estimated 12 acres. The exact

13
Sledge, Matt. "Gowanus Canal To Feature 'Sponge Park' Green Infrastructure." The
Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 07 Feb. 2012. Web. 17 Oct. 2014.
14
Ibid.
15
Drake, Susannah. "Gowanus Canal Pilot." 16 Oct. 2014. E-mail.
5

number is not known because of the organic nature at which the project will be developed over
time. With public access to the water increased there is a need to decrease the pollutant load that
will reach the canal, and this process will be done mainly through engineered soils, and also a
careful selection of plants.
Drake in her interview with Huffington post talks about the careful selection that went
into the choice of plants. The choices that were made consist of Piedmont staples that populate
polluted projects from Alabama too New York. Drake says that, elements chosen from a
palette of tulip poplars, northern blueflag iris, holly, yarrow, honey locust, American sweetgum
switchgrass and more.
16
These plant had to fit to criteria to be considered for a component of
the machine that is Gowanus Green Sponge. The plants needed to be able to withstand
inundation from the storms, as well as have the ability to withstand the heavy metals and other
pollutants that run off the road into the gardens. Drake goes on to talk about the novelty of some
of these plants, and the interest that they can add to the sight while still serving a role in the
cleaning of the runoff.
The attention that has been given to the design of the system is excellent. The system has
been broken into three larger zones. These zones hold a few different types of conditions based
upon the needs derived from different storm events, however, the three basic zones are; non-
flooding, 0-2 of standing water, and 0-12 of standing water.
17
Within each zone the plant pallet
is extensive, and was created to treat PCBs and heavy metals from the road. The plants that were
chosen for zone one (non-flooding) are: Cornus florida, Maciura pornifera, Gleditsia, Potentilla
fruticosa, Philadeiphus lewisil, Helianthus, Morus rubra, Trifolum repens. These plants were
interesting and colorful and cover the spectrum from mid-canopy to ground cover. The Cornus
florida is an interesting choice that can function differently due to the urban condition. The
Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood) is an understory tree that needs to be protected from the
harsh fun in its younger years, but due to the shade that is provided by the structures that
surround this site they will do well based upon their location on the site. Zone 2 (0-2 Standing
water) plants were just as artfully chosen and consist of many plants we are accustomed to seeing
around Auburn; Amaianchier laevis, Rosa rugosa, Crataegus, Calamagrostis, Hamametis mollis,

16
Sledge, Matt. "Gowanus Canal to Feature 'Sponge Park' Green Infrastructure." The
Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 07 Feb. 2012. Web. 17 Oct. 2014.
17
"Gowanus Canal Sponge Park." (n.d.): n. pag. Web
6

Gallium palustris, Sambucus racemosa, Equistem hymenale.
18
This zone is mainly designed to
provide increased habitat along the canal. It does not allow rooms for plants that pull PCBs or
heavy metal out of the runoff. The only plant in this zone that will remove PCBs is the Beach
Rose (Rosa rugosa).
19
This zone also serves a strong point of interest throughout the year, and
has been constructed to have fall and winter structure and color. The grasses will provide great
form throughout the fall and winter, while the Hamamelis mollis (withchazel) will provide a
bright yellow bloom when all of the other leaves and colors have disappeared.
The final zone (0-12 of standing water) contains the least amount of diversity in the
planting pallet, but it provides some of the best interaction with plants that can withstand
increased hydric conditions. There propensity towards these hydric conditions also means that
they will have to be able to handle the continual presence of pollutants that are transported
through the water. Satix integra, Miscanthus Floridulus, Salix caprea, Carx pendula, Cornus
serica, Labelia cardinalis, Poamogenton natans, and Lemna minor are the plants that have been
selected to be initially grown within this zone. The plants that are in this zone that provide some
interest to me tend to be in strictly hydric conditions. The introduction of Lemna minor
(Duckweed) and Potamogeton natans (Pond weed) provide a foothold for a potentially
aggressive plant, but in the right condition there ability of both treat heavy metals and PCBs
makes them an great component to the landscape as machine principle.
These plants in the bioretention area have been terraced to create the specific condition
for each zone, and the terrace descend as you approach the canal. The walk way and civilian
infrastructure are suspended above the wetland to allow the vegetation to pass underneath
uninterrupted. The greatly increase the ability of the machine to not waste a single inch of soil in
the cleaning of the water. The catwalk sidewalks provide interesting perspectives the plantings,
and also make a stance on the position of people in the landscape and how civilization should
interact with natural systems. People and the nature overlap without humanity leaving a negative
footprint upon the landscape. These is an ideal that might not have been intended in the initial
design, but it is one that can be expressed throughout the design.
The plants were carefully chosen, and then the system in which they were planted was
also carefully thought of. Drake in a TED talk describes the system that was based upon a

18
Ibid.
19
Ibid.
7

modular system. The modular planting system is important because it allows for quick
duplication of these endcap type systems on all terminal streets that abut the canal. The modular
systems on the uphill side have had a integrated sidewalk and sediment basin, constructed to
collect all of the debris that would be carried down the street in the storm event.
20
This basin as
the water flows through it allows for an even distribution to all of the cells. When the water
reaches the cells it is then even further distributed into cups that allow for even watering of all
the plants that are contained within each cell. This is a very interesting system that changes the
way that these areas function, and allows for rapid reproduction of this landscape machine.
Within any project of this magnitude it is important to attempt to understand what it does after it
has been installed. Drake says that, Manhattan College is monitoring the site for 2 years. We
developed a citizens maintenance manual with an environmental justice grant from the DEC.
Community groups will help the parks department keep it clean and take care of the plants.
21

The community driven nature of this project will result in a wide variety of possible outcomes
for The Sponge Park pilot project, which hopefully will eventually lead to the published results
of this innovative machine.
The Gowanus Canal project has taken an interesting stance on the role that LID practices
can play in retrofitting a heavily polluted water system, in a complex multilayered urban
environment. The difficulty of this project is the way in which it is going to be built out over
time, and the important role that is has in the improvement of water quality in the Gowanus
Canal. The Sponge Park, however, is an innovative system that improves upon the traditional
standards that have been used by common LID projects. When facing the difficult situations and
ownerships that Drake had to the ability to think creatively becomes rather important. This was
done through the way in which the community was initiated to pursue the project. The
community pushed for funding, and will play an even more important role in maintaining the
park and promenade into the future. The other aspect of this park that reaffirms LIDs usefulness
for the future was the modular nature of the bioretention systems. Drakes team took the time to
understand not only The Sponge Park, but also the way that a system has to grow and replicate
through time. The modular design aspect really draws upon the idea of landscape as machine,

20
"Designing the Gowanus Canal Sponge Park: Susannah Drake at
TEDxGowanus." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2014.
21
Drake, Susannah. "Gowanus Canal Pilot." 16 Oct. 2014. E-mail.
8

and these terminus parks act as connected system that filters, move, and releases people and
water into the canal.
The Sponge Park is an interesting design that pushes the way in which people approach
LID, and how you build support from the community to push for democratic funding. This is a
great project for the community of Brooklyn that achieves more than just cleaning the water and
improving habitat, but in a concreate landscape it has improved the connection that people have
with wetlands and their importance in mediating stormwater runoff.