Well the Gowanus Canal and its surrounding properties are back in the news again. Some people want to keep it historically relevent and others just want to make more money. It doesn't effect me too much as long as the canal gets cleaned up in my lifetime so I can witness it.
Federeally funded agencies have vowed to clean the polluted water with different combinations of strategies and methods. The pumps are back on to aerate the water itself in an attempt to support bacteria and toxin eating plant life. Fans are rotating underwater to create a current of flow thereby naturally breaking down debris. More is planned including soil removal, chemical treatment, sewer reconstruction. The million trees project moved into this area to help with sewer over-flooding into the canal during heavy periods of rain. Theory is the tree roots will soak up much of the water above ground; therefore keeping it from inundating the system. I have read about this clean-up from many different sources and over many years. It is a constant debate on who is in charge, when the work will be done, who will do it, manage it, pay for it, and make money from it. As of yet, I don't see a change but testing and controlling of access to this waterway from neighborhood drains has been recorded. Find the causes of the past and future pollution and then can maybe remedy the solutions?
Related Web Link http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/B1CF5011D9857EA585257BF6005286D5