1
New York District
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2003
Contact:
Carolyn Vadino
Phone:
(212) 264-0109
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to examine sediment
conditions of the Gowanus Bay and Canal
US Army Corps
of Engineers
®
www.nan.usace.army.mil
New York
(April 28, 2003) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New York District today announced the
deployment of an in-house team of experts from the Corps’ Baltimore District to begin a geo-technical
investigation of the sediment conditions throughout the Gowanus Canal in Gowanus, Brooklyn. The
sediment sampling is part of the five million dollar feasibility study currently underway to assess the
environmental problems and potential solutions to restore the ecological health of the Gowanus Canal
and Bay.
“The Corps of Engineers, in particular the New York District, has committed to several environ-
mental restoration projects, with the study of the Gowanus Canal being one of them,” said Col. John
O’Dowd, New York District Engineer. “What is unique about our agency is that we can leverage our
breadth and depth of experience, such as the case for this round of sampling, using geologists and
drillers from our sister District that have more than 20 years of experience sampling similar inner tidal
areas.”
The goal of the two to four week project is to sample 30 locations within the Gowanus Canal and
conduct an initial evaluation of the sediments to assess their contamination potential, and if necessary,
determine proper disposal procedures. Using a specialized barge constructed to work in shallow wa-
ters such as the Gowanus Canal, an expert team of geologists and drillers will deploy the split-spoon
sampling method standardized by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) to conduct
the geo-technical investigation in conjunction with samples being tested for any residual chemical con-
tamination.
The Gowanus Canal was once an active waterway with former industrial users and commercial
shippers, and as a result, may have subsurface areas with potentially contaminated materials. It was
constructed by the City of New York in 1881 for commercial use, and years of rapid growth, inadequate
systems for sewage disposal and unlimited discharges of raw sewage directly into its waters, turned it
into a polluted ecosystem.
“The Gowanus Canal is an integral part of the Brooklyn community, with several local grassroots
organizations engaged in this revitalization effort,” said Thomas Shea, project manager, Army Corps.
“The results of the soil samples will help us determine how to best move forward with the detailed
study and ultimately with the overall restoration of the Canal and Bay.”
The study, which is cost-shared with the New York City Department of Environmental Protec-
tion, will identify many strategies to address current issues such as contaminated sediment, poor water
quality, biological productivity, habitat creation and overall waterfront revitalization goals. The Final
Restoration Feasibility Report, which will contain extensive environmental documentation and restora-
tion recommendations, is scheduled for completion by January 2005.
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