Distillations magazine

Unexpected Stories from Science’s Past
June 23, 2016 Environment

CSI: Gowanus—Cleaning up the Canal

Take a trip down Brooklyn’s Gowanus Canal with cartographer and citizen scientist Eymund Diegel.

Gowanus Canal
About SUPPORT OUR WORK

Cartographer and citizen scientist Eymund Diegel is tracing the natural history and hidden environments of his Brooklyn neighborhood.

“What looks like a hellhole actually has scenic potential,” says Diegel. “So you think this could be Venice. You laugh, you say, ‘This guy is out of his mind.’ But technically there is no reason why this could not be one of the prettiest spots in New York City.”

More from our magazine

Color illustration of a man and women in South Asian attire
DISTILLATIONS MAGAZINE

Matchmaking in Colonial India

An inconspicuous technology sparks revolution on the subcontinent.

Daguerreotype of old man in royal clothing with infant child
DISTILLATIONS MAGAZINE

The Eclipse That Killed a King (and May Have Saved a Kingdom)

How the scientific prowess of King Mongkut of Siam helped stave off European incursion.

Drug packaging with label
DISTILLATIONS MAGAZINE

Dreams and Nightmares

Oxycodone’s early years.

    Republish

    Copy the above HTML to republish this content. We have formatted the material to follow our guidelines, which include our credit requirements. Please review our full list of guidelines for more information. By republishing this content, you agree to our republication requirements.