Cruise on Newtown Creek with Riverkeeper

Recently I was fortunate enough to join Riverkeeper on their patrol of Newtown Creek, a former estuary and current industrial waterway which separates Brooklyn from Queens. After decades of industrial abuse, the Creek is considered one of the most polluted waterways in America. But with Riverkeeper's help, the environmental quality of the Creek has improved dramatically in recent years. So across the East River we go...Much is often said of the New York City skyline, but rarely the view from Newtown Creek. The Creek is lined with industrial companies like scrap metal recyclers.
As well as long abandoned industrial artifacts. But old is giving way to new, with the brand new waste water treatment plant. Hopefully the new plant will prevent capacity overflows during wet weather. And the brand new sewage methane digesters, in the background. Methane is a very potent greenhouse gas, but can also be burned to make electricity. It wasn't raining, but an outfall was still pouring something into the river.
Probably the most disturbing part of the trip was when a giant barge churned up contaminated sediment from the bottom of the Creek. The smell was horrific and I don't want to know what floated to the surface.
Clean up of the contamination is ongoing, and boats are supposed to go slowly to prevent churning up the contaminated sediment. But wildlife did seem to be living in the Creek. Notice the cormorants sunning their wings.
Most people in New York probably have no idea where Newtown Creek is located. In the early 1700's this was a beautiful estuary surrounded by woodlands and small farms. Today it is one of the most polluted waterways in America. But with Riverkeeper's help, we can hopefully cleanup the Creek and reconnect New York City to its beautiful waterways.