Distillations magazine

Unexpected Stories from Science’s Past

CSI: Gowanus—Cleaning up the Canal

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

Gowanus Canal
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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.”

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