Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group Resolution Asks NYS Department of Environmental Conservation to Amend Water Quality Classification to Strengthen Dissolved Oxygen Standard

At its January 27, 2026 general meeting, the Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group passed the following resolution asking the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to amend the Class SC rule to maintain the previous dissolved oxygen standard of no less than 4.0 mg/L that had been in place under the Class I designation for the Gowanus Canal.

Effective on October 15, 2025, NYSDEC amended key water quality classifications, including reclassifying the Gowanus Canal to Class SC (swimmable and fishable). This reclassification inadvertently lowered the standards for dissolved oxygen levels in the Canal.

The resolution reads as follows:

Background

On October 15, 2025, the NYSDEC issued a Notice of Adoption (NOA) in the State Register, adopting updates to water quality classifications, including amendments to the classification of the Gowanus Canal. Please consider this resolution in response to the reclassification of the Gowanus Canal to Class SC (swimmable and fishable).

Petition & Comments

Effective October 15, 2025, NYSDEC amended key water quality classifications, including reclassifying the Canal to Class SC (swimmable and fishable). Previously, the Gowanus Canal had been classified as Class SD (fishable only) in the upper section, upstream of the Gowanus Expressway, and Class I (fishable only) in the lower section, downstream of the Gowanus Expressway. The CAG submits this resolution in response to DEC’s decision to reclassify the Gowanus Canal and encourages DEC to expedite an amendment to the SC regulations to require the higher DO levels that were previously required in the Canal.

The CAG has long advocated for reclassification of the Canal to better reflect the area’s current conditions and anticipated future uses. The CAG appreciates DEC’s decision to reclassify the Canal to Class SC, as the CAG previously petitioned. This designation represents an important and meaningful step forward and reflects a history of persistent community advocacy for improved water quality in the Canal.

However, the CAG is concerned that this reclassification inadvertently lowered the standards for dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in parts of the canal, an apparent unintended consequence of the reclassification. Under 6 CRR-NY 703.3 Water quality standards for pH, dissolved oxygen, dissolved solids, odor, color and turbidity, the DO concentration is not permitted to fall below 4.0 mg/L at any time for Class I waterbodies. In contrast, the DO concentration is not allowed to be less than 3.0 mg/L at any time for Class SC waterbodies.

As a result, under the Class SC designation, parts of the Canal are now subject to a less protective DO standard than was previously required.

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Minutes of the January 6, 2026 Meeting of the Gowanus Canal CAG’s Land Use Committee

Attendees

CAG Members: Hildegaard Link, Louis Kleinman, Katia Kelly, Joan Salome-Rodriguez, Lisa Bowstead, Erica Eliason, Jason Schwartzman, Alexandra Dadourian, Joseph Alexiou, Susan Yung, Peter Reich, Andrea Parker, Margaret Maugenest & Steve Marcus

Guests: Aaron Kaufman & Irene Baker

Agenda Items Discussed

1) Follow up discussion regarding NYSDEC’s TCE Plume Study near St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, which took place during November 2024. Follow Up: Thanks to Heidi Dudek, on December 23rd, the Committee received the full report, which Hildegaard has kindly offered to use her expertise to summarize for the Committee. Additionally, Andrea has kindly offered to draft a letter to NYSDEC & NYSDOH asking a) to formally share the information with the community and b) do additional vapor intrusion work in the affected area.

2) Follow up discussion regarding the status of NYSDEC’s final decision regarding the proposed remedial plan for Parcel 3 (459 Smith Street) of the former Citizens MGP Works site. Follow Up: The Committee asked Steve to reach out to AM Simon’s office to ask for their assistance in obtaining an update.

3) Joan brought to our attention that NYSDEC had completed a Gowanus Canal Areawide Groundwater Study to evaluate the current hydraulic conditions, including groundwater elevations and flow direction. This study was scheduled for completion in late 2024. Follow Up: This has been taken up in the Water Quality Committee and Land Use and other CAG members will have an opportunity to sign onto their request.

4) At a previous Committee meeting we discussed the former Citizens MGP Works site’s recent Groundwater Monitoring report and asked National Grid’s representative, Irene Baker, if there was a similar report for the former Fulton MGP site. Ms. Baker did respond stating: “There was other recent groundwater monitoring completed at Fulton, which is included in a Sentinel Well Monitoring Summary Report (2025). I recommend contacting DEC directly for that information”. Update: We want to thank Aaron Fischer who did respond to the Committee’s request on December 23rd by providing a link to the report. Please review and be prepared to discuss at our February meeting.

5) Follow-up questions to EPA’s Q&A, and the Committee’s Mission Statement, will be taken up at our February meeting.

Please note: Our next Land Use Committee meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 3rd at 6:30pm.

Next Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group General Meeting: Tuesday, January 27, 6:30 p.m.

Please join us for our January 2026 General Meeting, on Tuesday, January 27, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., conducted via Zoom video conference.

Join the meeting here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81431345410?pwd=drb4lhEv7H8OQJ4xQ7j60aZuv3tzci.1

Meeting ID: 814 3134 5410
Passcode: 052446

DRAFT AGENDA (all times are approximate)

6:30 – 6:45 p.m.: Welcome and CAG Member Introductions

6:45 – 7:15 p.m.: EPA Updates and CAG Q&A / Public Comment and Q&A as time allows

7:15 – 8:00 p.m.: Gowanus Canal CAG Charter Revisions

8:00 – 8:30 p.m.: CAG Business and Committee Updates

  • Archaeology and Historic Preservation Committee
  • Land Use Committee
  • Outreach Committee
  • Water Quality/Technical Committee
  • Administrative Committee
  • Facilitation Committee

8:30 p.m.: Adjourn

Guests are always welcome to comment and ask questions using the chat function.

All Gowanus CAG meetings are open to the public, unless specifically noted otherwise.

Minutes of the January 5, 2026 Meeting of the Gowanus Canal CAG’s Archaeology & Historic Preservation Committee

Attendees: Joan Salome-Rodriguez (Moderator), Edmund Diegel, Michael Killian, Peter Reich

Guests: Irene Baker (National Grid), Aaron Kaufman (Gowanus Remediation Team)

1. Michael explored the NYC Municipal Archives (https://nycrecords.access.preservica.com/?pg=2&s=gowanus+canal) and some of the photos show up in his Instagram account “Gowanus_Archeology” (there is an underline in there!). Eymund provided to the Gowanus Canal Conservancy (GCC) a bunch of material and would share with us, too. It can be found on Portside Proteus Gowanus. He and Michael will share emails.

a) Brooklyn Eagle’s archive was more tricky.
b) Peter & his wife’s work – he will check with Karen but suspects it will be ok.
c) VOG archive was looked over, to

2. Status of the Storyboard – still the same. Chronicle Heritage is working on setting up an account with a platform for activity. He believes we will have a more certain date in early 2026. Arts GIS is a multi-media platform that allows photos, video, text and audio and the Story Map is the Hx of the Gowanus Canal.

Getting our stuff out there

3. Peter emailed Johnny and Emily and Andrea for a fresh start on working with Johnny Thornton (Arts Gowanus) and sharing material for the Walkabout Tour. The building where the CSO tank is going in is first. DEFERRED:  Invite Johnny to one of our meetings once we have a plan of what we’d like to see displayed.

4. How to get photos we would like to post to Johnny as there may be a cost associated with creating the vinyl posters (plastic and fabric 3’ x 5’) with the QR code (see one by the Carroll Street Bridge). But Peter thinks no real cost because the images can be sent to Johnny electronically. The QR code takes one to a website with a map the viewer uses to find their current location and see what was there before the re-zone. 

5. “Through its Gowanus Neighborhood Art Advisory Committee (GNAAC) initiative, Arts Gowanus has made significant inroads working with developers to incorporate public art installations at 7-8 sites along the Gowanus Waterfront Esplanade; under review by Parks.” If we hear back from Johnny we can get an update on what exactly Parks is reviewing and whether there is security for items such as those with Quadrozzi.

6. Touch base with Andrea at GCC for possible displays. Similar conversation with Dredgers should take place. Agreed as a committee to build synergy with local arts community and to explore options with new GCC space, Thomas Greene Park community center. New semester so outreach to Brooklyn College Museum Studies Program and to Pratt’s archaeology team is timely now to see if there are any opportunities there. (This is Joan’s action item.)  

7. Clinton Street library not open yet but ultimately we’d like to see if some things could be displayed there.

8. https://america250.org/a250-funding-directory/  

This is for the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn. Suggestion from Eymund: a Union Street Bridge celebration since the Revolutionary War was partially won because of the Gowanus. August 27, 2026 is an important date for the Canal – special events should be thought up for the Gowanus Canal’s 1776 Revolutionary history. OUTREACH?

For a video recording of the January 5 meeting, please visit:

https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/DwLQ5Z4gC2MOzQoHmtyXda5P5PqN9Ww_2iBg6gl84CAhMfn07vsbe3Ea2ZhsEq11.pQ1j60Ez4-eAda5W

Passcode: =r86BkrU

Minutes of the December 9, 2025 Meeting of the Gowanus Canal CAG’s Land Use Committee

Attendees:

CAG Members: Joan Salome-Rodriguez, Katia Kelly, Jason Schwartzman, Susan Yung, Erica Eliason, Alexandra Dadourian, Peter Reich, Mark Yarish, Lisa Bowstead and Steve Marcus

Guests: Aaron Kaufman & Irene Baker

Agenda Items Discussed:

1) Follow up discussion regarding NYS DEC’s TCE Plume Study near St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, which took place during November 2024.
Action: The Committee asked Steve to reach out to Heidi Dudek of NYSDEC for an update. Update: Heidi did forward to us the full report! It’s available here. Please review the report and be prepared to discuss at our January meeting.

2) Follow up discussion regarding the status of NYS DEC’s final decision regarding the proposed remedial plan for Parcel 3 (459 Smith Street) of the former Citizens MGP Works site.
Action: The Committee asked Steve to reach out to DEC for an update. Update: No response.

3) Assemblymember Simon’s letter to DEC regarding 459 Smith Street (aka Parcel 3).
Action: Lisa kindly drafted a “Thank You” letter on behalf of the Committee to Assemblymember Simon for submitting her comment letter. Update: With the Committee’s approval, the letter was sent to AM Simon shortly after our meeting.

4) At our previous Committee meeting we discussed the former Citizens MGP Works site’s recent Groundwater Monitoring report and asked National Grid’s representative, Irene Baker, if there was a similar report for the former Fulton MGP site. Ms. Baker did respond stating: “There was other recent groundwater monitoring completed at Fulton, which is included in a Sentinel Well Monitoring Summary Report (2025). I recommend contacting DEC directly for that information”.
Action: The Committee asked Steve to reach out to the DEC to request this report. Update: Aaron Fischer did respond to the entire committee on December 23rd. Please review and be prepared to discuss at our January meeting.

5) The Committee discussed DEC’s announcement of the proposed remediation and construction near the Mary Star of the Sea Senior Apartments on the site known as the John Tynan Senior Residence.
Update: Thanks to all the Committee members who submitted their own comments to DEC!

6) The Committee discussed the recent announcement by DEC regarding Parcels 1 & 2 of the former Citizens MGP Works site.
Update: Thanks to all the Committee members who submitted their own comments and for their help in getting DEC to grant a comment extension to January 4th!

7) Joan brought to our attention that DEC completed a Gowanus Canal areawide groundwater study to evaluate the current hydraulic conditions, including groundwater elevations and flow direction. This study was scheduled for completion in late 2024.
Follow Up: I believe that this will be taken up in the Water Quality Committee and Land Use can sign on to their request.

To view a video recording of the meeting, please visit https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13fY_Tbki02j4VqpT8mcLPLWcvAWH8kok.

Please note: Our next Land Use Committee meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 6th at 6:30pm.

Early January 2026 Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group Committee Meetings

Two Gowanus Canal CAG meetings are scheduled for the first week of January. Please join us via Zoom for either or both!

Archaeology & Historic Preservation Committee
Monday, January 5, 6:00 p.m.
Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9808972869?omn=85029255507
Meeting ID: 980 897 2869

Water Quality & Technical Committee
Monday, January 5, 7:00 p.m.
Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87196633276
Meeting ID: 871 9663 3276

Minutes of the December 1, 2025 Meeting of the Gowanus Canal CAG’s Water Quality & Technical Committee

Attendees: Joan Salome-Rodriguez (Moderator), Corinne Brenner, Erica Eliason, Katia Kelly, Louis Kleinman, Emily Mitchell, Jason Schwartzman, Susan Yung

Housekeeping:

1. Victoria is looking for any map/image that shows where the legal sewage outfalls are located. Joan followed up. Will follow up again.  

2. Suggested we FOIL NYC Topographical about the status of the streets abutting Power House. De-mapped and made private?  

3. Committee reviewed Emily Mitchell’s draft re: hydrogeological study for the Gowanus re-zone area (Clinton St to 4th Avenue east-west and Dean Street to 19th Street north-south) and made edits.  Emily will complete and share with Joan who will distribute to attendees for finalizing. This will get added in the letter: Can DEC test groundwater pooling in basements or on properties for contaminants? Request goes to DEC.

4. Natalie said that DEC was doing a full hydrology study that should have been completed in 2024. I have asked Aaron Fischer for it twice and so has Steve from Land Use. No response yet.

5. Did not cover but Joan followed up with Victoria as to whether climate change can be taken into account in future mounding/hydrology studies performed by the Trust. Likewise, no response. Joan will follow up again.  

6. Katia followed up with Natalie Loney at EPA to find out when the Operation and Maintenance Plan (OMP) for the Gowanus Canal will be complete. Apparently the PRPs will be responsible for carrying out the OMP regarding the cap and the water quality. Katia to follow again with Natalie.

NEW ISSUES

1. DEFERRED: State issued its water quality determinations for various water bodies, including the Canal. Result – Gowanus Canal is now a Class SC waterbody which is what we initially asked for (though we followed by asking for Class SB). Cup half full, I guess. There is some indication that SC will allow swimmable water quality standards to be legally enforceable in the canal. Riverkeeper will give an update. Deeper discussion with Em Ruby and Mike Dulong, who said they can attend the December 1 meeting.  https://link.edgepilot.com/s/f6a68fad/8LGwi7kO_UGxhg38H5AVYQ?u=https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/regulations/proposed-emergency-recently-adopted-regulations/water-revisions/saline-water-quality-standards-and-reclassification

2. Joan will re-send draft comments that can be edited however anyone wants if they want to comment: Parcels 1 & 2 of Public Place are being divided up and DEC is planning to investigate using ISS and ISGS at the site. Comment period ends December 5.  

3. Natalie’s Q&As that affect Water Quality were shared in the meeting announcement. We discussed up to number 8. Attendees must go over Natalie’s Q&As to see if there are further questions. Corinne will craft a follow-up regarding continued CSOs in the Canal (Natalie Q.2).

4. DEFERRED: Draft inquiry to EPA [?] re: Sewershed in Gowanus and issues related to the Atlantic Yards Project and the BMT project. Our infrastructure cannot possibly take all that.

To view a recording of the meeting, please click here.

Minutes of the December 1, 2025 Meeting of the Gowanus Canal CAG’s Archaeology & Historic Preservation Committee

Attendees: Joan Salome-Rodriguez (Moderator), Katia Kelly, Peter Reich, Jason Schwartzman, Susan Yung

Guests: Irene Baker (National Grid), Aaron Kaufman (Gowanus Remediation Team)

1. Michael was not present but we know that he did explore the NYC Municipal Archives because some of the photos showed up in his Instagram account “Gowanus_Archeology” (there is an underline in there!). Joan and Peter sent materials.  

  • Michael will explore Brooklyn Eagle’s archive for materials 
  • update on Peter & his wife’s work. 
  • Voice of Gowanus archive? We also know that he did access the VOG archive.  
  • Shared https://nycrecords.access.preservica.com/?pg=2&s=gowanus+canal Muni Archive in the chat.  The photos are very good.  Take a look.

2. Check status of the Storyboard with Aaron. Chronicle Heritage is working on setting up an account with a platform for activity. He believes we will have a more certain date in January 2026. He explained the platform, Arts GIS, to Jason – it is a multi-media platform that allows photos, video, text and audio and the Story Map is the Hx of the Gowanus Canal.

3. Peter reported on his conversation with Johnny Thornton (Arts Gowanus) and they are open to us sharing material for the Walkabout Tour. We will start with the building where the CSO tank is going in and get the step by step of how to do it. Seems that getting the photos to Johnny is the key but there may be a cost associated with creating the vinyl posters (plastic and fabric 3’ x 5’) with the QR code (see one by the Carroll St. Bridge). The QR code is a single code that takes one to a website with a map that the viewer uses to find their current location and see what was there before the re-zone. It seems that a lot of this walkabout falls into what we want to focus on, the WAY IT WAS as opposed to the way it is now. Peter will send me Johnny’s email again and I need to sell the idea to him of us sharing stuff. Peter recommends speaking with Andrea at Gowanus Canal Conservancy, too.

4. Through its Gowanus Neighborhood Art Advisory Committee (GNAAC) initiative, Arts Gowanus has made significant inroads working with developers to incorporate public art installations (majority of them by Brooklyn-based artists) at 7 to 8 sites along the Gowanus Waterfront Esplanade; these projects are currently under review by the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). Let’s see if Johnny can come to one of our meetings. This may be out of our scope but if there is an appetite for bigger items, maybe John Quadrozzi’s storage items can now be utilized. Also discussed perhaps a historical exhibit at the Gowanus Dredgers 2nd Street space.  If I go to Quadrozzi’s, I want a person to accompany me.

5. On the back burner: Reach out to Brooklyn College Museum Studies Program and to Pratt’s archaeology team in the fall to see if there are any opportunities there. (This was Joan’s action item, not done yet.) Keep an eye on the Union Street Library on Clinton Street to see when it opens (not yet). 

6. Agreed as a committee to build synergy with local arts community and to explore options with new Gowanus Canal Conservancy space, Thomas Greene Park community center.

For a recording of the meeting, please click here.

Passcode: $um7N.9q

Missed our December 2025 General Meeting? You can find a recording here.

If you were unable to join us via Zoom for our December 2nd general meeting, you can access a video recording of the meeting here.

For a recording of our October 28th general meeting, please click here.

For recordings of our June, July and September 2025 meetings, please click here.

And for video of most of our meetings from April 2020 to April 2025, please visit our Vimeo page. Click on any of the videos to view the recording of the desired meeting.