Clean Gowanus and Red Hook Shorelines

As people experience and enjoy our waterfront they become advocates for its revitalization. Our efforts are proving to be fruitful as recent legislation provided funding due to the rise in popularity of paddling on the Gowanus Canal.  Since 1999 the Dredgers have empowered people to care for the Gowanus Canal through advocacy, conservation, and education.  We encourage an understanding of the NY-NJ harbor as a resource for recreation and education as well as a waterway for commuters, tourists and goods.

Before and after our free kayaking and canoeing programs, we encourage participants to help us remove debris from our shoreline to keep our river and canal clean.  At the same time, volunteers are educated on the Combined Sewage Overflow legacy problem that discharges pollutants during most rainfall events.  Outfitted with our gloves, trash bags and masks, we collect trash before the storm and reduce pollution in New York Harbor.

At every free kayaking or free canoeing event, volunteers will help remove trash and at the Gowanus, special "Spring / Fall Cleaning" will be scheduled as 4 hour marathon cleanup event festival.  Depending on funding, the festival may include local food samples, baked in Gowanus for volunteers to taste. 

For over a century, the community of Gowanus has been dumped on (&in) and our organization has generated a renewed interest in the neighborhood revival.  More than 4,000 residents live in the NYCHA houses of Gowanus and most are of Latin and African descent. 

The Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club is empowering youth, adults and the elderly to embrace stewardship of their shorelines.  Many volunteers have become passionate advocates due to the active canoeing opportunities that are the core of our mission but others are now frequent visitors of our waterfront to enjoy our music, art, comedy, poetry and theater performances;  many with an environmental focus.