City by the Coast
From Urban Earth
About City by the Coast
Walking amidst skyscrapers, New Yorkers sometimes need to be reminded that ours is a city of water. With the Hudson River, Long Island Sound, and the New York Bight surrounding our boroughs, we are an urban archipelago. All of these highly urbanized water ways have a long history of misuse, followed by partial recovery. From chemical and sewage contamination to dams and other habitat modifications, humans have certainly left their mark on these waters. But today, governmental regulation and community participation have greatly improved the condition of these waters and shores. Major areas of focus for the City By the Coast core project include the environmental conditions and restoration of the Flushing Meadow Creek system and Jamaica Bay, and public access and best use practices of the New York City waterfront. This project serves to engage New Yorkers and educate them about our coastal city, promote the rehabilitation of our aquatic surroundings and create new knowledge through research.
Project Leader:
- Prof. John Waldman (Biology, Queens College)
Activities:
- Workshop at Queens College examining the environmental condition and restoration opportunities in the Flushing Creek Urban watershed, March 2007; View Schedule [PDF]
- Watershed Biodiversity Summit Meeting co-sponsor, Prospect Park, June 2007; Prof. Waldman gave a keynote presentation on the environmental history of New York’s waters.
- Bioblitz in Jamaica Bay. A 24 hour surveillance and report on the bio-diversity of Jamaica Bay in Queens. Jamaica Bay, September 2007; Prof. Waldman is a co-investigator.
