In 1849, as New York City grew in population and industrialization, the need for navigation and docking facilities increased, leading to the development of the Gowanus Canal. With this canal, the nearby communities were able to ship and transport resources at a faster rate. As a result, many factories and residential shops were created, which led to more jobs and commerce for the people. In fact, the neighborhoods of South Brooklyn grew at a remarkable rate with as many as 700 new buildings and industries. Although the canal led to economic growth for the people, the canal suffered a lot of industrial pollutants and runoffs from storm water and sewages. As more industrial developments arose, the canal became more polluted and contaminated in just a few years. By 1910, the canal was heavily occupied with sewage, making it very unsafe.  

            Although several attempts were made to decrease the pollution in the canal, they were abandoned since no improvements and progress could be made. With the inability to use the canal, many people lost their jobs as some industries depended heavily on the canal for commerce. In fact, less than 50% of the property of the canal could be used in 1978, leading to less jobs and employment opportunities. However, the canal became ultimately ineffective when the flushing station broke down, causing it to be abandoned for the next 37 years. In order to fix this crisis, a movement called “Brownstone Revival” was created to rework the sewage system and fix the flushing pump. WIth the development of the flushing pump, many sea creatures, such as crabs, shrimps, and geese, joined and lived in the canal due to better conditions of the water. Although the canal was still heavily polluted, this movement spread great awareness to the community. 

            In 2010, after the government became more aware about the polluted canal, the polluted canal was finally designated a Superfund site. Moreover, the Environmental Protection Agency agreed to supply funds and support the project to restore the Gowanus canal in 2015. Although a lot of resources were put into this project, a lot of sacrifices had to be made. For example, the city established a document stating that housing within 80 block area of Gowanus is prohibited. Moreover, many properties north of 3rd street had to be purchased, resulting in the rezoning of residents in the area. Although sacrifices had to be made for the project to be successful, it was necessary in order to make the Gowanus Canal reusable again and ultimately less polluted.

            While the reconstruction of the Gowanus Canal is ongoing, there are also other opportunities for people to contribute and make an impact near the Gowanus Canal. With over 750 volunteers each year, the Gowanus Canal Conservancy is able to install gardens, take care of trees, and help native plants prosper. Moreover, with the inclusion of student learning services, jobs, and internships, many people are learning how to help the environment prosper. Therefore, not only is the Gowanus Canal being fixed, but also the surroundings are being cleaned and nurtured. With the collaboration of workers, staff, and volunteers, everyone has a role in the development of the Gowanus Canal. As more people become involved in this process, there is more help acquired in order to fix the damage done to nature in the past.