After a major snowmelt, like the one we had this week, there’s toilet paper floating, condoms and raw sewage on the Gowanus Canal. And it smells even worse than usual.

Despite the water overflow, residents of South Brooklyn were relieved this week. On Tuesday, the Environmental Protection Agency named the Gowanus Canal a federal Superfund site, making it a national priority.

With the government allocating half a billion dollars for the clean-up program, the canal’s neighbors can finally breath freely. Or at least they will be able to in the future, as the remediation work will not start until 2014.

Still, this was good news for Brooklynites of Carroll Gardens, Red Hook and Sunset Park, who have been advocating for over a decade to clean the Gowanus.

Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, whose Congressional district includes the polluted waterway, was among the few politicians who supported the move.

“The EPA has the proven expertise to oversee a comprehensive clean-up, while holding accountable those responsible for the pollution,”

Velazquez wrote this week.

The EPA’s win, means Mayor Bloomberg’s plan is out. Supporters of the city’s plan are saying it offers a cheaper and faster way to get rid of the toxic brew. It would also hurt less for the Real Estate around the canal, but choosing experience over efficiency wasn’t what stirred the controversy.

The government plans to make polluters around the canal pay for the cleaning.

The EPA already named responsible parties, such as National Grid – expected to pay the biggest share – Con Ed, the U.S. Navy and New York City.
“Now, they’re eying 20 other companies, including Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Kraft and Citigroup,” The Daily News reported.

According to Katia Kelly, a blogger and a community activist, Velazquez was at the forefront of the controversial issue.

“Most of our politicians were sitting on the fence about it, but Nydia, very quickly organized a meeting to talk to the people, to explain what the EPA plan is, what the consequences are,“ Kelly said in a phone interview.

“She was the very first politician to look into the city’s plan, and after talking to the Mayor, she said the money wasn’t there, and she went right out and said it – she urges the Superfund.“

Not Super fun for everyone

Kelly also said, that the Superfund was a ‘make or break’ elections issue for the gentrifying heart of Brooklyn. “The community will not forget those politicians that were silent about this.”

One of those silent politicians was Congresswoman Yvette Clark.

Clark attended a public meeting in January and told residents that she had talked to the EPA in Washington, but refused to make a statement.

[Possibly, because of her close ties with Bill Deblasio and (Carroll Gardens developer) Buddy Scotto were supporters of the city’s DEP plan.]

Brooklyn residents are not the only ones who won a cleaner future, as Velazquez scored some important political points with a good sense of smell, she spotted the source of the stench.

Huck on the Gowanus from ckelly on Vimeo.

Please watch this cute “short animated history of the Gowanus Canal in reverse and back again.” Thanks to the “Pardon me for asking” blog.