(Yonkers Historical Society) Yonkers, N.Y., diverted the Saw Mill River through a giant underground flume in the 1920s. Now, inspired by other cities’ efforts to “daylight” such waterways, Yonkers is trying to unbury the river and create a greenway along its banks.
The New York Times has a story about the popularity of restoring forgotten urban streams. These streams are forgotten because they have been piped and paved over, making them seem to be just another part of the storm drainage system. This was often done to hide the pollution that ran through urban streams prior to the various waste treatment measures that have become widespread. Restoration of these streams has become a worldwide phenomenon involving reaches in such varied locations as Seoul, New York, London, Los Angeles, San Antonio, and Vancouver. One might even count Rocky Branch, which runs through North Carolina State University and highlights the work of the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department.
There are various reasons for this movement. The first is to bring a bit of nature to the city much as one might do with a park. It makes the city a friendlier place that attracts more visitors and provides a place for recreation. However, the reasons for restoration go deeper than that. For example, streams provide habitat. The streams in Vancouver used to provide spawning grounds for salmon. By providing habitat, we improve and augment the food chain, which will ultimately improve and augment our own food. Another example is the cleaning and filtering of runoff that is performed by floodplains. Many of the elements found in stormwater runoff are either themselves health hazards or are nutrients in such over-supply that can cause microbes to run wild; in turn causing their own problems. By removing these elements, the floodplain protects the stream habitat and downstream water supplies. Ultimately, we are all connected to and use these streams: to bathe in, drink from, and grow food (in the wild or via agriculture). It is heartening that so many places have seen the importance of using them wisely.
Tags: civil engineering, New York Times, restoration, stream
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