What Possibilities Does The Hudson River Hold?

 As I learn more about the natural environment surrounding me and the ways in which people contribute to this environment, be it good or bad, I am just beginning to understand the social, political and physical importance of water. Although it may not seem that important at first glance, waste water management has a huge, if not the biggest, impact on the environment. When we flush the toilet, turn on the faucet, do laundry or take a shower, all of that water ends up in the waste water facility. How is this water treated? What happens after the water is treated? Where does it go afterward? What effects does this water have on the environment? These are all questions with answers. But the question I would like answered is, what could the Hudson River look like? What kinds of ecologies might exist if millions of gallons of treated waste water didn't flow into it? Perhaps the bay would be full of oysters, like so many environmentalists dream of. Maybe the population of fish would triple and the Hudson's fishermen could once again make a living off of the river. There are any number of possibilities.

Further more, what alternate modes of waste water disposal could we use-- not only so that ecosystems are not compromised but, in ways that may also enrich our lives?

Water has the power to determine human abilities.Through feats of engineering humans have been able to harness the natural resources to their benefit. We have seen this in the construction of the Croton Aqueduct, who's water allowed Manhattan to expand. Now, it is becoming increasingly obvious that humans can limit the abilities of the natural environment.

Frederick Law Olmsted

Olmsted, the father of landscape architecture:

Boston's Emerald Necklace

master plan

The Muddy River

New York's Central Park

"The Terrace" 1920

View from Rockefeller building, 1935

Vanderbilt's Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC

Olmsted and daughter, Marion, visit the Biltmore in 1890, home to nations first managed forest

historic palisades

1938 CCC erosion control work

1933 construction on Henry Hudson Drive

1933 construction on Henry Hudson Drive

1914 construction of Forest View area

1939 Henry Hudson Drive erosion control project

1931 construction of George Washington Bridge

1931 George Washington Bridge construction

1920 Hazard's bathing and boat house, originally constructed in 1916

1936 WPA crew installing embankment

all images courtesy of: http://www.njpalisades.org/album4.htm

Thank You Dutch West India Company

In this weeks reading, Dunwell explains the origins of the Dutch West India Company which was established in 1623 to " build the fortunes of colonial settlers and corporate investors." As a major trading outpost centered around the fur trade, Manhattan began it's life as a global hub for commerce. This spirit of entrepreneurship which began as privateering has exploded into the corporate New York City we all know today: Wall Street.
Something that is getting a lot of attention today is Occupy Wall Street. Around campus and in classes I have overheard and taken part in discussions on the topic and I constantly find myself asking, "How did this all get started? What is the origin of this movement?" Corporate greed, deregulation, an irresponsible population? There are possibly thousands of answers. Though hundreds of years have passed the spirit of Dutch commerce still remains not only in Wall Street but in greater New York. It was the foundation of this settlement in colonial times and still remains today.

fireworks over miss liberty

On Rosh Hashanah fireworks exploded from behind the Statue of Liberty. It isn't rare to see fireworks coming from the New Jersey side of the Hudson. The River acts as a stage 24 hours a day. During the day, ferries and barges, cruise ships and the occasional recreational sailor use the river but at night the river is used for a different purpose. Those observing the river from Manhattan or Jersey City can no longer see the boats going up and down, instead they see the lights. On nights with fireworks, the show is even better!

Honey Locust

The most commonly planted tree on Minetta Lane is of medium height, has dark, rough bark, and groupings of 12 leaves. It is the honey locust tree. Not a native to the New York area, this tree produces bean pods this time of year and in the fall the leaves turn a golden yellow. If the honey locust is not a native, then it must not have any connection to this site. How is it that something with no historical importance to the area is now the most prominent? From observing the area, none of the Minetta Brook natural habitat seems to remain.

Minetta

Minetta Brook is seemingly one of the most celebrated buried waterways in Manhattan. Beginning above Washington Square Park, Minetta Brook exited into the Hudson River below W Houston St. Unlike many of the other creeks, remnants of Minetta are easy to find. At the intersection of 6th Ave and Bleeker St sits Father Demo Square. The water used for the fountain is not from Minetta Brook but it acts as a symbol of what used to be. Across the busy avenue is Minetta Green. Again, this site is simply a commemorative space. Just above this little garden is Minetta Lane which branches out into Minetta St, a block that seems to suggests the path Minetta Brook once followed.
I wonder what affects these buried waterways have on this modern city. Are they still around, showing themselves in the form of puddles formed by poor drainage? Where the city's waste water systems based off of the routes they once took?