Newtown Creek Alliance

The Newtown Creek Alliance is a community-based organization dedicated to restoring, revealing and revitalizing Newtown Creek.

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Newtown Creek Vision Plan

In 2018, NCA, Riverkeeper and Perkins+Will launched the Newtown Creek Vision plan, a 150 page report chronicling priority issues and 85 proposed projects to address Remediation, Restoration, Recreation and Resilience. The report builds upon decades of planning and visioning efforts by numerous community members and organizations; framing ideas in the wake of upcoming Superfund remediation and Clean Water improvements. Read the full plan here.

Newtown Creek StoryMaps

Explore these interactive educational resources on ArcGIS StoryMaps to learn more about the Creek's ecosystem and NCA’s efforts in environmental remediation, restoration, and revitalization. We have units available on the history and geography of the Creek, regional flora and fauna, Newtown Creek's soil and water health, and the impact of climate change on NYC's coastal communities. Click "read more" to view them all.

Facebook News

Newtown Creek Alliance

2 hours ago

Beginning this weekend, there will be a series of interactive arts events by Cal Fish along Newtown Creek. Mespaetches Creek Dynamic Listening will give participants opportunities to interact with sound sculptures and soft sculptures in public spaces, promoting critical play, affective information, and collaboration. The first event will take place this Saturday, September 30 from 12-6pm at the Newtown Creek Nature Walk.On Saturday, October 7, stop by Kingsland Wildflowers green roof from 1-4p to see our Native Nursery and stay from 4-8p to enjoy interactive sound and soft sculptures, as well as talks and performances by Kim Fraczek, Pudding Club, and Cal Fish. Refreshments will be provided.
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Newtown Creek Alliance

6 days ago

Climate Week/Last week of Summer - It’s been a busy one for NCA! Here are a few highlights from the past 7 days:Volunteer cleanup event at Manhattan Ave Street End w/ @partnershipsforparks Field Trip w/ Greenpoint’s MS126Out on the Creek for weekly Community Water Quality Testing programTabling at Climate Week Expo with @queensbprichards Greenhouse Gang volunteer event at @kingslandwildflowers Ecology tour and drawing activities with St Joseph’s CollegeSpartina alterniflora getting even taller in the Wetland Frames Corporate volunteer event at K Bridge Plaza in Blissville
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Newtown Creek Alliance

1 week ago

Next Wednesday, September 27: Join the virtual CAG meeting for Newtown Creek, which will be held on Zoom from 6:30-8:30pm. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the state of the Creek’s Superfund designation. Sign up and more details: newtowncreekcag.org/2023/09/virtual-newtown-creek-superfund-cag-meeting-wednesday-september-27-20...
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Newtown Creek Alliance
is at Kingsland Wildflowers.

1 week ago

This fall we’re excited to welcome folks to the green roofs at Kingsland Wildflowers during our Autumn Saturdays!At these Saturday events, you can come enjoy the green roofs, visit our Native Plant Nursery, and purchase some native plants to take home with you. On select days we’ll also have horticultural opportunities for volunteers with our Greenhouse Gang.🔗 for more info and to sign up: autumnsaturdays2023.eventbrite.com
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Newtown Creek Alliance

1 week ago

Yesterday we took Hannah Kliger from CBS New York out on the water to talk about the legacy of the Greenpoint Oil Spill (discovered 45 years ago this month). While on the water we encountered two very compelling scenes the highlight the struggles between ecological and community health and fossil fuel related toxins.Scene 1:While inspecting the shoreline along the Greenpoint Oil Spill we saw and observed a fresh rainbow sheen on the inside of the containment boom of the Kinder Morgan (formerly BP) facility- meaning that the fuel likely originated from the shoreline itself, despite there being an extensive remediation system in place for years now to prevent seepage into the Creek. Just below the toxic surface water we observed multiple blue crane, including mating pairs.Scene 2: Upstream at the National Grid US facility we encountered a massive feeding frenzy with striped bass chasing bunker fish to the surface with gulls and cormorants taking advantage and gobbling up the fleeing bunker. Just a few feet away the surface waters revealed a much more troubling, and unfortunately common sight: coal tar bubbling up from below, the waste product from the former manufactured gas plant located here.Both the scenes highlight the necessity to properly remediate historic contamination on the properties surrounding Newtown Creek. The Greenpoint Oil Spill has been under remediation for decades, and despite huge strides in the recovery of product, it still requires extensive monitoring and maintenance. The National Grid site has no final cleanup plan in place and there are unknowns as to how the upland areas continue to impact the waterway directly.Seeing blue crabs and striped bass (both key human health receptors, ie free meals) return in large numbers to the Creek is both encouraging and concerning; a key reason why this waterway deserves a timely and thorough cleanup.Join us next Wednesday at the Newtown Creek Superfund CAG, for latest updates from EPA about these exact issues: newtowncreekcag.org/2023/09/virtual-newtown-creek-superfund-cag-meeting-wednesday-september-27-20... U.S. Environmental Protection Agency NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Riverkeeper
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2023 Tidal Toast!

NCA’s 6th Annual Tidal Toast: October 18, 2023 We are thrilled to be celebrating our wonderful partnership with LaGuardia Community College at this year’s Tidal Toast. For years the professors, students, and faculty of LaGuardia have been key advocates in fighting for a cleaner, more accessible, and more resilient Newtown Creek. Located just a block from the […]

Wetland Frames Installed in Blissville

In close partnership with LaGuardia Community College, we have completed an installation of 20 wetland frames at the Waste Management Review Ave Facility in Blissville, Queens. Under the guidance of Professor Sarah Durand, LaGuardia Community College/CUNY students, and NCA staff worked to install and plant these suspended aluminum frames with spartina alterniflora – a native […]

Newtown Creek Social Media Stickers

In early 2023, NCA was approached by local artist Wyatt Bertz, who was interested in using his technical and artistic skills to engage folks with the current state, remediation needs, and restoration opportunities of the Creek. The end product is a series of digital animations (stickers and clips) that playfully portray local wildlife, industrial uses, […]

MEET OUR 2023 UHI FELLOWSHIP COHORT

This group of fellows are coming to us from Greenpoint and various neighborhoods in Queens. With a variety of backgrounds and experiences; they will be studying the impacts of Urban Heat Island on the Maspeth, Queens IBZ. Their research will support NCA revitalization efforts, finding new ways to assist industry and worker health in the […]