JUNE 23, 2017--On June 14, staff from NOAA's Restoration Center, and OR&R’s Assessment and Restoration Division toured three urban bodies of water and natural resource damage assessment cases in the New York/New Jersey Harbor area.

The sites included: Newtown, Gowanus Canal, and Passaic River. The day involved crisscrossing four of five New York City boroughs and two states by foot, car and rail. The street level and elevated views of the residential, commercial and industrial uses showcased the complexity of the surrounding environment and changing character of the neighborhoods that line and connect these urban waterways. Habitat fragmentation and the proximity of these waters to millions of people highlights the importance of these aquatic environments to our trust resources and to the public for enhanced access, recreation, and water and landscapes.

The previous day, Assessment and Restoration Division staff conducted training on database and visualization tools, DIVER (Data Integration Visualization Exploration and Reporting) and ERMA (Environmental Response Management Application). The technical session provided an opportunity for improving skills, sharing ideas, exchanging information, identifying potential future needs, comparing databases and team-building.

For further information, contact Reyhan.Mehran@noaa.gov.

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