There is a dolphin trapped in the Gowanus Canal

The notorious Superfund site is no place for a dolphin!

Published January 25, 2013 8:00PM (EST)

      (Emilie Ruscoe/Gothamist)
(Emilie Ruscoe/Gothamist)

A dolphin has found its way into the Gowanus Canal! But what could be cute news is actually sad, gross news.

The Gowanus Canal is an offshoot of New York’s Upper Bay and forms the border between the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Red Hook and Park Slope. It is also one of most extensively contaminated water bodies in the country. As a result of years of discharges, storm water runoff, sewer outflows and industrial pollutants, the Gowanus Canal was declared a Superfund site in 2010.

Like I said: No place for a dolphin.

Rescuers from the Riverhead Foundation on Long Island are en route to rescue the misplaced mammal, which NBC News is broadcasting live for some reason.


By Katie McDonough

Katie McDonough is Salon's politics writer, focusing on gender, sexuality and reproductive justice. Follow her on Twitter @kmcdonovgh or email her at kmcdonough@salon.com.

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