Date Posted:08:28:42 04/28/06 Fri Author: River Sojourner Subject: Re: River Cleaning In reply to:
River Sojourner
's message, "Re: River Cleaning" on 13:28:38 04/21/06 Fri
I'd just like to set a record correct: There is, on the French Charlie's Bridge, a plaque. On that plaque there is some terribly misleading information.
First and foremost, The Bronx River does NOT over-flow its banks and certainly does NOT "flood" the area where the cricket pitch once was. The water accumulated in that area is simply from rain-fall and perhaps some run-off from the steep Metro-North tracks and area to the west. If anyone had ever taken the time to investigate the river DURING a rain-fall, like a great many of us have, this would be obvious.
Furthermore, the major cause for the decrease in water levels in our river is the Kensico Dam. The Bronx River once flowed, uninterrupted, from various sources in Westchester County and perhaps even from feeders further north. When the Kensico Dam was completed, it stopped approximately (and perhaps considerably more) than 25 per-cent of the River's water supply. It also diverted and blocked a great many feeders and streams. This fact is documented in many places.
Yes, there is a presence of much Japanese knotweed on the banks and yes, this "weed" has taken much of the "native" plants away. It is destructive in a great many aspects. But there have been plantings done along the banks which have decreased the "diversity" of plant-life. The Parks Dept. has seen fit to plant many of the exact same plants (inkberry, pussy willow, &c.) and precious few other "native" trees. Simply plating for the sake of planting doesn't solve anything.
The area south of the French Charlie's Bridge is now devoid of a great deal of shade. The banks have been modified and straightened. The constant presence of sun has increased not only the mean temperature along the river but has undoubtedly raised the water temperature. And the straightening/buttressing of the banks serves only to decrease the slowing of the current.
The boardwalks that were hastily installed are already being replaced. A waste of money. They should have been installed correctly in the first place.
However, it is nice to see the presence of red-winged blackbirds and ducks and geese in the swamp that has been created in the old cricket pitch (which had been, for MANY years, a ball-field). Still, I wonder what the Summer season will bring in the way of mosquitoes and the need to spray insecticides in these newly-formed swamp areas.
All said, it was folly at its best. But it is nice to see that some of the "old element" is returning and enjoying the River these days.
