**Newtown Creek is part of [New York City](/wiki/new-york-city) and the [Northeast region](http://publiclab.org/wiki/northeast).**


**Follow along to get updates on Newtown Creek research, subscribe here:  http://publiclab.org/tag/newtown-creek**

<img src="https://publiclab.org/sites/default/files/knitter.png" />

<a href="https://publiclab.org/sites/default/files/maspeth-new-town-creek-plume.jpeg"><img src="https://publiclab.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/default/maspeth-new-town-creek-plume.jpeg" /></a>

##Particulate at Pier##

At the end of Maspeth Ave in north Brooklyn ([MapKnitter map](https://mapknitter.org/map/edit/2011-08-06-brooklyn-newtowncreek))

###Research questions###

**Is it cement?**

* A 2005 EPA fine was levied against a nearby concrete plant for dumping concrete into the creek... Riverkeeper was involved (link?)

**Is it bacteria?**

##more information

[![plankroad.jpg](https://i.publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/002/379/medium/plankroad.jpg)](https://i.publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/002/379/original/plankroad.jpg)
**From http://www.newtowncreekalliance.org/2013/10/09/this-is-plank-road/:**

<small>Above: the launch site for the December 7, 2013 Public Mapping Mission with NBBC, NCA, CUSP, and GovLab. Research Note [here](/notes/nicholas/12-02-2013/public-mapping-mission-newtown-creek)</small>

Plank Road (58th Road in Maspeth, Queens) is an underutilized street end with known historic and ecological significance on Newtown Creek. With support from the NY-NJ Harbor & Estuary Program and New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) the Newtown Creek Alliance, in partnership with the North Brooklyn Boat Club, is aiming to transform Plank Road to a destination public space providing access as well as ecological/historical information about the area. [Read more about NCA and NBBC's plans for restoration and education](http://www.newtowncreekalliance.org/2013/10/09/this-is-plank-road/).

The earliest set of <a href="http://mapmill.org/images/2011-8-6-brooklyn-newtowncreek">imagery</a> was collected from the Riverkeeper boat during a shoreline infrastructure assessment in Summer 2011. (In progress <a href="https://mapknitter.org/maps/2011-08-06-brooklyn-newtowncreek">map</a>). <a href="http://www.epa.gov/region2/superfund/npl/newtowncreek/">Newtown Creek</a> is another EPA Superfund site within the five boroughs of NYC. 

![newtown-plume](https://publiclab.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/default/maspeth-new-town-creek-plume.jpeg)

<small>(Above: A plume of unidentified material in Newtown Creek, [photographed with a balloon mapping kit](http://publiclaboratory.org/wiki/newtown-creek) by PLOTS mappers and Riverkeeper in 2011)</small>

Additionally, [Aurash Khawarzad](/profile/ChangeAdmin) led a kite mapping party on site in summer 2012.