NYC Waterfall Art Harming Nearby Trees

Although it was meant to be a “green” public art project, the man-made waterfall under the Brooklyn Bridge on Manhattan’s East Side appears to killing some local trees.
NYC Waterfall Art Harming Nearby Trees
DEAD LEAVES on the trees at the River Cafe next to the Brooklyn Bridge last Wednesday. Behind is a man-made waterfall, part of a public art exhibit. (Katy Mantyk/The Epoch Times)
8/8/2008
Updated:
10/1/2015
<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/waterfall_lowres.jpg" alt="DEAD LEAVES on the trees at the River Cafe next to the Brooklyn Bridge last Wednesday. Behind is a man-made waterfall, part of a public art exhibit. (Katy Mantyk/The Epoch Times)" title="DEAD LEAVES on the trees at the River Cafe next to the Brooklyn Bridge last Wednesday. Behind is a man-made waterfall, part of a public art exhibit. (Katy Mantyk/The Epoch Times)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-1834467"/></a>
DEAD LEAVES on the trees at the River Cafe next to the Brooklyn Bridge last Wednesday. Behind is a man-made waterfall, part of a public art exhibit. (Katy Mantyk/The Epoch Times)

NEW YORK—Although it was meant to be a “green” public art project, the man-made waterfall under the Brooklyn Bridge on Manhattan’s East Side appears to killing some local trees. The saltwater spray blowing on shore from the approximately 100-foot-tall installation since June is the likely culprit.

Nate Thomas, a construction worker from a project under the Brooklyn Bridge said, “They were very green, nothing was wrong with the trees, then the waterfalls came along, and the water, it’s saltwater so it’s very dirty, unfortunately it’s wetting the trees and they’re changing color.”

The trees in trouble are on the property of the 30-year-old River Cafe that sits directly next to the Brooklyn Bridge waterfall. The beautifully kept gardens of the cafe are a rare and precious commodity in the city, with many of the trees being as old, if not older than the cafe itself. Walking down the cobbled pathway that leads through the garden, the green foliage suddenly turns dry and brown at the front entrance. Above the driveway the waterfall towers in the background.

Scott Stamford, the general manager of the River Cafe was assured before the project went ahead that the spray would be managed. “We were told that the waterfalls would be turned off whenever there was a wind that would result in spray coming toward the restaurant, but that has not happened.”

The leaves on the closest trees, or what’s left of them, are completely brown. One of the larger trees near the front is half and half, brown on the front side facing the waterfall, green on the back.

“We’ve had different experts look at the trees, some say they feel, it’s all speculation, but some of them feel they will not be able to come back. Others say they will come back. It depends on how damaged the tree is on the inside,” said Stamford.

The New York City Waterfalls, which includes four man-made waterfalls, is being put on by the Public Art Fund and artist Olafur Eliasson. In a statement, the Public Art Fund said they were assured by the Parks Department that there would be no permanent damage to any plant life.

“The Parks Department conveyed that while the saltwater can cause leaves to discolor, with proper care there will not be any permanent adverse effects,” the statement said. 

But Stamford remains skeptical.

“We’ve spoken to the people who are in charge of the waterfall, the Public Art Fund, and they’ve assured us that they are going to treat the trees, and spray the trees and help irrigate the roots, but I don’t think that’s going to be enough. We won’t know until next year for sure whether these trees will come back,” he said.

According to the New York City Waterfalls website, the Economic Development Corporation estimates that the waterfalls, funded with private support raised by the Public Art Fund, will contribute $55 million to New York City’s economy by attracting visitors.

Stamford, however, said he hasn’t seen any increase in business.

“You can’t see the waterfalls from the restaurant so it doesn’t really affect our business, we’ve been a well known restaurant for 30 years, and our reputation is what brings people here I believe, not the waterfalls.”