Melody Homesly, left, and Carnetta Galvin stand on a bridge that crosses Starkweather Creek near Galvin’s home of 16 years in the Darbo-Worthington neighborhood of Madison, Wis. Galvin says she was not initially aware that the creek contained high levels of PFAS, the group of hazardous, human-made chemicals that are drawing concerns across Wisconsin. “I feel disappointed and sad about not knowing what is affecting our health,” Galvin says. Homesly, Galvin’s longtime friend, says government leaders and those responsible for the pollution should clean it up. “Treat it like they would treat it if it was in their neighborhood and in their family and their kids’ health,” Homesly says. “Since it is right around poor and low-income —they are just sweeping it under the rug. Something has to be done immediately.” Photo taken on Aug. 3, 2021. Isaac Wasserman / Wisconsin Watch
In 2022 I worked with Wisconsin Watch photo intern Isaac Wasserman to visually direct the story Something has to be done’: Living along Madison’s Starkweather Creek, one of Wisconsin’s most polluted waterways.
In 2019, Starkweather Creek contained higher levels of PFOA and PFOS — two more scrutinized types of PFAS — than any other waters the Department of Natural Resources tested that year. The creek also meandered through predominantly poor and low-income neighborhoods, where many residents said they weren’t aware of the pollution. This story helped to bring an issue of environmental racism in our community to light. The project was a finalist for the INN Insight Award for Visual Journalism.