Officials from the Environmental Protection Agency are conducting dredging efforts in the Gowanus Canal.

They are launching a pilot project on a small portion as a test for cleaning up the rest of the waterway.

The EPA says thousands of yards of contamination have already been dredged since last year near the Fourth Street turning basin.

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The Gowanus Canal has been designated as a Superfund site due to the presence of contaminants like mercury, lead and copper — marking it as one of the most contaminated areas in the country.

Some residents who live in the neighborhoods surrounding the Gowanus Canal like Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens and Boerum Hill say they are happy to see progress.