The Gowanus Canal Conservancy just received a helping hand, and a big one at that, from the federal government.

The fiscal year 2010 Interior and Environmental Appropriations bill, signed into law by President Barack Obama on October 30, includes a $300,000 appropriation for a Gowanus Canal Conservancy plan to transform the canal’s banks into an innovative open space.

Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, an outspoken supporter of cleaning the canal and of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) plan to Superfund the waterway for comprehensive cleanup, secured the appropriation.

The funds will go towards the conservancy’s plans to build a Sponge Park along the 1.8-mile canal. Earlier this year, Councilman David Yassky appropriated $638,000 in city capital funds for the project.

The park would be just 40-feet wide on either side of the canal. It would catch runoff headed for the canal through a series of retention basins and planted areas, while also providing a unique urban waterfront park.

The plans, which would reduce combined sewer overflows into the canal, has the approval of the EPA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the city’s Department of Environmental Protection, among other city agencies.

“Rep. Velazquez has long been an outspoken supporter of comprehensive clean-up of the Gowanus Canal,” said Lauren Collins, the Gowanus Canal Conservancy’s executive director. “This will be the first time that the Conservancy has received EPA funding and we are excited to be working with the agency on furthering the project.”