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Boat BlogNotes from the Patrol Boat

2013 Season of Citizen Sampling Begins

By John Lipscomb on May 7, 2013
Photo courtesy Laurie Peek
We began the 2013 season of Riverkeeper/Citizen tributary Enterococcus sampling on 5/4 on Sparkill Creek in Rockland and the Pocantico River in Westchester. More

It’s the Law: Sewage Discharges Must be Reported to Public

By Tracy Brown on May 6, 2013
I-support-clean-water_graphic
Great news! As of this month, you must be notified when harmful sewage is discharged to the Hudson River and waterways throughout New York. More

UPDATED: Mysterious White Chalk Material Along the Croton River

By John Lipscomb on April 9, 2013
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Several watchdogs have reported a mysterious white chalky material covering the rocks and bank along the Croton River. More

Beacon Sewage Overflows to be Fixed

By Tracy Brown on April 3, 2013
Beacon sewage overflow
Over the course of several months in 2010, Riverkeeper and a citizen watchdog documented torrents of raw sewage cascading out of a sewer manhole and bubbling through the slats of the public walkway that runs above it and reported them to local and state officials, the press and the public.
Three years after Riverkeeper filed a Notice of Intent to Sue, the City of Beacon reached an agreement with the Attorney General’s office to fix ongoing leaks in their municipal sewage system. More

Knowing when to tear the bottom off your boat

By Dan Shapley on February 13, 2013
Winter Patrol Boat Repairs - 2013
Capt. John Lipscomb describes boat repairs. In the background: Chris Brennan, boat builder, and his 12-year-old dog Tobi.
Riverkeeper's patrol boat, the R. Ian Fletcher, is undergoing extensive maintenance, including the replacing of a section of planks on the boat's bottom. More

Sewage dumping doesn’t pay, but citizen testing does

By Tracy Brown on January 24, 2013
Old Leeds Bridge
Photo courtesy of Rich Wiebke
Citizens Help Leeds Address Local Sewer Needs. The Catskill Hamlet of Leeds, in Greene County, is making progress on their goal to connect with municipal sewer lines with the help of citizen samplers. Since as far back as 2008, when foul odors started an investigation … More

Sewage Pollution Right to Know…

By Tracy Brown on January 15, 2013
Pen certificates 1_sm
Paul Gallay, Tracy Brown, John Lipscomb and Mark Lucas (not shown) received Pen Certificates from the Governor's office for the Sewage Pollution Right to Know Law
The Riverkeeper team that worked on the Sewage Pollution Right to Know law in 2012 received commemorative pen certificates from the Governor’s office in recognition of their leadership role in drafting and passing the legislation. The Sewage Pollution Right to Know Law (Assembly Bill #10585-A) … More

Hudson Sewage Pollution Report Released

By Tracy Brown on December 19, 2012
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Photo on left courtesy Paul Bastin
“How Is the Water?” report details sewage pollution findings in the Hudson and calls for actions to eliminate it More

Last upriver patrol of 2012 – Monday 11/19

By John Lipscomb on November 20, 2012
Catskill at dawn. Sea smoke on the River because air is so cold. Deck covered with frost. Mike Aguiar, owner of Riverview marine. Left hand is where water reached during Sandy, considerably higher than during Irene, right hand. All his shops and offices were flooded … More

Last patrol of 2012 – Sunday 11/18

By John Lipscomb on November 19, 2012
Jack up boat off Palisades across from Croton Point. Presumably drilling for core samples related to either Champlain Express or West Point power cable projects. Both are using the Hudson as a conduit for electrical power cables for NYC. How much must the River give … More