Defend the Hudson

Protect River Ecology

Photo Courtesy Giles Ashford

The Hudson River is not your typical river. In fact, most of the Hudson is actually a tidal estuary where salt water from the ocean combines with freshwater from northern tributaries. This “brackish”, or mixing, water extends from the mouth of the Hudson to the Federal Dam in Troy, NY, approximately 153 miles. The salt front of the estuary, where the freshwater runoff meets the saline water, may range from the Tappan Zee Bridge/Yonkers in the spring to Newburgh Bay/Poughkeepsie in the late summer or during droughts. Because the Hudson River is a tidal estuary, meaning it ebbs and flows with the ocean tide, it supports a biologically rich environment; making it an important ecosystem for various species of aquatic life. For many key species, it provides critical habitats and essential spawning and breeding grounds.

• Improving Hudson River Water Quality Swimmable River

  In Brief:

  One of the most frequently asked questions in the Hudson Valley is whether it is safe to swim and boat in the Hudson River. Each year, millions of citizens spend time in or on the Hudson River and the waters surrounding New York City.

  Riverkeeper’s Swimmable River Campaign is comprised of our water quality testing program and advocacy and litigation on better water quality policies, better wastewater treatment infrastructure and better monitoring and public notification of river conditions.
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• The Hudson EcosystemFishable River

  In Brief:

  Riverkeeper’s Fishable River Campaign is aimed at halting the decline of the Hudson River’s signature fish species and restoring their numbers to sustainable levels. The campaign addresses the many negative impacts on the health of our fish including: habitat loss and degradation, sewage overflows, power plant fishkills, invasive species, ocean bycatch and overfishing.
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• Habitat Protection & Improvement

  In Brief:

  The Hudson River is one of the most important estuaries along the Atlantic seaboard, serving as a critical spawning ground and nursery for many fish species and other wildlife.

  Since our founding, Riverkeeper has been engaged in reviewing plans for development in and along the Hudson River and intervening when those plans will result in damage to critical habitats, the future health of the river and the communities that rely on it.
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