Sampling the Rondout Estuary
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Saturday, we sampled water quality with dozens of partners on the Wallkill River and Rondout Creek. These two combine to form the largest tributary in the tidal reach of the Hudson River, the gorgeous Rondout Estuary that meets the Hudson at Kingston.
We had help this month from Ron Searl, whom we’ve gotten to know well in our time collaborating with the Hudson River Maritime Museum. He piloted the museum’s boat for us so we could gather samples on the creek and near Kingston Point Beach, to complete our one-day snapshot of water quality in this arm of the Hudson River watershed. Here are a few shots from the morning patrol.
Capt. Ron Searl. Ron builds exhibits for the Hudson River Maritime Museum, among other things. Turns out he’s a pretty good river pilot, too. (Photo by Dan Shapley / Riverkeeper)
An immature eagle perched atop the Rondout Lighthouse. Good view, in both directions. (Photo by Dan Shapley / Riverkeeper)
On cue, a train rumbled above, as we passed under the tall railroad bridge that crosses the Rondout. (Photo by Dan Shapley / Riverkeeper)
We weren’t the only ones hard at work. Feeney Shipyard is the last operation of its kind on the Hudson, at least outside the Capital District or New York City. (Photo by Dan Shapley / Riverkeeper)
The Rondout Estuary ends just upstream of the red bridge, where the Eddyville dam blocks approximately 3.6 miles of river from the herring that spawn here in the Spring, and other fish that would otherwise move through. (Photo by Dan Shapley / Riverkeeper)