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New York Harbor

Downtown NYC

Photo courtesy Giles Ashford/

Mouth of the River

A modern journey upriver begins with the churn of ferry boats, the cry of gulls circling garbage barges and the roar of traffic. Millions of New Yorkers have discovered the pleasures of the harbor; now we all share the responsibility of restoring its natural abundance.

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Fight Pollution

Riverkeeper leads the battle to rescue Newtown Creek, a near-dead waterway on the border between Brooklyn and Queens. Contaminated by a colossal 17 million gallon oil spill and on-going illegal pollution, the creek was neglected for years. Residents of the area have some of the highest rates of asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema in the city. Riverkeeper's efforts have brought the matter not only into the courts, but to the attention of the government, which owes its citizens the basic right of clean air and water.”

Conserve Water [image]

Photo courtesy The Gaia Institute

The marshes and forests that used to grow throughout the New York City region have long since been replaced by skyscrapers, loading docks, and parking lots. One result is that even medium-sized rains overwhelm the city's antiquated sewage systems and cause polluting run-offs. By "green"planting on street corners and rooftops, we can capture excess stormwater and significantly reduce the amount of raw sewage now being diverted into New York Harbor.

Tell Gov. Hochul to block invasive species at the Erie and Champlain canals
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