1990’S

The New York State Department of Health orders NYC to construct a filtration plant for the Catskill/Delaware watershed, a project which would cost the city $8 billion.

The Hudson River Settlement expires.

The Clean Water Act permits for Indian Point, Roseton and Bowline expire, but their automatic extension allows the three power plants to continue using their antiquated cooling systems until the permits are reevaluated.

The National Alliance of River, Sound and Baykeepers based on the Riverkeeper model, is established under the leadership of John Cronin.

Riverkeeper wins a suit against New York City, filed because the city’s Tannersville sewage plant in the Catskills is a chronic polluter; and because the city dumps excessive chemical disinfectants into the Rondout Reservoir to deal with algae.

DEC modifies its fishing ban on the Hudson to allow “catch and release” recreational fishing in the Upper Hudson from Hudson Falls to the Troy Dam.

After a massive public education campaign, Riverkeeper helps negotiate and signs the Watershed Memorandum of Agreement which incorporates the concerns of the city, upstate watershed communities and environmentalists to provide for the protection of NYC’s watershed without the need for a filtration system and adopts the Watershed Rules and Regulations.

Time Magazine dubs Kennedy and Cronin “Heroes for the Planet.”

The Riverkeepers, by Kennedy and Cronin, is published by Scribner Books.

Kennedy takes the helm of The National Alliance of River, Sound and Baykeepers which now comprises 35 Keeper groups. Its name is changed to the Waterkeeper Alliance.