Environment DEC
From the October 2003 issue
Estuary Week Activities on Hudson River
Hudson River Estuary Week, which ran from September 20 through 28, 2003, offered dozens of events from New York Harbor to Troy in celebration of the important coastal habitats that provide New York State with many environmental, recreational and economic benefits.
Hudson River Estuary Week included walks, boat rides and festivals, demonstrating the importance of the estuary and the need to protect it. Participants could try their hands at seining for fish, exploring tidal swamps, meeting up with waterfowl, counting migratory birds and exploring biodiversity. Hikers learned about tree species, vernal pools and forest ecology plus the traditional uses of plants as food and medicine.
This year, DEC's Hudson River Estuary Program teamed up with the Hudson River Valley Greenway and its Hudson River Ramble. The Ramble brought visitors outside to explore the 154-mile long Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area through more than 125 guided outdoors experiences.
The Importance of Estuaries
Estuaries are among the most
productive of earth's ecosystems
Estuaries are coastal habitats that serve as spawning grounds and nurseries for at least two thirds of the nation's commercial fish and shellfish. They also provide recreation, such as swimming, boating and bird watching. The Hudson River Estuary is a nursery for key migratory fish species of the Atlantic Coast, including shad, sturgeon, striped bass and river herring.
DEC's Hudson River Estuary Program leads a regional partnership to restore the tidal waters of the Hudson and the surrounding valley that forms the estuary watershed. The program's mission is to conserve the region's world-renowned heritage of fish, wildlife, streams and scenery and to provide places for people to use and enjoy them.
