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What You Can Do To Protect The Hudson River Estuary

The pollution problems facing the Hudson River today are quite different from those of the past. Discharges from industry and waste water treatment facilities have been minimized thanks to the Clean Water Act of 1972. Today, non-point source pollution, such as stormwater runoff, is a top priority for environmentalists and lawmakers. The combined effects of contaminated runoff from our individual homes, farms, and communities have put pressure on aquatic habitats, protected species, and overall water quality of our streams and the Hudson River estuary.

Make a commitment to be part of the solution. Here's how you can make a difference:

In Your Home

• Be a water saver! Every drop you save means more water for fish, wildlife, plants, and YOU.
• Use non-toxic cleaning supplies. Remember that the substances that go down your drain will eventually reach a body of water, affecting all the fish and invertebrates in the vicinity.
• Recycle your cans, bottles, plastic, and paper. Don't just stop there! Attempt to reduce the amount of waste coming into and out of your home...simplify.
• Recycle used motor oil. Take it to your local gas station. Motor oil is classified as a hazardous waste. Its destructive impact on wildlife can easily be avoided though proper disposal.
• Naturalize your yard. Plant rain gardens and native vegetation when landscaping your property to minimize soil erosion, provide habitat for native birds, and help keep drinking water clean.
• Go "green" on the lawn. Reduce the use of herbicides, pesticides, and chemical fertilizers.
• Promote vegetation buffers along streams. Lay off the lawn mower and preserve those streamside plants.
• Check you septic system and underground storage tanks (oil) regularly. This could potentially save you from a costly clean-up, and it will also prevent harmful bacteria and volatile compounds from entering your drinking water.

In Your Community

• Get involved. Support your local community and participate in a beach clean-up day. It's a great way to meet other river lovers, introduce kids to river stewardship, and spend a day on the river.
• Act locally. Talk to your local officials about your concern for clean water. In many communities, all it takes is a few persistent citizens to motivate local officials to do a better job protecting natural resources.
• Clean it up. Trash and dog waste can wash into our waters and harm the animals that live there.
• Prevent hazardous waste from ever reaching the river. Report chemical spills on roadways or bridges to hazardous waste teams.

Down by the River

• Carry out what you carry in. Leave areas by the river as clean (or cleaner!) than they were when you arrived for your picnic.
• Keep a trash bag in your tackle box. If you are a fisherman, dispose of your fishing line properly in order to prevent animal (or human!) entanglement...and while you're at it, pick up those styrofoam cups and cans strewn along the shore.

On Your Boat

• Don't pick up plant and animal hitchhikers. Reduce the spread of invasive species, such as zebra mussels and water chestnuts, by inspecting and hosing down your boat's hull and draining all bilge water before moving to new waterways.
• Slow down and enjoy! Treat vegetated shallows, marshes, and mudflats as no wake zones. This will minimize the uprooting of native plants and destruction of wildlife habitat. Take the time to relax and bask in the river's natural beauty.
• Use mild detergents when cleaning your boat. Toxic cleaners can poison the river's fish and other plants and animals. Natural and biodegradable products work just as well, without the detrimental side effects.
• Double your cycles. Four-cycle outboard motors are quieter, get much better mileage, and run cleaner than their two-cycle counterparts without compromising power, response, or torque.

We all have the power to make decisions about how we are going to live and interact with our environment. We are all a part of nature, not apart from it, and are able to enjoy and protect it during our day-to-day activities. So get out and savor the river with your family and friends...boat, fish, and hike along its shores, sit in quiet contemplation at one of the many riverside parks, or picnic on a beach and remember that how you do what you do will be reflected in the waters of this magnificent estuary.

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• Related Links:
• • Volunteer Hudson River Herring Monitoring Program
  • Hudson River Estuary
  • Hudson River
  • Green Living Tips and Resources
• Contact for this Page:
• The Hudson River Estuary Program
  NYSDEC Region 3
  21 S Putt Corners Rd
  New Paltz, NY 12561
  fax: (845) 255-3649
  845-256-3016
  email us