For Release: Wednesday, June 29, 2005
State Announces Completion of Hudson River Swim Study
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Acting Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan and Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) Commissioner Bernadette Castro today announced the results of a two-year study to identify potential swimming sites along the Hudson River.
The report, "Swimming in the Hudson River Estuary," researched possible sites along the river from the Troy Dam to the Battery at the southern tip of Manhattan. The study was completed by LMS Engineers, Pearl River, in partnership with The Hudson Group, Albany. The New York State Department of State (DOS) and the State Department of Health (DOH) also participated.
"The revitalization of the Hudson River has been a personal priority for Governor Pataki, and thanks to his commitment, this majestic waterway is cleaner and more vibrant than it has been in decades," Commissioner Sheehan said. "We have dedicated unprecedented resources and effort to bring the Hudson back to its full potential, and this study helps chart a path for the river's future and continued resurgence."
Commissioner Castro said, "Swimming in the Hudson was a well-documented historic use of the river for centuries, and provided much needed relief from the summer heat in the years before backyard pools and major public swim facilities. As communities rediscover their river waterfronts, this study will provide important information to guide them as they consider reestablishing a great Hudson River tradition. This step furthers Governor Pataki's strong commitment to expanding recreational access on the river and improving the quality of life for all New Yorkers."
In his 2004 State of the State Address, Governor Pataki set the ambitious goal of making the Hudson River suitable for swimming from its source high in the Adirondacks all the way to Manhattan and ensuring that every community along the Hudson has at least one new or upgraded access point to the River by 2009 - the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's voyage up the River.
The objective of the study was to inventory and investigate sites that could accommodate safe swimming while meeting local and State regulations and other factors that govern the establishment of beaches. A survey of approximately 3,000 residents and organizations in the Hudson River Valley resulted in the identification of 100 swimming locations. These became the basis for further investigation.
This list was narrowed to 22 potential sites. The consultants conducted field reviews of each site based on selected criteria such as size, slope, currents, accessibility and water quality. The consultant report identified 18 potential sites. Five of these sites are currently being operated as local swimming beaches. One of these new swimming beaches only operates sporadically due to the presence of water chestnuts, an invasive plant species. According to the study, the remaining 13 sites possess several characteristics that make them excellent candidates. For public swimming, they also face specific challenges, such as water quality, erosion and land ownership before they can become local swimming beaches.
The study will serve as a guide for future recreational opportunities along the Hudson River. The next steps will be to work with local communities and landowners at the sites that were identified to determine if there is interest in exploring the potential of these sites further.
New York State has provided more than $368 million to support the recovery of the Hudson River Estuary since 1996. Programs have improved the health of the waterway, protected critical habitats, and increased recreational access to this treasured area. An additional $62 million has been committed to projects north of the estuary from the Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act and Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) for projects to improve the health of the Hudson River.
Earlier this year, Governor Pataki announced more than $1.3 million in Hudson River Estuary grants for 46 local community projects to strengthen and preserve the diverse natural resources of the Hudson River Estuary and its tributaries and watersheds. The Governor also announced the release of the Draft Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda 2005-2009. The Draft Action Agenda builds on the State's successful efforts to protect and conserve the natural resources of the Hudson River and outlines initiatives that will continue the progress made in restoring the historic waterway.
In 1996, Governor Pataki released the first Hudson River Estuary Action Plan, a comprehensive blueprint for the long-term protection and renewal of the river and its ecosystem from New York Harbor to the Troy dam. The Plan, which was updated in April, identifies priority actions designed to improve water quality; clean-up toxic contaminants; restore fisheries; protect open space and scenery; and improve public access to the river.
In his 2000 State of the State Address, Governor Pataki announced his plan for a new research and education institute focusing on the rivers and estuaries of the world. Since that time, the strategic plan for the Rivers & Estuaries Center has been released, and the City of Beacon was chosen as the main site for the center, with satellite facilities planned for the City of Troy in cooperation with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and in Rockland County in cooperation with Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) of Columbia University. When complete, the center will be a world-class facility dedicated to the study of rivers and estuaries, including the historic Hudson.
In 2002, the Governor announced his plans for the Hudson "Riverscope" project. The project is being conducted through a partnership with the Rivers & Estuary Center, RPI and LDEO. In 2004, a pilot site of the project was launched in the Village of Halfmoon, Saratoga County, which will help to link monitoring sites along the river. The system will develop real-time data using robotic instrumentation to capture and analyze both long- and short-term events on the river, monitor long-term change, predict the spread of contaminants in the river and help to foster a better understanding of river behavior.
In 2003, Governor Pataki joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to designate a 153-mile stretch of the Hudson Estuary a "no discharge zone." This designation has and will continue to reduce the discharge of harmful wastes into the river, and ensure the health of the waterway. A no-discharge area is a designated body of water where discharge of treated or untreated boat sewage is prohibited. The designation builds on standards in federal law and helps protect the environment and public health from toxic materials or pathogens that can enter the water through boat sewage discharges.
To view the "Swimming in the Hudson Estuary" report, visit DEC's website.
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