Hudson River Estuary Program
Helping People Enjoy, Protect & Revitalize the Hudson River & Its Valley
- $750,000 Available for Hudson Estuary Communities
- 2020 State of the Hudson Report (leaves DEC website)
What is the Hudson River Estuary Program?
The Hudson River Estuary Program helps people enjoy, protect, and revitalize the Hudson River and its valley. Created in 1987 through the Hudson River Estuary Management Act, the program focuses on the tidal Hudson and adjacent watershed from the federal dam at Troy to the Verrazano Narrows in New York City (see map of Hudson River Estuary Program Boundary (PDF).
The Estuary Program is built around six benefits:
- Clean water
- Resilient communities
- Vital estuary ecosystem
- Estuary fish, wildlife, and habitats
- Natural scenery
- Education, river access, recreation, and inspiration
How does the program work?
The program is guided by an Action Agenda, a conservation and restoration blueprint developed with significant community input. The Hudson River Estuary Program collaborates with many partners including nonprofit organizations, academic and scientific institutions, businesses, local governments, state and federal agencies, and interested citizens. This collaborative approach includes:
- Grant funding for planning, access, and education projects
- Research, education, and training
- Natural resource conservation and protection
- Restoration projects
- Community planning assistance
The Hudson River Estuary Management Advisory Committee steers the program, which is built on sound science and principles of ecosystem-based management. The advisory committee includes representatives of the commercial fishing industry, recreational anglers, utility companies, local government, educators, researchers, conservationists and other river users helps engage many representatives of the public in working together toward common goals.
Making A Difference for the Hudson River Estuary
With projects that help manage and restore key species like striped bass and bald eagles, estuary grants have allowed counties, towns and villages in the Hudson River Valley to take ownership of their resources and define the future of their communities while contributing to the overall health and beauty of the region. Cooperation with partners such as the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve is key to the Hudson River Estuary Program's success. Read Making A Difference for the Hudson River Estuary for more information on progress to restore the Hudson River Estuary.
History of the Hudson River Estuary Program
During the 1960s and 70s, public concern for the protection of the Hudson's fisheries led to the passage of the 1979 Hudson River Fisheries Management Act. In 1987, recognizing that conservation of the river's fish, habitats and ecosystem requires a broader, multi-disciplinary approach, the fisheries law was replaced by the Hudson River Estuary Management Act, found in Section 11-0306 of the New York State Environmental Conservation Law. This act directed DEC to develop a plan and program for the conservation of the estuary-the tidal portion of the river from the Troy dam south to the Verrazano Narrows-- and its associated shorelands.
More about Hudson River Estuary Program:
- Hudson River Almanac - The Hudson River Almanac is a yearly journal of natural history observations from folks who are excited by what they see on the Hudson and interested in sharing their experiences.
- State And Federal Agencies with Hudson River Programs - Summaries of Hudson River Programs of State and Federal Agencies.
- Hudson RiverNet: Hudson River Estuary Newsletter - RiverNet is the NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program's quarterly online newsletter
- Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda - The blueprint for the Hudson River Estuary Program.
- Hudson River Estuary Program Publications - Descriptions and links to publications available from the Hudson River Estuary Program
- Fish of the Hudson River Estuary - General information on Hudson River fishes.
- Teaching About the Hudson River Estuary - Resources for educators, students and families to learn about the Hudson, including outdoor programs, lesson plans, posters, education centers, exhibits, interpretive signs, and descriptions of key river issues.
- Clean Water for the Hudson River Estuary - Water quality information and resources to promote community-based improvements in the health of the Hudson estuary and of the streams and wetlands in its watershed.
- Conservation and Land Use Program for the Hudson River Estuary Watershed - This program develops science-based information about Hudson Valley plants, animals, and habitats and offers it to land managers, landowners, planners, and policy makers for the purpose of conservation.
- Aquatic Habitats of the Hudson River Estuary - Aquatic habitats are vitally important to wildlife and ecosystems as a whole. Learn more about the key habitats of the Hudson River estuary, including shorelines, tidal wetlands, submerged aquatic vegetation, and the river bottom.
- Access to the Hudson River Estuary - Encouraging Hudson Valley residents to experience and explore the Hudson River whether by foot, on a boat, catching fish, or getting wet is a primary goal of the Hudson River Estuary Program's River Access Project.
- Climate-adapted Communities in the Hudson River Estuary - The Climate Change Program for the Hudson River Estuary helps communities to adapt to climate change and become more resilient to climate risks.
- Grants Program and Funding Opportunities for the Hudson River Estuary - Hudson River Estuary Program Grants were created to help fulfill those goals of the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda that can be implemented most effectively by municipalities, not for profits, and other local partners.
- Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System - The Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System (HRECOS) is a network of six stations gathering meterologic and water quality data in the Hudson River Estuary stretching from Schodack Point in the north to Castle Point, NJ off from Manhattan in the south.
- Community Science Volunteer Opportunities in the Hudson River Estuary - Hudson Valley citizen stewardship projects that you can get involved in
