Green Guru Network

Dan Shapley

Riverkeeper

On Saturday, May 11, more than 1,380 volunteers removed over 36 tons of trash from more than 70 shorelines, and planted 300 trees and shrubs.

We are incredibly proud of you for making the 2nd annual Riverkeeper Sweep live up to its mission as a the biggest day of service for the Hudson River.

As part of the Waterkeeper Alliance SPLASH series, presented nationally by Toyota, we’re connected to volunteers and advocates nationwide, all stepping up this spring and summer to highlight ways we can make our waterways healthier for wildlife, and safer for swimming, fishing and drinking.

The bottom line: Our river, its estuary and its watershed are cleaner today, because of YOU!

So what’s next? Stay involved. The Riverkeeper Sweep happens once a year but the river needs you all year round.

Do you want fish that are abundant—and safe to eat? Do you want water that is consistently safe for swimming?

Working together, we can make it so.

Give back to the river you love! On Saturday, May 11, Green Guru Network supports the Riverkeeper Sweep day of service for the Hudson River, is set to double in scope, with more than 60 volunteer led shoreline cleanups and other service projects throughout New York City and the Hudson Valley. The Riverkeeper Sweep is a Waterkeeper Alliance SPLASH Series Event, presented nationally by Toyota. Our sponsors include Joe and Daryl Boren, The Durst Organization, Paragon Sports, Sprout Watches, Whole Foods Market, Pleasant Valley Stone, Mother Earth’s Storehouse, New York Kayak Company, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? New City, Metal Container Corp. (a unit of Anheuser-Busch InBev) and Sea Tow Central Hudson.Volunteer: Register to volunteer at a cleanup near you, and order your exclusive T-shirt at riverkeeper.org/sweep.

Riverkeeper

Today Riverkeeper released our second comprehensive report on sewage in the Hudson. We have been testing water quality along the 155-mile Hudson River Estuary since 2006 and have analyzed over 2300 samples to date.

We find that the Hudson continues to suffer from sewage contamination but the frequency and degree of contamination varies greatly location-by-location and at different times. You can see the water quality findings at each of our 74 Hudson sampling locations on our online database.

“How Is the Water?” compares regional water quality, in wet weather and dry, for the Capital District, Bear Mountain to Catskills, Westchester-Rockland and NY Harbor and the results may surprise you. We explain our water quality findings, discuss the different sources of the pollution, and provide concrete actions New York can take to reduce sewage contamination on our waterfronts. Take a look.

Summary of our key findings
 
View Full Report
    1. Water quality varies location by location.
    2. Water quality varies over time.
    3. Sites vary in both the degree (how high is the sewage concentration), and the frequency (how often does it occur) of contamination.
    4. Wet weather is a common trigger of sewage contamination.
    5. Sewage contamination is often higher near the shoreline and at the confluence of tributaries.

Riverkeeper’s Action Agenda
    1. Reinvest in Wastewater Infrastructure
    2. Enforce Existing Water Quality Protection Laws
    3. Improve NY State Water Quality Standards
    4. Engage Citizens in Local Solutions
    5. Start Frequent Water Quality Monitoring & Prediction
    6. Notify the Public of Sewage Contamination

Learn more
Support this program

 View Full Report

Riverkeeper

As you address damage from Superstorm Sandy flood waters in your home, apartment or business, Riverkeeper wants you to be aware of critical safety tips that could prevent sickness today and for years to come.

AVOID MOLD: CLEAN NOW, CLEAN THOROUGHLY

Federal, state and city health and environmental officials agree with our scientific experts, who believe that mold may be the biggest long-term problem we face.

To avoid mold, remove standing water and dry indoor areas thoroughly. Discard anything that was wet for more than 24-48 hours, including mattresses, carpeting and rugs, upholstered furniture, cosmetics, stuffed animals, baby toys, pillows, foam rubber items, books, wall coverings and most paper products. Wash clothing used during cleanup separately from other laundry and with hot water and detergent.

For detailed cleanup instructions, see this CDC Website or Fact Sheet. For additional tips, look to the NYC Department of Environmental Protection's flood site. If you need professional help in the New York City area, the DEP recommends contacting an environmental contractor. A list of contractors in the New York City area is provided by the Environmental Contractors Association.

AVOID CONTACT WITH FLOOD WATERS

We also want to reiterate that flood waters are likely contaminated with sewage and possibly with other hazardous pollutants. During the storm, as with any rain storm, sewage was discharged untreated from most New York City, Northern New Jersey and Hudson Valley sewer systems; the usual flow of sewage was compounded by power outages, storm surge flooding and other conditions that kept some plants off line after the storm. Today, nearly all plants in New York City and the Hudson Valley are fully treating waste and operating at full capacity. Exceptions include the Rockaway plant, discharging untreated waste to the Atlantic Ocean; and the Oakwood, Coney Island and Yonkers plants, which are either treating partially or at less than full capacity. The situation in New Jersey looks troubling, with hundreds of millions of gallons of untreated sewage still discharging daily into New York-New Jersey Harbor and Raritan Bay.

If you must come into contact with flood waters, wear gloves and other protections to prevent direct contact, especially with open wounds; wash frequently with soap, especially before eating or drinking; and keep vaccinations current. Do not smoke.

REDUCE WATER USE

Particularly if you live in an area where a sewage plant is compromised, including Westchester County's Hudson River towns, limit your use of water to essential needs like cooking and drinking (follow boil water directives if in place in your area). Follow the "if it's yellow, let it mellow" mantra to limit flushing of toilets. This will reduce strain on the plants while they aren't running at full capacity or treating waste thoroughly. Try to make these steps a habit—especially during rain storms—to reduce water pollution.

While Riverkeeper focuses on storm response critical to our core mission of protecting the Hudson River and our drinking water, we want you to be safe and well informed as you respond to flooding in your home, business or neighborhood. If you're fortunate enough not to have been affected by the storm, consider how you can help others.
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Riverkeeper's lights are on, our servers are up and running, and despite the extraordinary damage on the Hudson Line, our office is fully staffed for the first time this week. Sadly, we can't say the same for many of our friends and neighbors, and we want to urge you to help out if you can.

HOW TO HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS

- New York Cares is a clearinghouse for volunteer opportunities in New York City.

- The Volunteer Center offers ways to help in Westchester County and the Mid-Hudson Valley

- The Brooklyn Community Center is a clearinghouse for opportunities in Brooklyn

- Long Island Volunteer Center does the same on Long Island

- New Jersey's Volunteer Emergency Response Hotline is 1-800-537-7397

As Riverkeeper learns of volunteer opportunities central to our mission of protecting the Hudson River and our drinking water supply, we will mobilize people who want to help. Please fill out our volunteer survey so we can alert you to future opportunities.

HOW TO HELP THE HUDSON

In addition to the extraordinary impacts to our homes and public infrastructure, Supestorm Sandy also had an extraordinary impact to our environment. Riverkeeper has sounded the alarm about widespread pollution in the Hudson River and New York Harbor by a variety of toxic chemicals, including petroleum and fluids from cars and boats; contaminants from flooded subways, roads, parking lots and tunnels; and contaminants washed from shoreline industrial sites, as well as commercial and residential buildings. Our message is being heard, as the press reports on widespread pollution, as well as specific waterways, from the Gowanus Canal to the Rondout Creek.

You can do a service for our water by helping Riverkeeper to document this pollution. Where possible, we will take action with environmental agencies to remedy pollution. In all instances, documenting pollution will help us understand the impacts of this extraordinary storm surge, so we can advocate for actions that will lessen or eliminate impacts from the next storm.

When you see something, take photos, and note the location, time and conditions, as well as any other necessary information.

- Report Pollution Online using Riverkeeper's form

- Send an email to watchdog@riverkeeper.org

- Report active spills or emergency situations directly to the Department of Environmental Conservation Spills hotline at 1-800-457-7362

A Joint Presentation by Clearwater and Riverkeeper

November 30, 2011, 6:30 - 8:00 PM

Beczak Environmental Education Center
35 Alexander Street, Yonkers, NY

The public is invited to join representatives from Clearwater's Green Cities Initiative and Riverkeeper's Patrol Boat Program for presentations about water quality in the Hudson River and its tributaries, and what we can do to improve it.

The Hudson River has long defined the character and quality of life in our communities. In recent decades the Hudson has enjoyed a revival with increasing numbers of people wanting to live near it and recreate in it. However, our management of the river has not kept pace with its new role as a popular recreational destination.

Because the cities of the Hudson River Valley drive regional economic development and have high concentrations of diverse people and environmental concerns, Clearwater has developed the Green Cities Initiative. Clearwater will present its Green Cities programs, which include working with underserved communities in waterfront cities to include principles of sustainability into all phases of municipal and community planning.

For six years, Riverkeeper's Patrol Boat and its scientific partners have been testing the water for sewage

The Riverkeeper released it's long waited and highly informative "How's The Water" report August 9, 2011. On the warm and overcast Croton Point beach Paul Galley and John Lipscome were joined by New York State Senator Adriano Espaillat and New York State Assemblyman Thomas Abinanti, press and activists to make public Riverkeeper's water monitoring results. The report focuses primarily on Enterococcus, a sewage indicating bacterium, with some surprising results. Newsday covers the story as does CBS local and Seatle PI.

Find up to date water quality test results for your part of the Hudson.