Filed Under: Environmental Issues | New York City | Water | Water

Hudson RiverHudson River The Hudson River is one of New York's outstanding natural resources - world-renowned for its history, estuarine ecosystem and scenery - and a vital part of the Atlantic coast's ecosystem. It was designated as one of the nation’s first American Heritage Rivers in 1998. The American Heritage Rivers initiative is a Federal program that supports local efforts to enhance the economy, culture and environment of great American rivers. Designation as an American Heritage River compliments New York’s plan for the long-term protection and restoration of the river. The river stretches 315 miles from Lake Tear of the Clouds in the Adirondacks to the Battery in New York City. The lower 200 miles from Hudson Falls to New York Harbor is also the nation's largest Superfund site. Over time, PCB levels declined significantly. However, after the initial decline, the levels stabilized and 25 years later the EPA found that the PCB levels in the river sediment are still at extremely dangerous levels. After years of legal action, GE was ordered to pay for cleanup in 2002. In March of 2003, the state Department of Environmental Conservation ordered GE to remove the old plants, remove the contaminated sediment and drill reverse wells to drain PCB oils into the shale bedrock. Sites for the decontamination of the dredged spoil are currently being chosen. The Hudson River Estuary Management Plan, another program of NEP, was created in 1996 to develop a 15-year management plan for protecting and improving the health of the Hudson River estuary while balancing residents' recreational and commercial uses of the river. By 2002, the State had committed to spending $173 million on 200 projects to monitor and preserve biodiversity, encourage scientific research, acquire open space and improve river access. The Plan is a work in progress with new initiatives and updates announced every two years. In 2000, the Governor proposed the Hudson River Research Center. The Center will use state, federal and private funding to support research and education and to encourage more coordinated planning for the river’s well-being. The Center will be located in Beacon, New York. To complement these efforts, many watchdog groups, including Scenic Hudson, Riverkeeper and Clearwater, are working to ensure a clean future for the Hudson River.