Filed Under: Environmental Issues | Westchester | Open Space

The Hudson River is one of New York's outstanding natural resources. It is world-renowned for its history and scenery, and is a vital part of the Atlantic coast's ecosystem. Designated by the U.S. Congress as one of ten American Heritage Rivers in 1999, the Hudson is also the nation's largest Superfund site because of the high levels of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenols) that contaminate its 200 miles of riverbed. The major offenders were two General Electric (GE) plants near Albany that deposited more than 1.3 million pounds of PCBs directly into the river over the course of 30 years. The practice was outlawed in 1977 when the US Environmental Protection Agency banned the use of PCBs.

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 the cleanup in 2002. In March 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 Action Plan, devised by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection aims to protect and improve the health of the Hudson River estuary while balancing recreational and commercial use 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 Action Plan is a work in progress with new initiatives and updates announced every two years.

The proposed Hudson River Research Center will be a science center dedicated to the river's history and ecology. 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 Hudson RiverIn 2003 it was announced that 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. One example is the annual Great River Sweep, sponsored by Scenic Hudson, when the public is enlisted to spend the day removing debris from the river's edge.

With the revitalization of the Hudson well underway, more and more people are seeking access to the river for recreation. Unfortunately, Metro North's Hudson River rail line prevents many Westchester residents from reaching the river. To ease this problem the State created a task force in 1999 making available funding for the construction or rehabilitation of bridges, ramps, and other means of access to the river.

After an initial review, the task force selected nine sites to receive funding, including five in Westchester: the railroad station in Greystone, Zinsser Bridge in Hastings, Sparta Dock in Ossining, Annsville Creek in Cortland, and the municipal boat launch in Irvington. Recently, eighteen more projects were funded, including Wicker Creek in Dobbs Ferry, Ardsley station, Irvington station, Lyndhurst in Tarrytown, Kingsland Point Park, Rockwood Hall in Sleepy Hollow, Crawbuckie Beach in Ossining, Furnace Dock Road in Cortland and Croton Point Park.

In addition to local, County and State agencies, private organizations aid many revitalization projects by providing funding as well as technical and planning expertise. For example Scenic Hudson, played a significant role in waterfront projects in Cortland Manor, Irvington, Peekskill, Verplanck and Yonkers. The Trust for Public Land assisted Croton-on-Hudson with acquisition of the last undeveloped waterfront parcel in that village. The Open Space Institute has bought up thousands of acres in the Hudson Valley, including 40 acres known as Glenville Woods in Greenburgh.

The Hudson River Valley Greenway

In 1991 New York State enacted legislation to create a 300-mile-long "greenway"  encompassing 242 communities in 13 counties in the Hudson River Valley. The law empowered the Hudson River Valley Greenway Communities Council, a State agency, to work with local and county governments to develop a voluntary regional planning compact. Through this compact, communities are eligible for special grants and technical and administrative support. To become eligible, interested communities must pass a resolution supporting the "Greenway Criteria," which include protecting natural and cultural resources, regional planning, economic development compatible with preservation and enhancement of resources, public access, and heritage and environmental education. To date, 46 municipalities and 26 communities in Westchester have endorsed the Greenway Criteria. Croton-on-Hudson, Peekskill and Tarrytown have been named "compact communities" which makes them eligible for special State aid and incentives.

The Greenway Act also created the Greenway Conservancy, a public benefit corporation dedicated to creating the Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail system for hiking, biking and paddling. The goal is for trails on both sides of the Hudson to link recreational areas with historic and architectural sites and provide educational opportunities. The Conservancy provides technical and financial assistance and works closely with local governments, organizations and individuals. In order to receive State support, a trail must be open to the public, be safe for public use, and have a maintenance plan.

Parties Involved: (contact information in chapter 7)

Government
Environmental Protection Agency; State: Hudson River Estuary Program of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation;

Regional
EPA Long Island Sound Study , Long Island Sound Watershed Alliance, Long Island Sound Watershed Inter-municipal Council.

Advocates
Hudson River Environmental Society (New Paltz), Hudson Riverkeeper, Long Island Soundkeeper Fund Inc., Natural Resources Defense Council, Save the Sound, Soundwatch, Baykeeper, Environmental Defense, Hudson River Clearwater, Scenic Hudson.