More Than $1.1 Million Awarded for Hudson River Estuary Watershed Projects
In January, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation revealed more than $1.1 million has been awarded to fund six projects designed to help decrease local flooding and restore aquatic habitats in Hudson River Estuary tributary streams. Funding is provided by the Natural Resource Damages Fund, the New York State Environmental Protection Fund and Great Lakes Projects, and the DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Grants Program.
Currently in its 18th year of operation, the DEC’s Estuary Grants Program is designed to help fulfill Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda priorities. These include clean water; resilient communities; a vital estuary ecosystem; estuary fish, wildlife and habitats; natural scenery; and education, river access, recreation, and inspiration. The six projects that received funding include:
- Riverkeeper — Westchester County
- Bard College — Dutchess County
- Riverkeeper — Orange County
- Hudson Valley Regional Council — Orange County
- Scenic Hudson — Ulster County
- Town of Story Point — Rockland County
General Electric Hudson River Cleanup Deemed Incomplete
A December 2018 state study exposed General Electric’s $1.7 billion PCB contamination cleanup in the upper Hudson River as incomplete and not conducive to the public health and environment, said Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a statement.
Consequently, he insisted that the Environmental Protection Agency not issue a certificate of completion to GE, ending the company’s responsibility for the Superfund site cleanup. In 2015, GE removed 2.75 million cubic yards of polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated river sediment. It’s been more than a year since the company requested a certification of completion.
The DEC completed a 294-page report on the latest sampling data that confirmed PCB levels are still too high in fish and sediments, according to Cuomo. However, the EPA and GE have taken a different stance. Released for public comment in June 2017, the EPA’s five-year review deemed cleanup efforts a success. This claim was rejected by the DEC and other environmental groups.
Hudson River Estuary One of the Healthiest on the Atlantic Coast
Despite the disagreement on certain cleanup efforts, it seems as a whole, they’ve largely been effective. The Hudson River Estuary is one of the healthiest on the Atlantic Coast, according to the DEC. One of 14 American Heritage Rivers, the restoration and protection of this river can be credited to the Department of Environmental Conservation, citizen groups, and government agencies.
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