What is the Hudson River Estuary Program?
The Estuary Program helps people enjoy, protect and revitalize the Hudson River and its Valley. The program was created in 1987 and extends from the Troy dam to upper New York Harbor. The program is guided by an Action Agenda which is updated periodically. This is the draft of the new Action Agenda for 2015-2020 (http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/4920.html). The program achieves real progress through a collaborative approach that includes:
- Grants and restoration projects
- Education, research and training
- Natural resource conservation and protection
- Community planning assistance
Implementation of the Action Agenda relies on partnerships with federal and state agencies, as well as local municipalities, non-profits, academic and scientific institutions, businesses, trade organizations, landowners and dedicated volunteers. The Hudson River Estuary Management Advisory Committee provides guidance to the program, helps the state define goals and evaluate progress, and provides a communication bridge to a wider group of partners and stakeholders. Numerous government partners participate as ex-officio members to the committee and help deliver our Action Agenda results. Agency members include:
- NYS Department of Health
- NYS Department of State
- NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
- Hudson River Park Trust
- Hudson River Valley Greenway
- NY Sea Grant
- US Army Corps of Engineers
- US Environmental Protection Agency
- NY-NJ Harbor Estuary Program
- Interstate Environmental Commission
- New York City Department of Environmental Protection
The Mission of the Hudson River Estuary Program
The Hudson River Estuary Program’s mission is to use a combination of science and outreach to help people enjoy, protect, and revitalize the Hudson River estuary. Created in 1987 through the Hudson River Estuary Management Act (ECL 11-0306), the program focuses on the tidal Hudson and its adjacent watershed, from the dam at Troy to the Verrazano Narrows in New York City.
The mission of the Estuary Program is built around six key benefits:
- Clean Water
- Resilient Communities
- Vital Estuary Ecosystem
- Estuary Fish, Wildlife, & Habitats
- Natural Scenery
- Education, River Access, Recreation, & Inspiration
The Estuary Program works in close collaboration with many partners: nonprofit organizations, businesses, local governments, state and federal agencies, and interested citizens. It is funded through the NYS Environmental Protection Fund.
More information on the Hudson River Estuary Program can be found here.