Hudson RiverNet

RFP Available for Outreach and Preliminary Design
for the Removal or Replacement of Dams or Culverts in the Hudson River Estuary, Deadline September 4

The New England Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) Hudson River Estuary Program are soliciting proposals to design and implement an outreach and education effort to inform communities and individuals who own or manage stream barriers (dams or culverts) about the impact of barriers on stream ecology and resiliency and introduce them to existing opportunities to support culvert replacement or dam removal. The title of this RFP is "Owner Outreach and Design of Biologically Important Barriers in the Hudson River Estuary". 

To view this RFP please visit the 'contractor opportunities' page on the website of the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission. Approximately $100,000 is available for this project. The deadline for application is September 4 at 12 noon.

DEC Invites Ideas for Habitat Restoration Projects in the Area of Southern Haverstraw Bay

The former General Motors North Tarrytown Assembly Plant historically discharged wastewater into the Hudson River, contaminating river sediments with pollutants including mercury, lead, copper, zinc and chromium. NYSDEC has approximately $880,000 available to fund restoration projects that compensate for these damages to natural resources.

We invite you to submit your suggestions for projects to restore, rehabilitate, or conserve aquatic habitat and species in the vicinity of the Hudson River’s Southern Haverstraw Bay near the villages of Tarrytown and Nyack, New York. Project ideas will be evaluated in accordance with 43 C.F.R. § 11.82(d). Evaluation criteria include: nexus to damaged resources (contaminated Hudson River sediments); likelihood of success; basis in best available science; cost effectiveness; ability to produce demonstrable and quantifiable benefits; and compatibility with NYSDEC’s resource management goals. Please note: This is not a Request for Proposals (RFP).

National Estuaries Day Celebration
Hudson River Research Reserve, September 20

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Hudson River Research Reserve invites the public to celebrate National Estuaries Day at a hands-on “Science on the River” open house at Norrie Point Environmental Center in Staatsburg, N. Y. The event will take place on Sunday, September 20, 2015 from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m.

Help fish the waters around Norrie Point to find out who lives there. Canoe a tidal marsh of the Hudson (weather and space permitting). Learn what “SAV” means and why plants that live underwater are important to the river. Help take a sediment core from the cove and discover what it can teach us. See how the types of organisms living in a stream indicate its health.

Many activities are planned especially for our youngest visitors. This program is free and most exhibit areas are wheelchair accessible. There’s something for everyone at “Science on the River”.

This year Arm-of-the-Sea Theater will present Hook, Line & Sinker, a unique, family-friendly performance about the Hudson River featuring large-scale mask and puppet characters and live music. The play celebrates the timeless art of fishing, while offering advice about eating fish from the river. For more information please visit Hook, Line and Sinker on the Arm-of-the-Sea website.

For directions, please see the DEC webpage Visit the Research Reserve. For further information, please call (845) 889-4745 x 109, or email james.herrington@dec.ny.gov.

photo credit Mark Nelson, courtesy Arm-of-the-Sea Theater

 
Climate Smart Communities (CSC)  Conference September 25, 2015
The Orange County Department of Planning will co-sponsor a Climate Smart Communities (CSC)  Conference on Friday, September 25, 2015 at SUNY Newburgh, New York. At the CSC Conference, municipal leaders, staff, volunteers, State officials, and community stakeholders will learn about best practices, resources, tools, and New York State programs available to support local clean energy and climate protection efforts. The CSC Conference will be a full-day event, curated by the CSC Mid-Hudson Regional Coordinator and will be held at the State University of New York (SUNY) in Newburgh. Reserve your seat and spend a day networking with peers and learning about resources to help your community achieve CSC program goals.  To register online visit the Climate Smart Communities 2015 Conference.