Hudson River Estuary Program: 2021 By the Numbers
 In 2021, DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program awarded 39 Estuary Grants, supported 19 research projects, and provided hands-on technical assistance to 62 municipalities and three county agencies in 165 locations throughout the Hudson River Valley. More than $3 million in NYS Environmental Protection Funds supported these projects, which included tree plantings, climate-adaptation plans, water quality monitoring, fish habitat restoration, river access improvements, and education programs. Our funding leveraged more than $10 million in grants and funding from local governments, state and federal agencies, and environmental organizations.
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65, 770 people subscribe to our e-newsletter Hudson RiverNet and almost 19,000 subscribe to the Hudson River Almanac.
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2,763 local decision-makers received training on best management practices for climate-adaptation, watershed protection, conservation and land use, and sustainable shorelines.
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3,430 people volunteered to help amphibians cross roads, count eels, plant trees, and record fishing data for striped bass.
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39 Estuary Grants totaling $1,576,180 were awarded this year, with 77 percent in environmental justice communities.
- This year marked the 43rd year of tracking and monitoring the dynamics of migratory fish populations in the Hudson River estuary.
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36 candidate restoration sites in the tidal Hudson and its tributaries were assessed to identify project type and potential benefit.
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18,961 visits were made to hrecos.org, the Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System website from universities, nonprofit organizations, boaters, and state and federal agencies interested in environmental monitoring data.
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Trees for Tribs staff and over 620 volunteers planted more than 4,800 native trees and shrubs, restoring 10.7 acres on 1.5 miles of stream.
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23 watershed groups worked with us to achieve regional stream conservation goals.
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47 percent of communities in the Hudson Valley have taken the Climate Smart Communities pledge, and 14 percent are certified Climate Smart.
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12 municipalities have created new or updated conservation practices, plans, and policies, including 5 in priority conservation areas; 32.3 percent of municipalities have used Natural Resource Inventories in their planning.
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10,264 students, educators, volunteers, and members of the public participated in remote and in-person Hudson River environmental education programs.
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24 new Hudson River curriculum modules will help schools teach about the Hudson.
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6 Estuary Grants totaling $269,716 were awarded to local governments and nonprofit organizations to enhance river access in their communities and improve accessibility for everyone, including people with disabilities.
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