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DEC Contact: Jomo Miller (518) 402-8000 October 19, 2015
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MEDIA ADVISORY FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015 - PHOTO OP“DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE HUDSON RIVER ESTUARY” CONNECTS STUDENTS TO THE HUDSON RIVER AND NEW YORK HARBOR |
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What: Approximately 4,700 students and 560 teachers from New York City to Troy become scientists for a day, collecting and analyzing real field data during hands-on exploration of the Hudson River Estuary. The press is invited to attend. When: Tuesday, October 20. Most sites conduct programs during school hours. (Program times outlined below. Where: More than 95 schools travel to nearby waterfronts in the Hudson River Estuary at 75+ locations between New York Harbor and the Federal Dam at Troy. (See schedule below.) Why: A primary goal of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is to connect New Yorkers to nature. DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program helps prepare students to become stewards of the river, a vital natural resource. The Hudson River Estuary Program is funded by the Environmental Protection Fund. On Tuesday, October 20 shorefronts along the Hudson River and the piers of New York Harbor will be busy with activity as thousands of students armed with seine nets, minnow pots and water testing gear collect data on many of the Hudson’s 200-plus species of fish and myriad invertebrates, track the river’s tides and currents, and examine water chemistry and quality. “The Day in the Life annual event gives students firsthand experience on the tidal Hudson River, with its diverse fishes, tides and currents, and the movement of its salt front,” said DEC Acting Commissioner Marc Gerstman. “The event is a great opportunity for students to learn about the river’s communities, watershed and ecosystem. From the river’s headwaters in the Adirondacks to New York Harbor, the Hudson ecosystems are linked in ways that offer so many benefits for outdoor recreation and the environment.” “Day in the Life” school classes—from first grade to college—partner with environmental education centers to collect scientific data using hands-on field techniques to capture a snapshot of the river’s ecology at more than 75 sites. Posted online within a few days of the event, the data collected by students, provides insights into an ecosystem spanning 160 miles of the Hudson River and New York Harbor. Participating classes continue to represent the diversity of the school population in urban and rural communities along the estuary. Now in its 13th year, “Day in the Life” is sponsored by DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program, in partnership with the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve, DEC Stamford Fisheries, the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Cornell University’s New York State Water Resources Institute and the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission. More than a field trip, “Day in the Life” gives students the opportunity to don waders or use a fishing rod to collect data on many of the Hudson’s 200-plus species of fish, from the abundant Atlantic silverside, to the lined seahorse and spotted hake, each caught only once. Fluctuations in fish catches and ranges can be due to many factors including weather, tides and salinity. Most are young fish, evidence of the Hudson’s importance as a nursery habitat. Students also examine the physical and chemical aspects of the river with a wide range of equipment and contraptions, such as a home-made sediment corer assembled from local hardware stores. High-tech refractometers and simple plastic hydrometers can both be used to measure salinity and find the salt front – the leading edge of dilute seawater pushing up the estuary. “Participation in ‘A Day in the Life’ is a great way to inspire my sixth graders to become future scientists,” said Philip Levine of Irvington Middle School in Irvington, (Westchester County). “It helps them to better comprehend the delicate balance between the natural world, living organisms and human beings.” “A Day in the Life provides a great opportunity to form connections to the Hudson,” said Meg Maisch Rondout Valley High School, Biology and Environmental Science Teacher. “It gives them the experience to become stewards of their local estuary, now and in their future lives.” Estuary Program staff will connect the field day with the classroom by conducting pre- and post-visits in numerous schools that will participate in “Day in the Life.” Lessons on-site and in the classroom fulfill state learning standards in a variety of subjects. Additionally, students will learn about the Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System (HRECOS), a computerized network of real-time monitoring stations extending from Manhattan to the Mohawk River. Dissolved oxygen levels, water temperature, turbidity and other parameters are measured by HRECOS every 15 minutes and posted online at HRECOS.org. These data can be used to help students better understand the dynamic factors that are constantly impacting the Hudson River ecosystem. For additional information about teachers and partner organizations or to schedule visits to a site, please email or call event coordinator Chris Bowser (chris.bowser@dec.ny.gov; 845-264-5041). Event details can also be found on the DEC website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/47285.html. A list of confirmed sites for October 20th is below. “RM” refers to River Miles up the Hudson as measured from the Battery at Manhattan. “NYH” refers to New York Harbor, “ER” is East River, “BR” is Bronx River, and “HRL” is Harlem River. A list of confirmed sites for October 20th is below. “RM” refers to River Miles up the Hudson as measured from the Battery at Manhattan. “NYH” refers to New York Harbor, “ER” is East River, “BR” is Bronx River, and “HRL” is Harlem River. River Site Partner Organization School Time and Site
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