The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today celebrated the 35^th anniversary of DEC’s Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve with officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), state and federal elected officials, agencies, not-for-profit organizations, educators, and scientists.

“Today, DEC and NOAA are recognizing 35 years of stewardship of more than 5,000 acres of protected lands, as well as the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve’s collaborative and tireless research and monitoring efforts,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said. “New scientific knowledge is being put to work here to improve the stewardship of river habitats, shore lands, and tributaries through training and education for resource managers, students, educators, and families, up and down the river.”  

NOAA designated the reserve in 1982 as part of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, a network of 29 protected U.S. coastal areas that promote sustainability and improve coastal management through research and education about estuaries. 

The reserve includes four tidal wetland and upland complexes that span the middle 100 miles of the tidal Hudson River, with two sites in Rockland County (Piermont Marsh and Iona Island), one in Dutchess County (Tivoli Bays), and one in Columbia County (Stockport Flats). At the Norrie Point Environmental Center, DEC conducts management-oriented research, environmental monitoring, habitat restoration, training for decision-makers, and education. The sites and programs are managed by the reserve in partnership with DEC and its Hudson River Estuary Program, and the Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation. 

New Turkey Point Tide Station Will Provide Key Water Level Data

DEC and NOAA officials also dedicated the new Turkey Point Tide Station, established by the reserve and DEC with NOAA support. This station complies with strict NOAA protocols for tide level monitoring and began transmitting highly accurate water level data in September. The station fills a critical gap in the nation’s water level monitoring network, as it is nearly 100 miles north of the Battery in New York City, site of the only other permanent tide station on the 152-mile estuary. The Turkey Point station increases the accuracy of tide predictions and supports safe navigation, spill response, climate impacts tracking, and habitat management and restoration.

NOAA officials from the Office for Coastal Management, which administers the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, and the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services program, which runs the National Water Level Observing Network, joined DEC for the event. 

New York State Senator Sue Serino said, "Preserving the Hudson River and the surrounding natural environment is key to ensuring that it can be enjoyed for generations to come. Through extensive stewardship initiatives, scientific research and educational opportunities, the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve has played a key role in these efforts for over three decades and I look forward to working with these community partners as they continue to build on their important progress."

The Hudson River National Estuary Research Reserve has worked tirelessly over the past 35 years to support the health of Hudson River shorelines and ecosystems" stated Betsy Nicholson, NOAA's North Regional Director for the Office for Coastal Management who works in close partnership with the reserve. "We celebrate their accomplishments, which include raising awareness of the ecosystem, mapping the river's fish habitat, and establishing the first national tide station on the Hudson. NOAA is proud to be a partner with the New York DEC in caring for the Hudson River and we look forward to supporting Hudson River communities over the next 35 years."

For information about HRNERR, visit: http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/4915.html

For information about the NERRS, visit: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/ecosystems/nerrs/

For a link to the tide station, visit:
https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/stationhome.html?id=8518962