Peebles Island State Park in Waterford will host the fourth annual Great Hudson River Estuary Fish Count on Saturday, August 15, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. Sponsored by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Hudson River Estuary Program, Fish Count programs will bring the public down to the Hudson from the Capital Region to New York City to explore the amazing variety of slippery, wriggly and fascinating creatures usually hidden below the river’s surface.

The Hudson and its watershed are home to more than 200 species of fish. During the Fish Count, participating organizations will encourage visitors to help collect fish using seine nets, minnow traps, rods and reels. Seining involves pulling a 30-foot net through the water and checking out the fish, crabs and other river life caught in its mesh. Participants may watch from shore or jump into available waterproof waders and help pull in the net.

As the day goes on, participating groups will share their catch results with each other. Comparing notes will promote understanding of the diversity of fishes and habitats in the Hudson, the vitality of the estuarine ecosystem in urban as well as rural settings, and the influence of salinity and tides. The fish will be released.

Pre-registration is strongly recommended; please email hrep@dec.ny.gov or call (845) 256-3115 to do so. While the Fish Count program itself is free, those driving into Peebles Island State Park on August 15 will be charged a fee of $6 per vehicle.

Important: The south bridge into Peebles Island State Park off Ontario Street in Cohoes is currently closed and not anticipated to be open again until late September. All access to the park is over the north bridge on Second Street in Waterford. Visit http://nysparks.com/parks/111/details.aspx for a description and maps of the park.

For more information, visit the Great Hudson River Estuary Fish Count page on DEC’s website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/97891.html.

For Information about the Hudson River Estuary Program: http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/4920.html.