Hudson River Estuary Tributaries and Watershed

Intermunicipal or grassroots watershed groups lead local conservation and stewardship efforts across the estuary watershed, including water quality monitoring, clean-up events, habitat restoration, education, and watershed planning. The Hudson River Estuary Program partners with organizations, such as the Hudson River Watershed Alliance, to provide outreach, technical assistance, and capacity-building to advance these efforts. Visit the Hudson River Watershed Alliance to find a watershed group in your community and resources for watershed groups.

Watershed-based plans provide a comprehensive, science-based approach to characterizing watershed conditions and prioritizing on-the-ground actions to protect and restore local waters. The Hudson River Estuary Program provides technical support and funding for watershed characterization, a first step in the process for watershed management plans or clean water plans. Support is also available to develop intermunicipal watershed agreements and policies to protect our water resources. 

Protecting and restoring streamside areas is vital to the health of waterways. Hudson Estuary Trees for Tribs (tributaries) provides free, native trees and shrubs for planting along tributary streams. Our staff help applicants select plants, design a planting plan, and provide technical assistance during and after planting events. 

Dams and culverts can disrupt hydrology, impact water quality, and disconnect aquatic habitats used by fish and other organisms. The Hudson River Estuary Program works with partners to reconnect stream habitat, reduce localized flooding, and support resilient infrastructure for municipalities through Aquatic Connectivity and Barrier Removal. We work with municipalities and landowners to assess, prioritize, and remove stream barriers. Removing dams and replacing undersized road stream crossings with adequately designed structures restores the natural functions of the stream ecosystem.

Numerous communities in the estuary watershed depend on reservoirs, streams, and rivers – including the Hudson River itself – as the source of their drinking water. The Hudson River Estuary Program helps communities implement strategies identified in approved Drinking Water Source Protection Plans for surface water-based systems, such as support for science, policy, education, or on-the-ground best management practices. 

The Hudson Valley Natural Resource Mapper is an interactive mapping application that can be used to identify tributary streams and watershed boundaries, waterbody assessments, riparian buffer areas, floodplains, road-stream crossings, dams, and other information to inform watershed stewardship and planning.

Grants for watershed stewardship and tributary restoration are available from the Hudson River Estuary Program, as well as other DEC programs. For example, DEC’s Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) Program funds projects that directly improve water quality or habitat, promote flood risk reduction, restoration, and enhanced flood and climate resiliency, or protect a drinking water source.