New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar today announced that on Thursday, Oct. 10, shorefronts along the Hudson River Estuary and the piers of New York Harbor will be busy with activity during the 22nd annual celebration of A Day in the Life of the Hudson and Harbor. Thousands of students equipped with seine nets, minnow pots, and water testing gear will collect data on the Hudson River's fish and invertebrates, track the river's tides and currents, and examine water chemistry and quality.
“DEC's annual 'A Day in the Life' event is an excellent opportunity for student scientists from the Troy Dam to the Battery to experience the Hudson River’s diverse habitats and fish species and contribute to DEC’s water sampling efforts,” said Interim Commissioner Mahar. “This annual event gives New York students of all ages and backgrounds the chance to explore and learn about the Hudson River Estuary environment up close and helps encourage the next generation of environmental stewards.”
This year, Day in the Life has expanded to sites along the Mohawk River, the Hudson’s largest tributary, and the headwaters of the Upper Hudson River where freshwater feeds into the tidal estuary. On the Mohawk, 24 enthusiastic teachers and partners are connecting students to their local rivers using hands-on data collection and exploration tailored to non-tidal waters.
At more than 100 waterfront sites up and down the Hudson River, students from elementary school through college partner with DEC and environmental education centers to collect scientific data using hands-on field techniques to capture a snapshot of the river's ecology. The data collected by students provides insights into the river's ecosystem and is posted online after the event. This year, more than 5,000 students and educators from over 90 schools will participate.
Day in the Life provides 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. Most are young fish, evidence of the Hudson's importance as a nursery habitat. Sometimes students catch surprising fish like seahorses, conger eels, and needle fish. Students also examine the physical and chemical aspects of the river with a wide range of equipment from dissolved oxygen and pH kits to high-tech refractometers and plastic hydrometers to measure salinity and find the salt front—the leading edge of dilute seawater pushing up the estuary.
DEC Hudson River Estuary Program staff connect the field day with the classroom by conducting pre- and post-visits at numerous schools that participate in A Day in the Life. Lessons on-site and in the classroom fulfill State learning standards in a variety of subjects. Post-trip activities connect students to other sites through collected data, helping them better understand the dynamic factors constantly impacting the Hudson River ecosystem.
Day in the Life is sponsored by DEC's Hudson River Estuary Program in partnership with the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve and the Columbia Climate School Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
To schedule a media visit to a site, please contact the DEC Press Office at 518-402-8000 or [email protected]. A list of seven of the participating schools, partners, and event locations follows:
- Albany County: Hudson Shores Park, 2 Selke Dr., Watervliet, NY 12189: North Colonie Elementary Enrichment Program, North Colonie Central School, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
- Albany County: Corning Preserve Boat Launch: Colonie and Water Street Albany, NY 12207: Albany High School, 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
- Dutchess County: Norrie Point Environmental Education Center, Margaret Norrie State Park, Staatsburg, NY 12580: Franklin D. Roosevelt High School, Hyde Park Central School: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (DEC, Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve)
- Dutchess County: Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum Pavilion, 75 North Water St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601: Haviland Middle School, Hyde Park Central School District. 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (DEC, I FISH NY, Hudson River Estuary Program)
New York County: Swindler Cove Park, Harlem River Drive & Dyckman Street at 10th Ave., New York, NY: M103 Dos Puentes Elementary School: 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (DEC, Hudson River Estuary Program)
- Ulster County: Bob Shepard Highland Landing Park,42 River Road Highland, NY 12528 : Wallkill Senior High School, Wallkill Central School District School, 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (DEC, Hudson River Estuary Program)
Westchester County: Piermont Pier, Ferry Rd., Piermont, NY 10968: Clarkstown High School North, Clarkson South High School, Tappan Zee High School, Spring Valley High School, and Pearl River High School. 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (Columbia Climate School Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory)
