Riverkeeper

09/03/2026

Our search for Riverkeeper's Major Gifts Officer (MGO) is still open! The MGO will be a frontline fundraiser, primarily responsible for the cultivation, stewardship and solicitation of Riverkeeper’s major donors.

The MGO will develop and implement strategies for identifying, researching, and cultivating donor prospects through one-on-one meetings, small group events, and Riverkeeper’s annual gala. They will build authentic, long-term relationships to connect a donor's philanthropic passions with organizational priorities.

Learn more and apply: https://ow.ly/S28e50ZIsLi

09/02/2026

The Hudson River was once teeming with American shad. 🎣

Every spring, shad returned in such numbers that as many as 400 fishing operations along the river depended on them. We used to celebrate them annually during “Shad Fest.”

Today, the population is so depleted that all fishing for Hudson River shad is prohibited.

The decline has been dramatic. A 2007 assessment found the population was “severely depleted,” and the NYS DEC closed the Hudson River shad fishery in 2010 after earlier protections failed to rebuild the population.

Riverkeeper is fighting to change that. We work with partners to push fishery managers to address threats to shad, including bycatch in large Atlantic fisheries where they are accidentally caught offshore.

The shad deserve a future, and Riverkeeper will keep fighting for it.

08/31/2026

Newtown Creek has a long history as one of New York City’s most heavily industrialized waterways. Today, we have an opportunity to imagine a different future for this vital part of the city.

It was great to get out on the water with Assembly Member Emily Gallagher for Assembly and Assembly Member Claire Valdez for Congress to talk about a shared vision for a thriving, accessible Newtown Creek.

Newtown Creek forms part of the border between Brooklyn and Queens and flows into the East River. The creek has experienced decades of pollution from oil and gas manufacturing, chemical industries, scrap metal recycling, combined sewer overflows, and more. The EPA designated it a Superfund site in 2010 following the largest oil spill in U.S. history.

From the Superfund cleanup to the NYC Water combined sewer overflow tunnel, major work is underway to address this legacy of pollution.

Em Ruby, Riverkeeper Policy Specialist and co-chair of the Newtown Creek Superfund Site Community Advisory Group, shares that: “The next few years will be crucial. We want to see a clean creek where New Yorkers can recreate and wildlife can flourish. We’re proud to partner with Newtown Creek Alliance to push for more public green space and access along the creek.”

That’s the future we’re working toward: a cleaner, healthier, and more accessible Newtown Creek for all New Yorkers.

08/28/2026

🌕 Take a look at the moon tonight. It’s the Sturgeon Full Moon. Named for the Atlantic sturgeon, one of the Hudson River’s oldest and most remarkable fish.

Sturgeon have been part of the Hudson ecosystem for thousands of years, but their populations have declined dramatically. Restoring habitat and improving river conditions are an important part of helping them recover.

When you look up at the full moon tonight, remember what’s swimming through the river below it.

08/27/2026

Meet two Riverkeeper summer interns working with the habitat team to better understand and protect American eels in the Hudson River watershed.

Scotia Hatford, a Cornell University student in the College of Human Ecology, focused on helping American eels migrate past dams on Fishkill Creek. By maintaining an eel fish ladder and trapping and transporting eels upstream, Scotia helped more than 25 eels make their way past barriers. Scotia shares, “This summer has inspired me to continue pursuing my environmental conservation career goals.”

Luke Greenburgh, a Geography student at McGill University, studied how human-made dams and natural waterfalls affect American eel migration and abundance in Hudson Valley tributaries. Through data analysis, electrofishing and stream surveys, Luke got to connect classroom learning with hands-on fieldwork. He called it “the most interesting and instructive fieldwork I’ve done.”

We’re grateful to both Luke and Scotia for bringing their curiosity, energy, and passion to the Hudson this summer!

08/26/2026

You know what’s fun? Bringing lawsuits against major polluters. We refused to back down and it paid off.

Riverkeeper secured a $2.6 million settlement over pollution from Coeymans Industrial Park, including polluted stormwater flowing into Coeymans Creek — a key tributary of the Hudson River — after a 6-year long legal battle.

The settlement includes $1.1 million dedicated to wetland restoration, stronger stormwater controls, and pollution monitoring.

Read more and join the fun for the Hudson:
https://ow.ly/FmaW50ZFkkY

Protecting the Hudson River & Safeguarding Drinking Water

08/25/2026

Wappinger Creek has been polluted for nearly 200 years. It’s time to clean it up.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed an $88 million plan to clean up nearly 200 years of toxic pollution from Wappinger Creek, a vital tributary of the Hudson River.

This pollution poses a real risk to the creek’s wildlife, as well as people who eat fish caught there.

📣 Tell the EPA: get the cleanup right. Join Riverkeeper and take action today: https://ow.ly/1aYF50ZFgaB

08/22/2026

60 years ago today, Riverkeeper was born. 🌊

On August 22, 1966, the Hudson River Fishermen’s Association was officially incorporated. At its first public meeting, founder Bob Boyle introduced two laws that could be used to hold polluters accountable and protect the river.

What began with a group of fishermen fighting for the river they depended on would become Riverkeeper. Six decades later, that fight continues.

We were honored to welcome Senator Harckham to celebrate 60 years of protecting and healing the Hudson and the generations of people who have carried this work forward.

Learn more about what we stand for and how we got here: https://ow.ly/O0yk50ZCsZp

08/21/2026

🏊‍♀️ Can you swim in the Hudson River?

Yes! But knowing when and where to swim matters. With just four public beaches currently open for swimming, understanding water quality conditions is crucial. After dry weather, the Hudson is a great place to take a dip — but rain changes conditions quickly.

Check out our video to learn everything you want to know about swimming in the Hudson, including what you need to know before getting in the water, how weather affects water quality, and where you can swim safely in the Hudson.

🌊 Know before you go. Learn more with Riverkeeper President Tracy Brown -https://ow.ly/Pl8u50ZCtiP