Spring was abuzz with activity! Throughout April and May, staff and volunteers dedicated time to removing trash from the component sites that make up the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve.
The Hudson River Research Reserve and DEC Marine Habitat team kicked things off at Piermont Marsh on April 21. Six staff members targeted the marsh interior, where marine debris gets trapped during storm surge events. The densely vegetated marsh interior could only be reached by canoe. Staff paddled in, then carefully walked the marsh collecting debris. On the way out, canoes were loaded with trash bags and bulk items. All in all, the team removed an overflowing truck bed’s worth of debris from the Piermont Marsh interior.
The following week, the Hudson River Research Reserve Stewardship Team returned to Piermont Marsh. Six volunteers joined staff for a dual Riverkeeper Sweep + I Love My Park Day cleanup event. This was the 4th annual Sweep of the Piermont Marsh shoreline. Over the years, the Stewardship Team has seen a reduction in trash in the areas of the shoreline where they work.
On May 3, the Riverkeeper Sweep + I Love My Park Day festivities continued at Norrie Point Environmental Center where 34 volunteers gathered for a shoreline cleanup. Hudson River Research Reserve and DEC have been celebrating I Love My Park Day at Mills Norrie State Park for nearly a decade. In recent years, the park cleanup efforts joined forces with Riverkeeper’s annual Sweep.
Later in month, volunteers coordinated with the Hudson River Research Reserve Stewardship Team and Riverkeeper to host the first-ever Sweep of the Stockport Islands. On May 16, nearly twenty volunteers and three Hudson River Research Reserve staff set out in canoes, kayaks, and boats to collect trash from around the islands where tidal marsh meets the Hudson River. The team filled the donated dumpster and removed a dozen tires from the area. Volunteers were enthusiastic about the possibility of future cleanup events around Stockport Creek and Flats.
Interested in volunteering at future events?
Riverkeeper Sweep and I Love My Park Day take place annually during the first weekend in May. The Hudson River Research Reserve component sites are open to the public year-round. Visit a site near you!
