Our Hudson River patrols are starting out differently this year.

As we take precautions to stay safe and protect others during the pandemic, I will be unable to welcome any guests aboard the boat or greet people along the docks as I normally would. I normally start working with community scientists on water quality sampling in May, but that effort is postponed.

As a registered commercial vessel, and as a solo operation, we are able to operate under New York State restrictions in place during the pandemic. But we will miss interacting with the public, recreational boaters, clubs and marinas until it's safe again.

Our work on the water remains the same. Riverkeeper has done everything it could for the River for over 50 years. We will continue now, in spite of the virus, and in the future. The River needs Riverkeeper.

My colleagues are all doing what they can for the River and Riverkeeper during this tragic crisis. I'm simply doing the same. My place is on the River, on the boat. I will do what I can. We hope you are staying healthy, and we look forward to better days, together.

Here are some photos from our winter restoration work at Severn Marine on Tilghman Island, Maryland, and our return to the Hudson. At left, Mark Wiest, owner of Deadrise Maritime, our contractor, and Jonathan Dodge apply a final coat to the hull of our boat.

Below, Jonathan Dodge reinstalling the "Riverkeeper" nameboard.

Launching the boat in Chesapeake Bay.

March 17: Racing the sunset after a long day up from Atlantic City. Atlantic hHighlands and Sandy Hook at last light. Almost home!

March 18: Passing under the Verrazzano Bridge - with the City rising in the distance.

The Statue of Liberty with not a soul in sight – locked down due to the coronavirus pandemic.

And finally, the navigation light off Ossining. Our resident Osprey family hadn't returned yet. They would be building their nest here soon – as they do every year – and the cormorants using the light in their absence would move away.

April 9: A stop in Catskill during our first patrol – our second season with Batu, our @RiverkeeperDog.