NYS increases protections for Hudson River species
April 17, 2025
Riverkeeper Team
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) recently finalized updates to the state’s list of endangered, threatened, and special concern species. These changes provide tools to protect vulnerable species and habitats from ongoing threats like pollution and climate change. The updates include the addition of the Atlantic coast leopard frog — a species found in the Hudson Valley — as endangered, and the listing of the American eel as a species of special concern.
Riverkeeper has advocated for increased protections for the American eel, and we urge the NYS DEC to reclassify it as threatened, a designation that would better reflect its steep population decline. Riverkeeper is also pushing for the American shad to be added to the list as a threatened species or species of special concern.
In addition to our advocacy, we will continue working to restore and protect the habitats of these once-abundant species in order to preserve the incredible biodiversity that calls New York’s waters home.
Related campaigns
Protecting and restoring habitats
The Hudson River watershed is home to a breathtaking diversity of life. Protecting and restoring our aquatic habitats is critical for their renewal and for a healthy future for all life in the watershed
Saving Hudson River fish
Protecting iconic species vital to our local ecosystems
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