More Volunteers, Less Trash in the Hudson: Positive Results from Riverkeeper’s Annual Day of Service
May 13, 2014
Riverkeeper Team
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tina Posterli, 516-526-9371, tposterli@riverkeeper.org
OSSINING, NY – May 13, 2014 – The 2014 Riverkeeper Sweep, the third annual day of service for the Hudson River, engaged 1,900 volunteers participating in 82 projects throughout New York City and the Hudson Valley on Saturday, May 10.
It was the biggest day of service yet, with 36% more volunteers working at 14% more locations than in 2013. The amount of trash removed, however, was down 18% from 2013. The reason is likely twofold: Much debris deposited by storms Lee, Irene and Sandy was removed in 2012 and 2013; and, shorelines that have been cleaned in the past are less likely to be neglected.
With Riverkeeper's support, and the cooperation of hundreds of organizations, clubs, businesses, agencies and municipalities, more than 130 volunteers organized service projects in every county of the Hudson Valley and throughout New York City. The Hudson River Estuary includes waters around New York City like the East and Harlem Rivers and the Newtown Creek.
Paul Gallay, President and Hudson Riverkeeper, said:
"The collaborative spirit that has removed so much trash from our river today is the same spirit we need to tackle the other problems facing the river. The impact this volunteer effort has had in three short years should give us all hope that we can achieve the goals of making our waters safe for drinking, swimming and fishing."
- Number of service projects: 82 (up 14% from 2013)
- Number of volunteers: 1,900 (up 36% from 2013)
- Trash removed: 31 tons (down 18% from 2013)
- Other service projects: Hudson River improvements at Mills-Norrie Point State Park, Staatsburg; habitat restoration at Randall's Island Park, NYC.
- Project with the most volunteers: Randall’s Island (189 over two days)
- Project removing the most trash: Jennifer’s Annual Flushing Bay Cleanup (3,450 pounds)
- Project planting the most trees: "Trees for Tribs" planting along the Coxing Kill in High Falls (Ulster County), a tributary stream in the Hudson River Watershed (80 trees)
The Riverkeeper Sweep is the signature New York event in the Waterkeeper Alliance SPLASH Series, presented nationally by Toyota.
Sponsors in 2014 include the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation, Toyota, EILEEN FISHER, Paragon Sports, Sprout Watches, JSA Financial, L.L. Bean, Pleasant Valley Stone, the Green Schools Alliance, Mother Earth’s Storehouse, 1800-GOT-JUNK New City and these individuals: Joe and Daryl Boren; Sean Eldridge and Chris Hughes; and John and Jill Gilbert.
For more information, please visit https://www.riverkeeper.org/sweep.
Related campaigns
Riverkeeper Sweep campaign
Cleaning up shorelines along the Hudson River and its tributaries
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