Water quality

Testing, analyzing, and improving the water quality of the Hudson River watershed

The Hudson River and its hundreds of tributaries are not only a vast ecological marvel, but also a place to connect with the natural world, a critical source of food and drinking water, a home for fish and wildlife, and a key economic driver for the state. Our work helps protect and restore these waters through monitoring, analysis, advocacy, and legal action.
water quality sampling
The Hudson River was historically treated as a dumping ground for industrial and municipal waste. However, thanks to vigilant advocacy and monitoring efforts, water quality has improved markedly in recent years.
In addition to our work mitigating contamination and protecting water quality, we offer reliable, current, and publicly available data that helps anglers, boaters, and swimmers make informed decisions about how and when to safely recreate on the river.
Despite vast improvements in water quality across the region, more work remains in order to hold polluters accountable, protect the watershed, and ensure that the Hudson is fishable, drinkable, and swimmable for all. Community advocacy, local watchdog efforts, and statewide collaboration on legislation and data collection are all key to restoring our waters and keeping the communities that rely on them safe from harm.
Riverkeeper and our allies have fought tirelessly for decades to ensure the Hudson's waters are safe and clean for our communities and our wildlife. It is easier to destroy a river than it is to restore one, but both those powers are in our hands. Every day we decide anew the future of this living river.
Tracy Brown

Tracy Brown

President and Hudson Riverkeeper