Long Distance Paddlers Speak at Beczak Sat. Sept. 29

Friends -

The Capital to Capital Canoe Expedition is paddling by Yonkers on this
Saturday, on day 24 of their 1000+ mile journey from Ottawa, Canada to
Washington, DC. They'll stop, camp for a day or two, and speak at Beczak
Environmental Education Center on SAturday, Sept. 29, at 7 PM, as part of
the RiverTalks series sponsored by YPRC and Hudson River Watertrail Assn.
 Come and find out what they experienced paddling down Lake Champlain, what
Canada's River Declaration is all about, why they chose to paddle a 36'
Voyageur Canoe, and how Canada's approach to clean water differs from ours.

The 10 person *Capital to Capital* team includes Max Finkelstein from
Ottawa, a long distance paddler and author of Canoeing a Continent;Nicholas
Tilgner, a Yukon River Guide, Dot Bonnenfant, long distance paddler and
artist, and Willis Elkins, trip leader/canoe instructor for the North
Brooklyn Boat Club.

MORE INFO ABOUT THE CAPITAL TO CAPITAL EXPEDITION:
https://sites.google.com/site/capital2capitol/home

MORE INFO ABOUT THIS RIVERTALK: http://rivertalks.blogspot.com/

See you at Beczak -
Lenore
lperson@beczak.org

THIS SUNDAY - first ever pilot free public paddling program on the MANHATTAN SIDE OF THE EAST RIVER

Hi all-
Sorry for the mass-announcement but we finally got the green light for this event and its THIS SUNDAY!
Please share the info with all of your friends and email lists.
We believe that this first pilot kayaking program based on the previously under-served Manhattan side of the east river will be a huge step forward for city-wide public access to the waters of NY harbor for human-powered boaters and eventually swimmers, plus a good way t promote public health and environmental stewardship.
If you can help out by volunteering, please let me know back-channel.
If you or your group is out on the water that day or even out on bikes or foot, please come by to show your support.
thanks!
Nancy for NYCWTA

Sunday, August 19, 2pm-7pm (last boats will go out at 6:15pm)
Stuyvesant Cove Park (http://goo.gl/maps/fXogc)
Pilot program:  Free Public Kayaking In Stuyvesant Cove Park 

Come join human-powered boaters and public water access advocates for an afternoon of free public kayaking in Stuyvesant Cove Park!  Participants can try paddling in safe, stable open-topped kayaks in a protected area of the East River adjacent to Stuyvesant Cove near east 20th street.  The "bay" at this cove is nestled in a bend in the river which is partially protected from the stronger currents of the East River making it a great spot on to try out kayaking. 
Participants must know how to swim, be at least 18 years old or attend with a parent or guardian, and must sign insurance waivers.  All equipment is provided free, and participation will be on a first-come first-paddling basis.

Boats and gear are being provided by the Long Island City Community Boathouse (LICCB), and the event is a joint project of LICCB, the New York City Water Trail Association, and Urban Swim, in conjunction with the Lower East Side Ecology Center, SWIM Coalition, and the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club and with the support of Solar 1, and NYCEDC.

Come help us open up the "east coast" of Manhattan for free public access for non-motorized boats and more.

excellent blog on the science of our waterways

their most recent post has an animated model of the spread of the sewage from the spill/controlled release upriver in tarrytown this week.
all of their posts are informative and interesting, pus they have excellent links.
enjoy.

SeaAndSkyNY

illuminating the waterways & atmosphere of new york city

Riverkeeper's Hudson Water Quality Report - June 2012

 

View as webpage  SHARE!     Hudson River Water Quality Report: June 11 through June 16, 2012 Our July water quality data has been posted to www.riverkeeper.org. Here is a summary of our June Patrol. Highlights Of 74 sampling locations:   3 (4%) were "unacceptable" 11 (15%) were "possible risk" 60 (81%) were "acceptable" Continued moderately dry weather resulted in findings very similar to May. So far this year is turning out to be quite unlike prior years – from 2006 through 2011 the average number of "unacceptable" samples was 24% (18 of 74 sites). In June we found even fewer "unacceptable" sites than in May (3 vs. 9). We're getting a glimpse at the water quality we COULD have if wet weather overflows were eliminated. The only whopper of the whole patrol was the Mohawk River sample (see day # 5) NY Harbor (day 1-6/11): There has been no rain in this area for days. All sites, except two, were "acceptable" – including Newtown Creek and Gowanus sites. In NYC and other Cities, rain events overload sewers and trigger Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs), when there is no rain the city's sewage infrastructure works well. And if there is no rain for a number of days the microbes released during the last wet weather die and we achieve good water quality. We'll have to keep after NYC to reduce and eliminate CSOs - that's where the problem, and the challenge, lies.  Kids on the little beach in Brooklyn between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges – wherever there is a beach children always get in the water English Kills, Newtown Creek. Even though fecal contamination was very low on 6/11 it wouldn't be a good idea to swim there Yonkers to Peekskill (day 2 – 6/12): Steady rain started mid-day and continued overnight. Still, we saw no "unacceptable" counts at any sites although several were elevated to level of "possible risk." There is a lag between the start of rain and increased contamination in the River. The lag interval varies by location. Bear Mountain to Port Ewen (day 3 – 6/14): We skipped a day before continuing north. No "unacceptable" samples again today. Dry weather.   Kingston to Catskill (day 4 – 6/15): No rain overnight or today, fine weather. Nice water quality. All tributaries were low turbidity, low flow and low fecal contamination. The Kingston sewer plant outfall was "unacceptable' but only by a hair.  Family swimming from boat Rondout Creek and Kingston Point Beach Another family on west side of Stockport Middle Ground, north of Hudson Hudson to Waterford (day 5 – 6/16): There was no rain again last night or today. We found really nice water quality, even in the Capitol District, which is often a mess. The only whopper of the whole patrol was the Mohawk River sample - 1023 Entero per 100ml (the federal guideline for swimming in fresh water is 61). There was low flow from the Mohawk, moderate flow from Hudson headwaters. The holding tank pump out system for visiting yachts was broken at the Waterford Visitor's Center. Fifteen or so yachts with 2 to 5 people living aboard each one. I'm not saying that was the cause BUT…300 yards away, around the corner on the Hudson side, the Entero count was 10 per 100ml. That's a big difference. Maybe, just maybe, this should say "Please do not feed people or cruisers" June 2012 Sampling Data For River Mile 0 to River Mile 44, the following standards apply: For River Mile 45 north, the following standards apply: To learn more about Riverkeeper's Water Quality Program, and to view historic sampling data, please visit www.riverkeeper.org/water-quality/hudson. View other monthly water quality reports, June 2010 to present View sampling data sorted historically by individual sampling location. © Riverkeeper 2012
Riverkeeper is a member-supported watchdog organization dedicated to defending the Hudson River and its tributaries and protecting the drinking water supply of nine million New York City and Hudson Valley residents. Contribute to this vital work, become a member today. Forward this message  -  Log in to update your profile -  Unsubscribe If you have received this e-mail from a friend, sign up now and receive Riverkeeper news in your in box!

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