A Successful Recovery

"For the first time in U.S., and probably global, history a fish identified as endangered has been shown to have recovered -- and in the Hudson River, which flows through one of the world's largest population centers, New York City" (full article). The species referenced in the quote, the shortnose sturgeon, is still listed as an endangered species, but its population in the Hudson has increased dramatically over recent years. The sturgeon's recovery is a testament to our abilities to fix at least some of the damage we have done - and we've done a lot of damage to the Hudson.

The sturgeon is a fascinating, prehistoric-looking creature. Like many fish in the Hudson, such as striped bass and American eels, shortnose sturgeon live in both fresh and salt water. For more information on shortnose sturgeon (and some pretty cool pictures) check out these sites:

NYS Department of Environmental Conversation

UMass

The Hudson's Stewards

I have lived in Schenectady County for all of my life and have thus grown up only a short drive from the Hudson’s shores. Through travels with my family, I have grown familiar with all three sections of the Hudson River: the unruly, meandering upper Hudson, the Mohawk region, the calm section which is closest to my home, and the wide, majestic lower Hudson. For those who have not seen all of the regions in person, it is truly amazing to realize that these very different rivers are actually one.

In Bill Moyers’s Hudson River documentary “America’s First River” (http://www.pbs.org/now/science/hudson.html), I learned much more about the river I consider part of my home, especially about the environmental history of the region. It is amazing that the river has been so resilient, that it has been able to withstand heavy industrial use and still remain a home for many species of fish, plants, and animals.

As General Electric attempted to assert in their anti-dredging commercials a few years ago, it is a fairly widespread belief that the Hudson is a recovered river. I knew that there had been extensive logging in the Adirondacks in the 1800s, but I had no idea that the river was used to transport the logs to such a great extent. I was also horrified to see and hear about the vast quantities of chemicals and garbage that individuals and companies had dumped (and are still dumping) into the Hudson’s waters. Although the Hudson has come a long way in the past few decades, companies continue to pollute the Hudson’s waters. We must continue to push for the Hudson’s cleanup and educate others about the aesthetic, economic, and environmental importance of this great river.

Hudson River Blog

A People's Decision

A major point that I took from the second part of the video was well put by Pete Seeger. Pete explained that the only way for the Hudson to be saved was if people's interests were once again sparked by the beauty and wonder of the Hudson. I believe this concept to be the key to the Hudson's future. In order for anything to be done for the Hudson, people have to want the Hudson to be saved. As simple as this may seem, people must analyze their values and seriously consider whether the Hudson ought to be sacrificed for the good of industry, or if its beauty and natural wonder is too valuable to be lost. In order for the later decision to be made, citizens must be brought to the Hudson and enjoy the experiences it has to offer. I think that Pete Seeger and others like him are on the right track to saving the Hudson by creating reason for people to enjoy the Hudson as an experience rather than a resource.

Pollution: Hudson and Hamilton

Until a few weeks ago, I considered the Hudson to just be another river that I crossed over occasionally, but I am coming to appreciate its environmental and historical importance and our impact upon the river. The Hudson, “the river that flows two ways,” supports a rich array of life and helped in the formation of the United States. Humans have exploited and polluted the river, which Bill Moyers explores in his film on the Hudson, “America’s First River” (http://www.pbs.org/now/science/hudson.html). Unfortunately, however, the pollution of the Hudson is not unique to this one small river, a statement which will certainly not surprise any one reading it. The stream that runs through Hamilton’s campus is another, smaller example of human pollution upon a natural waterway. While I do not know if and how many pollutants are in the water, I have seen trash in and next to the stream – from cans that people have thrown off the bridge to metal drums, tires, and refrigerators in the old college dump on the northeast side of campus.
Despite the Hudson’s pollution, it is much cleaner than it was even five years ago due to the efforts of those who care about the river. It is a slow process, however, as illustrated by GE’s resistance to cleaning up PCB’s in the Hudson and the inability of PCB’s to naturally break down. As Pete Seeger said, there’s hope for the Hudson.

A Map of the River for Visual Learners

http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=42806988&x=-73748131&z=13&l=0&m=a

As a visual learner I find it difficult to really appreciate the magnitude, or scale of the Hudson and some of the landmarks associated with it such as Strom King Mountain and the General Electric plants. I found the above site, courtesy of wikipedia, which displays the Hudson River through a series of satellite images. By utilizing the search option at the top right of the screen you can look for various cities and points of interest along the river or even find the places you have visited or have crossed the river. One interesting exercise I did was to start at New York harbor and trace the route of the river up. Although it looks much different know then it did try to imagine thousands of pieces of lumber floating down and then trying to sort it all out.

Topographic Map of Lake Tear of the Clouds

http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=44.10674&lon=-73.93551&datum=nad27&u=4&layer=DRG&size=l&s=50

This link shows where the Hudson River begins, at Lake Tear of the Clouds. From here it drains into Feldspar Brook and then into the Opalescent River. Stumbling upon this lake the streams into which it flows while hiking would be no extraordinary experience; Lake Tear of the Clouds differs from other mountain lakes in the Adirondacks only in that it is the highest one. This body of water is a reminder of the humble, ordinary beginnings of our great Hudson River.

Competing Values and Environmental Worth

This was originally posted on January 23, 2007 and is inspired from my reading of The Hudson: A History by Tom Lewis.

As we begin our study of the Hudson, I have noticed several attitudes towards the landscape emerge as Europeans explored and exploited the Hudson River Valley. Fascination, opportunity, curiosity, ownership, and stewardship have each prevailed by some group of people at some point throughout the period of European settlement.

Verplanck Colvin's story is an example of how different values have caused groups to compete. Logging interests in the Adirondacks wanted full rights to fell trees for lumber and tannins. Colvin and his supporters valued wilderness and its existence in the future. Against the odds and with expert debating skills, Colvin convinced the state of the value of wilderness and by 1894 the 2.8 million acre land of the Adirondacks was deemed in the New York State constitution "forever wild."

These competing values seem to represent a problem that is at the foundation of many environmental issues: When is it worth the cost of conservation or environmental quality in order to sacrifice economic gains? I predict that this question will arise again several times throughout the semester and I am interested to see how the people of the Hudson River Valley have found answers this question in the last 375 years.

The Epic Dilemma

Last week, I attended a lecture by David Suzuki who is among the most powerful and important environmental spokesmen in the world. His message was painfully clear: global change is here and it will destroy the earth if humans do not take action now. Extreme? Possibly; I do not know enough about the science behind global change to evaluate most of the claims he made, but being a concerned citizen I was receptive to much of what he had to say. One of his main arguments was that economics is the root of all evil, and that economic vitality inevitably correlates with the destruction of the environment. This idea resonated strongly with me; it is a controversial claim to say the least. And it probably impacted the majority of the audience, especially the econ majors. How can humans possibly look out for the best interests of the economy and the environment at the same time?

This is an all too relevant question in today’s world where we see the health of the environment deteriorate rapidly while China and India join the ranks of the major industrial powers. It is partially a question of values- which is more important: the reduction of GMFs and pesticides, or curing world hunger? Many people who value the environment also value humanity, so if you’re like me, you want to both prevent pesticides from passing through the food chain and killing bald eagles while simultaneously feeding the starving children in Africa.

This dilemma is certainly applicable to the health of the Hudson River and that little city that resides on its banks. I want both my city and my river to thrive and prosper, but is it possible? I think that part of what scares people about the environmental movement, especially in the United States, is the fact that the movement itself can be perceived as a threat to American culture. American culture is one that admires material progress and maintains a long history of consumerism. Part of this inevitably must be sacrificed in order to preserve the environment. New York City is the economic mecca of the nation, arguably the world, and it clearly threatens the health of the Hudson River. I love New York City for its innovative and progressive mode of life. I love the Hudson River for its natural beauty and for the wealth of nutrients that it provides for the flora and fauna native to the area. Is one mutually exclusive towards the other?

Lost On The Hudson

All of the locations that are mentioned throughout the reading and other sources are something that is very foreign to me, even being from NY I have not traveled much to the southeast part of NYS. Many of the locations that are spoken about are new to me. This makes it difficult to understand when some locations are discussed. I guess that I should read these books with a map by my side to help me better understand the areas that are being talked about.
To be completely honest I have only ever seen the Hudson 4 times, and only one of those time was along the river. In that one trip I was able to see it true beauty. The way that the river is enjoyed by so many people, in so many different ways is truly great. Boaters, waterskiers, fisherman, kayakers, and sailboats. All of these people are enjoying something that at one point was almost ruined.
This area is one of great beauty and I have a desire to investigate it more and to spend more time near it enjoying it, and also learning some geography.

PCB's in The Hudson and Elsewhere

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-mega26jan26,0,6619434.story?coll=la-home-headlines

When looking at the Hudson dredging project it is important to realize how sizeable the project is. The project is estimated to remove 2 million cubic yards of mud and take 6-8 years. The mere size of the project alone is the most daunting factor. In the past dredging has been successful on smaller scales. For example, as the website that Jane Barnes had listed earlier, Clearwater claims that a part of Lake Champlain near Plattsburg has recently been dredged successfully. This project was about one fourth the size of the Hudson project and took about three years. Concern about whether the dredging process will be effective on such a larger scale is warranted. Adding to this concern is that fact that no project has ever been attempted of this size. It is understandable, now that GE has been mandated to fund the dredging, that they have taken a long time to start the project. It is important to take precautions to make sure the project is done well.
Secondly it is very interesting how many mega clean ups, clean ups expected to cost more than 50 million $, there are in the United States. Including the Hudson there are 154 sites across the country labeled mega sites. Although New Jersey has the most of these sites out of any state, 18, California has 16 mega sites all ranging in cost from 100-450 million $, this raises serious concern.
Who is going to pay for all of this? With the re-emergence of popular support for the environment in recent years it would seem as if funding would be adequate. Unfortunately this has not been true. The EPA analyses claims that with inflation, the funding has declined 40 percent.
Maybe if GE eventually dredges parts of the Hudson, and they are successful, they could act as a role model for other polluters to clean the environmental mess they created in the past. On the contrary, if the Hudson River project proves unsuccessful and the pcb’s are not removed, it could be a major set back for all environmental dredging projects. It will be a long time before my speculation can be proven.

Drinking the Hudson

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/30/nyregion/30water.html

Sale of Manhattan

When reading Russel Shorto's book "The Island at the Center of the World" I was surprised to read how much the isalnd was ctaully sold for. Peter Minuit was able to purchase Manhattan with goods that today would equal twenty four dollars. Minuit realized how great the island truly was with its wildlife, farmland, and the water surronding it. Some people can argue how much of a "steal" this was. It is hard to even fathom how much Manhattan would cost if it was bought today. The Indians may have been taking advantage of when selling this land. The Indians selling this perfect piece of land for $24 boggles the minds of alot of people. When reading this fact one must also have to wonder what the country and world would be like today if the land was still owned by the Indians. Would there still be millions and millions of dollars worth of real estate on Manhattan or would it be an Indian reservation?

I am a fish freak

Here is one of my favorite quotes, from the late Lee Wulff, "The fish you release is your gift to another angler and remember, it may have been someone's similar gift to you." Lee Wulff was one of the first anglers to practice catch and release. The stripped bass fishery of the Hudson River is a premier fishing destinations on the east coast. The article (http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070118/SPORTS06/701180307) describes a proposed increase in minimum size to keep a bass. This is a great thing. I am a firm believer in the value of others being able to catch a fish that I or others have released. Another proposed regulation change would increase is the costs ofguideselicensence. In NYS to provide the service of guide you must pay the state as well as pass a test and complete some basic first aid courses. I can feel for these people who are trying to make their living off of these fish. I for one plan on trying to make a living off of a different fish after graduation. Another cute from the great Lee Wulff, "Game fish are too valuable to be caught only once."

Straight Out of Hollywood

I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of intense action in Russell Shorto's book, The Island at the Center of the World. I was not expecting to read about ruthless murderers, barbaric military leaders, revenge stories, mutinies and wars. I found the story of Claes Swits the most fascinating. Swits was a well-liked, old man who was known throughout Manhattan. In the summer of 1641, Swits found a young Wickquasgeck Indian at his door who was looking to trade some furs. Swits invited the man in and gave him food and drink. As Swits was bending over to reach for some goods for trade, the Indian grabbed an axe off the wall and decapitated the unsuspecting, innocent old man. This random murder was predestined to happen fifteen years earlier, when a group of Wickquasgeck Indians were robbed and murdered by Europeans. The only survivor of this attack was a twelve year old boy who would take out his revenge on Claes Swits fifteen years later. This murder set off a brutal war between the colonists and Indians that would last several years. What a story! It sounds like something a Hollywood director would make into an action movie. I thought Shorto did a great job of capturing the intensity of the dramatic stories in this book.

Why Didn't I know?

After being enlightened by Shorto's "The Island at the Center of the World", I couldn't help but thinking why I didn't know much of this story. As a history buff in high school and now a history major at Hamilton, I would like to think that I am at least fairly well versed in American history especially that of New York state. However, I think many history courses have downplayed the importance of New Amsterdam/New York City to the survival of the union. I knew so little about its importance to the colonization, defense, and industrialization of the continent.

So my question is why didn't I know? I suppose it could be that it was taught and I overlooked it. But I hope that's not the case. Instead, I wonder if the colonies' non-English roots could be the reason. As I look back, the emphasis was always put on the colonies in Virginia and Massachusetts. The stories of these other colonies are just as interesting but they were downplayed while their importance is astounding. Any other ideas?

Local History and Our Sense of Place

Sense of place is shaped by numerous factors. We discussed in class how our values of solitude, pride, family, beauty, and friendship among others influence our feelings of place. Not only does our family history shape our sense of place but local history also can give an area a distinct feeling. In the introduction of The Hudson, author Tom Lewis tells the incredible story of the Bannerman’s Island Arsenal on Pollepel Island in the Hudson. This fascinating piece of local history, which is vital to our national history, is unknown to most living outside of the region and gives this area of the Hudson an unmistakable sense of place. Most of us probably know a story of lore about our own place, a nuance that gives it meaning to us and not to someone else. These stories of local history are what make every place special and are what help to define our sense of place.

A Special Place?

The culture created in the Hudson River Valley as a result of the development of the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam during the 17th century was, as we read in Shorto's "The Island at the Center of the World", extremely unique and remarkably diverse. From hookers to reverends to farmers, those who were among the first to call Manhattan home brought with them a variety of skills and ideas that would eventually shape the "attitude" of the region. Over the last few weeks we've discussed the idea of "sense of place", and in reading this particular history of the beginnings of this particular Dutch settlement one tends to recognize a distinct character concerning the region surrounding what would one day become New York City. It was so strong that it completely changed learned, refined gentlemen who made the treacherous voyage across the Atlantic. Gentlemen like Peter Minuit, former director of New Amsterdam, who's obsession with the region led him to form his own colony under a foreign banner (Sweden) years after being removed of his duty under the Dutch flag. Perhaps no one embodies the spirit of the region quite like Adriaen Van der Donck, one of history's forgotten heroes (according to Shorto). Van der Donck's story, though little known, played an important role in the development of New Amsterdam, from his initial arrival as the "law man" of the Rensselaerwyck colony to his later contributions as a member of the Board in New Amsterdam. Van der Donck was awe struck by the Hudson Valley and the surrounding territories, venturing into the woods on numerous occasions to study Indian culture, observe the scenery, and ponder political and philosophical questions of the day. My point in this particular post is to raise a question: Was there something unique about the culture of New Amsterdam and the surrounding Dutch settlements different from other colonies of the time that was strong enough to take these men, so refined, dignified and academic, and turn them into mountain men with an eye for change? What was it specifically about this settlement that inspired them, that drove them to care so deeply about a region that they had inhabited for such a short time?

Knickerbocker Ice House

http://www.nynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070129/NEWS03/701290358/1211

Troubles of the Chesapeake Estuary

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/28/AR2007012801403.html

New Urbanism in Newburgh

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070128/BIZ/701280330

Environmentalists vs Utilities

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070126/NEWS04/70126044

PCB Cleanup

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-mega26jan26,0,6619434.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Yonkers Pier

http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070126/NEWS02/701260411/1026/NEWS10

Discovering Home (Reposted)

Discovering Home

Recent personal experience suggests two actions assist one in discovering the regionalism of one’s area and, perhaps, in developing a sort of regional pride (or “provincialism”, in Pierce and Wiles’ words in “A Place for Regionalism?”):

1. Learning the history of one’s region

and

2. Spending time away from one’s region

To the first point, seeing the area of the Palisades I call my home depicted as Wade saw it in 1846 (see the “Palisades” link at http://www.hhr.highlands.com/virtual.htm) gives me an inexpressible sense of comfort and pride. On that particular section of Wade’s panorama, my hometown pretty much lies on the crease between the letters “G” and “E”, and is adjacent to Closter, which is referenced in “Closter’s Landing”. While Closter lies on the top of the Palisades, the landing (which no longer goes by that name) is at the base, along the Hudson. There, on Wade’s panorama, is my home, 150 years ago.

To the second point, I’ve learned more about my area of New Jersey while away at college than I ever did at home. That is to say, time away from home makes one stop and realize, “Oh, so that isn’t how things are everywhere? We only have/do/say ___ back home?”

Do We Value Nature? (repost)

Tall trees, covered with light, glistening, newly formed snow contrasting the bright, blue sky - this is nature at its most majestic moment. Although home is the world of flat roads and crowded streets defining Wilmette, IL, I find my sense of place in the mountain of Steamboat, Colorado, a vacation spot I enjoy every year. Steamboat distracts me from the pressures of school and society allowing me to enter a milieu of snowboarding, relaxation and family. However, the natural state of these mountains is not so “natural.” High peaks surrounded by man made slopes and masses of people, condos, hotels, restaurant and shops provides a sense of security, familiarity, for the many who are not comfortable or in touch with nature in its pure, unaltered state. Sitting in the high-speed chairlift overlooking the gorgeous Colorado Mountains, I wonder if humans have completely lost our sense of nature, sense of place resulting in the lost sense of our own real identity and character. Has the alienation and pain of our separation from nature caused society to obsessively consume in order to feel connected and fulfilled? In addition to Colorado, have we forgotten the natural, beautiful landscape of the Hudson River and abused it for our own means in the name of progress? The Hudson River is a sign of the future of our relationship with nature. Will we be able to balance economic growth with environmental degradation for the future of a sustainable society?

Smart Growth

Registration required

http://www.massinc.org/index.php?id=618&pub_id=2042

Newburgh site for fourth major NY/NJ Airport?

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070125/BUSINESS/70125015

Dredging Debate

http://www.clearwater.org/news/dredging.html
This is a website that is run by Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. They are an organization geared towards creating a cleaner environment for the next generations. They have based themselves on the Hudson because of its ecological importance. The link shows their views of dredging the Hudson River to remove the PCB's. From their perspective the dredging used to clean the Hudson will be controlled and precise. On the website they also mention the advertisements that General Electric has created. These commercials present the negative aspects of dredging the Hudson. Since General Electric will take the brunt of the cost in dredging these areas, many believe they created these commercials to scare the public living on the river from voting for dredging.
I have seen a few of these commercials in years past. However, recently, General Electric has agreed to dredge and now even supports the dredging on their site: http://www.ge.com/en/citizenship/ehs/remedial/hudson/agreement.htm
It is interesting to see how they have changed their stance about dredging over the last five or so years. I am wondering if this new compliance has anything to do with their 'ecomagination', environmentally friendly, campaign. It would be detrimental to this 'green' image if they were refusing to cleanup chemicals their past factories dumped into the Hudson. Maybe the cost of dredging is less than the potential cost of bad publicity.

Development in Yonkers

http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070125/NEWS02/701250399/1026/NEWS10

The Styrofoam Mystery

http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/Styrofoam_HR-23Jan07.htm

Riverfront Development in Tarrytown

http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070124/NEWS02/701240378/1018

The Eagle Flies

http://www.nyjournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070125/NEWS04/701250365/1231

Highland Park

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070125/NEWS/701250328

Church Exhibition at Princeton

http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S16/96/59E15/index.xml?section=featured