Research

The Hudson River Gets a Check-Up!

From June 2002 through June 2004 researchers from Cornell University assessed the biological status of Hudson River Park’s Estuarine Sanctuary through funding provided by the Hudson River Park Trust. Trawls and benthic grabs were done at eight sites in the park. The main purpose of the study was to determine the impact of dredging in the sanctuary at Pier 25. The major conclusions are:

• The fish community does not reflect typical coastal estuarine habitat.
• The fish community is poor in shallow shoreline species representation but proper species occur in Park waters.
• Invertebrates are sensitive to local conditions and possibly low oxygen periods.
• Invertebrates often reflect stressed conditions.
• Enhanced habitats could improve fish fauna within constraints of periodic water quality stress.
• Dredging at Pier 25: No evidence of impact on fish and benthos.
  
  See the full report
  

Striped Bass Monitoring Program

In 2008, Hudson River Park education staff will contribute data to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Striped Bass Cooperative Angler Program.

This will be accomplished through the use of logs to record the daily catches during Hudson River Park’s Big City Fishing Program, which is free and open to the public. 

When a Striped Bass (Morone saxtalis) is caught, it will be measured, and some of its scales will be collected. The scales will be then sent to DEC where they will be used to determine a fish’s age.  This data, combined with that of other anglers throughout the state, will help scientists monitor and conserve this important fish. 

Striped Bass Cooperative Angler Program