The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Vicki de Vries

Cleaning Up the Hudson River… One Bit of Trash at a Time 

by

Kayaker collecting trash at Annsville Creek, Peekskill Photo by Makiko Parsons

The Inside Press is again pleased to shine a spotlight on Sweep, the annual mega volunteer event sponsored by Riverkeeper.org, which ‘brings together science, law, and advocacy to heal the Hudson River and safeguard drinking water.”   

With those worthy goals, is it any surprise that Sweep, now entering its 14th year, attracts volunteers who care enough about the Hudson River to devote a day in May to remove trash and debris from its shores and tributaries? 

LET’S GO, VOLUNTEERS 

The Sweep event attracts both families and singles. This past May 4, a record-breaking number of everyday people — 2,720 all totaled — came out. Ages ranged from under a year old to 90.  Katie Leung, the Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator for Riverkeeper.org, estimates that 600 volunteers were new to Sweep. 

While those numbers alone are impressive, even more impressive is the level of commitment demonstrated by the stalwart band of local volunteers. 

Leung says, “When volunteers get together at these cleanup sites, there is a sense of community building and partnership that drives them to pick and dig up every single piece of litter and debris that pollutes the river or the tributaries. They want to do a good job cleaning their sites and leave them better than when they found them.” 

Adds Char Weigel, Sweep leader from Sleepy Hollow: “The beauty of Sweep is not just that thousands of people work together to improve the health of our Hudson. It is that thousands of strangers, who might never otherwise meet, find common purpose and a shared soul for a few hours every year on a spring morning.” 

Organizing and coordinating Sweep takes a lot of hard work.  Leung says: “However, I am not alone in this effort, and I’m lucky to have amazing support from the numerous Sweep leaders, as well as my Riverkeeper colleagues. Sweep leaders are a critical part of the event, making sure their volunteer groups are safe while having fun.” 

A SITE TO BEHOLD 

If anyone doubts Sweep is a large-scale endeavor, try coordinating 150 project sites throughout what’s called “the New York City and the Hudson River Watershed.” Each year, Sweep has added more and more sites. This year, the southernmost location was in Staten Island, and the northernmost was in the Adirondacks. 

Leung says, “One of the biggest hurdles is making sure that all the sites get the volunteers that they need. This year, we’re thinking of new ways to recruit more volunteers to some of the less busy sites.” 

Given the “generous support from the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation, Riverkeeper expanded Sweep into an ongoing program, conducting cleanups, native tree plantings, and invasive species removals throughout the year,” according to Leung. On top of expanding Sweep, Riverkeeper has given it a new name: Sweep + .  

The ultimate goal is “to continue to grow the number of project sites, volunteers, and impacts each year until Sweep+ is the largest volunteer clean-up program in New York State.“ ‍‍ ‍‌ ‌‍ ‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌ ‌‍‌ ‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍ ‍ ‍‌ ‌‍ ‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌ ‌‍‌ ‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍ 

No update on Sweep 2024 would be complete without hearing about the 27 tons of trash that were collected. In addition to the typical debris like cigarette butts, tires, paper, and plastic, this year’s notables included a VHS tape of “My Cousin Vinny” in surprisingly “perfect” condition; mannequin legs; a playground set; lottery and parking tickets; a metal safe; and a set of house keys. 

 

Volunteers with trash collected at Yonkers Riverfront  Photo by Jasmine Olmo

PLAYING A ROLE 

Let’s face it. Volunteering isn’t for everybody. If that describes you, Leung suggests other helpful things readers can do to protect the Hudson River, along with helping Riverkeeper: 

  1. Stay informed on the latest clean water fights and ways to take action
  2. Become a riverkeeper by donating and becoming a member
  3. Get involved in community science by collecting water quality data at a tributary or waterfront
  4. Report a polluter by submitting a report to the Riverkeeper Watchdog team
  5. Shop for Riverkeeper gear on their website to support their work.

Everyone can play a role in helping to safeguard our precious water resources. 

Leung is correct when she says, “Sweep has so many moving parts and can get pretty hectic, but what overshadows that is the untiring and unrelenting commitment I’ve seen from everyone caring for the river.” 

Let’s hope that Sweep+ 2025 proves to be another record-breaking event! 

Eldest volunteers cleaning up at Sleepy Hollow River Walk    Photo by Char Weigel

 

 

 

Riverkeeper Seeking Clean Up Volunteers and Anglers

by

Now that Spring is in full swing, are you and your family or friends thinking about what fun activities are worth your time? 

Riverkeeper.org could well be your resource since it sponsors Sweep, an annual volunteer event to clean up areas along the Hudson River and its tributaries, and the “Save a Million Bass” project that helps to protect the river’s striped bass. 

Ossining volunteer team displaying their trash load from the Sing Sing Kill.

What’s Down by the Riverside? 

Ketie Leung, Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator, is looking forward to this year’s Sweep on May 4.  She works hard to help make Sweep an engaging and exciting event, but its success lies with both the community volunteers and the site leaders: 

Leung said: “When volunteers get together at these cleanup sites, there is a sense of community building and partnership that drives them to pick and dig up every single piece of litter and debris that does not belong in the river or the tributaries. They want to do a good job at their sites and leave them better than when they found them.” 

Volunteer rolling a discarded tire out of the River Glen Cove in Hastings. Photo by Haven Colgate
Kayak clean-up at the Piermont Marsh Shoreline in Sparkill. Photo by Brian DeGasperis

The dedication of people caromg for the Hudson River was clearly shown in the 2023 Riverkeeper Sweep, which had over 2500 volunteers –more than double from the year before –and gathered an incredible 31 tons of trash. 

Leung referred to the fact that these volunteers “came out to give back to the Hudson and its tributaries. Many volunteers expressed how great their stewardship project sites went.”  

As important as the volunteers are, the site leaders add their special touch in helping volunteers navigate the clean-up experience. 

Leung said, “Our Sweep site leaders are very dedicated in organizing their individual cleanups along the Hudson as successfully as they can. They make sure their volunteer groups are safe while having fun.” 

Ellen Roth, a Sweep Leader from the Athens area, put it beautifully when she said she’s involved in Sweep “because the Hudson River is beautiful, ancient, sacred, the lifeblood of so many wonderful creatures, and a huge part of my life.  The Sweep is an incredible way to make a difference, set an example for others, and raise awareness of our big, beautiful, mighty, life-sustaining Hudson.” 

Adult and child carrying off bagged trash and recyclables at Annsville Creek Park in Peekskill. Photo by Leah Rae

This year’s Sweep event will be held on Saturday, May 4. Registration opened on March 29th on Eventbrite, and more information can be found at www.riverkeeper.org/sweep.

There are few things better than working for a worthy cause and having fun in the process. 

But if clean-up isn’t quite what you’re looking for in an outdoor activity, Riverkeeper.org also works with anglers, aka people who catch (and sometimes) release fish. 

Calling All Anglers

Riverkeeper has a number of projects devoted to the fish population, such as the “iconic” Atlantic sturgeon, American shad, and river herring, which reside in the Hudson River. 

Leung describes one of them, Save A Million Bass (SAMB), as “groundbreaking” in that it “uses the latest technology to educate anglers about new rules and regulations and the best catch and release techniques.”  

Basically, anglers that want to participate in the project can use striped bass stickers with a QR code, which can be scanned with smart devices and reach a special page on the Riverkeeper website.  There they will find “ten ways to help save a million bass” along with tips on catching and releasing striped bass. 

It’s an exciting project that members of fishing clubs might want to participate in as well.  They can order the SAMB stickers and have the name of their club printed on the stickers. 

“While many of these fish, including striped bass, have been impacted by environmental stressors, striped bass are unique in that the recreational fishery has a huge impact on their populations,” Leung said. 

The original idea behind SAMB came from the disastrous mortality rate for striped bass that were the casualties of what Leung called “recreational catch and release fishing.” In fact, it was estimated in a 2017 study that “3.4 million stripers did not survive catch and release. This was based on the standard 9% mortality rate applied to catch and release.” 

So, if the SAMB project is able to reduce the mortality rate by even a third, it could save a million bass or more a year.  That is truly a worthy goal. 

But, according to Leung, “proper catch and release techniques are only a start.” Better techniques are needed to reduce the mortality of released fish.  

The SAMB project also updates the fishing community on the current regulations and conservation techniques.  So far, it has attracted 150 supporters who subscribe to SAMB newsletters that come out before the striped bass begin their migration. 

Leung pointed out another noteworthy aspect of SAMB: “We have also partnered with three fishing tournaments to distribute custom stickers and de-hookers to anglers across the Northeast.” Now, that is very exciting since SAMB is making an impact beyond the shores of the Hudson. 

If you want to spend time by the water, Riverkeeper Sweep and Save a Million Bass offer two ways to help you both enjoy the outdoors and give back to the mighty Hudson. For more information, visit: https://saveamillionbass.org/

What Everyday People Did To Make a Clean Sweep for Mother Nature

by

Clean-up By Water’s Edge at Scenic Hudson Park
Photo by Morgan Balkin

Inside Press is pleased to shine a spotlight once again on Sweep–Riverkeeper.org’s annual mega trash-collection May event. Each year, eager volunteers from all over Westchester County gathered at designated spots to help clean the Hudson River and its tributaries.

“I’m so grateful to and impressed by the more than 1,200 people who showed up in what may have been the worst Sweep-day weather we’ve ever had,” said Katie Leung, the new Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator for Sweep.

Volunteers could select the area they wanted to work in and were responsible for their own transportation. The actual sites varied. Volunteers worked along the shorelines, in nearby parks, along roads or used kayaks, whether on a lake, a tributary or the Hudson River.

“Projects lasted for two to three hours…. Most started in the morning and extended into the afternoon,” said Leung. If a volunteer signed up for a “shoreline project,” only a low tide offered safety and the promise of “more trash pick-up.”

Loading Bagged Trash at Annsville Creek Park
Photo by Leah Rae

Gearing Up

On this most recent Sweep Saturday, protective rain gear was a necessity. “Sturdy shoes, long pants, and a hat were also most recommended,” said Leung.

With Covid-19 still a serious concern, it was important to minimize the sharing of such tools as shovels. “If any tools were to be shared,” explained Leung, “volunteers had to wear gloves or disinfect them [tools] between uses.”

Of course, other Covid-19 protocols were put into effect, and volunteers also needed to bring their own masks, hand sanitizer, and a filled, reusable water bottle. Riverkeeper provided additional masks, gloves and hand sanitizer, if needed.

The romanticism of doing something good for the environment aside, Sweep day is not for the faint hearted. Leung said, “Volunteers also had to be aware of slippery rocks, poison ivy, and ticks,” plus there was “the potential for trash to include hazards, such as discarded needles. Hazards needed to be reported to the leader.”

Volunteers cheering a great cleanup at Pocantico Lake Trail Photo by Monica Dietrich

Quite A Haul

This most recent group of volunteers managed to gather an astonishing 19 tons of trash from the Hudson River watershed, which includes New York City and the entire Hudson Valley.

As might be expected, the most common types of trash were: plastic bottles and bottle caps, followed by food wrappers, other types of beverage containers, cigarette butts, straws, and pieces of plastic and Styrofoam. Tires constituted around two out of the nineteen tons.

Croton Point site leaders Lisa Amberger and Chris Grieco, who have participated in Sweep every year since the first event eleven years ago, said, “There always seems to be new junk washing up on the shoreline.” Their most memorable “catch” was a gigantic stuffed teddy bear.

When Leung was asked about the most unusual items gathered this past event, the list was borderline humorous, but also sobering: “… a box of 2011 SpongeBob SquarePants ornaments, a bucket of tar, a sleeper couch, a cornhole board, smart tablet, a washing machine, a heating system, and a message in a bottle. Some of the larger items included scrap metal, car and boat parts, Styrofoam blocks, bed frames, mattresses, 50-gallon barrels, and propane tanks.”

The real question is “How were those 19 tons of trash disposed of?” Site leaders made the decision whether to “contact local municipalities to schedule trash hauling” or to have dumpsters brought into inaccessible areas and later removed. Either way, the collecting and disposing of such a prodigious amount of trash is truly noteworthy. To encourage potential volunteers, Amberger and Grieco said: “We take everyone’s safety very seriously, and one person can make a big difference in cleaning up the river.”

Sweep 2023 was held Saturday, May 6. riverkeeper.org/sweep. For more info about the event or to be a site leader next year, contact Katie Leung at kleung@riverkeeper.org.

Suzie Ross, co-organizer of the very first Sweep and a member of the Westchester County Climate Task Force, perhaps said it best:

“Sweep has become more than a fun community clean-up day. It’s grown into an opportunity for education, and to inspire advocacy and lifestyle changes. Participating in Sweep can become a starting point for individuals to think more deeply about their impacts on their community and waterways.”

A Dream Comes True – How 63 Acres of Land in North Castle Became a Nature Preserve

by

When it comes to open space preservation, a partnership is typically involved. Recently, 63 acres adjacent to a 700-acre forest were preserved, thanks to the partnership with the Westchester Land Trust, the Town of North Castle and New York State. 

That sounds simple, but what it took to achieve that dream goal is quite remarkable.

Could The Dream Ever Come True?

Town of North Castle Supervisor Michael Schiliro had known about this property “since at least 2007.” Over the years, the Town’s Open Space Committee had put the 63 acres on a special list of properties to preserve, and the Town Board had had its eye on it too.

So, why did it take until 2021 for the 63 acres to become a nature preserve?  

The property had changed ownership a few times. Schiliro said there was “concern that a private owner would try to develop the land, and the dream of preserving it would be lost forever.”

Then, in 2019, the property went up for sale. Schiliro was elated when the owners Robyn and Vito Errico approached him: “‘A lot of people are interested in it…. Perhaps the Town could take possession, and we could protect it?'”  

Schiliro contacted Kerri Kazak, Chair of the Open Space Committee, to see if they could “explore ways to preserve this property.” Kazak was eager to contact President Lori Ensinger of the Westchester Land Trust (WLT), which also had had a keen interest in the property.

Kazak had full confidence that a land trust partnership was viable because the Town had worked with the Westchester Land Trust “for years,” and “the WLT is the expert on land preservation in Westchester County [and Putnam] and an incredible resource for municipalities.”

WLT President Lori Ensinger clarified that a land trust is “a non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve environmentally significant land in perpetuity.”

Land preservation sounds great, but what made these 63 acres so deserving of preservation? Simply put, they sit on top of a sand-and-gravel drinking water aquifer.

How The Dream Took Shape

“Lori Ensinger thought the property would be the perfect candidate for a New York State water quality grant,” said Kazak, “and the Westchester Land Trust applied for the grant.”  

Securing the million-dollar grant was a labor of love that required such things as property appraisals, surveys, an environmental review, and a lot of legal work. It took two years to complete the complex transaction “because it was partially funded by the Town and by New York State with the remainder funded by WLT,” according to Ensinger. 

Supervisor Schiliro commented: “Talk about a remarkable achievement! Then, Covid hit, putting us a year and a half or so behind in the process.” Finally, in late autumn of 2021, the property was purchased by the Westchester Land Trust with the Town of North Castle contributing $250,000. All the parties involved breathed a sigh of relief.

“The entire Open Space Committee is absolutely thrilled,” said Kazak. “Preservation of this property has been the goal of so many people for so long that to see it become a reality is extremely gratifying.” 

Ensinger praised North Castle Supervisor Schiliro for being “fabulous throughout this entire process” and gave high marks to Kazak and the Open Space Committee for their excellent input and follow-through. 

But Ensinger gives “the ultimate credit” to the landowner, who “could have just listed the property for sale and sold it to a private party.”

It took “great team effort to protect pristine land that I’ve wanted protected for 14 years,” said Schiliro. Perseverance, the art of not giving up, that he learned from his beloved mother, clicked together with “the right team and culminated in something really good.” 

Schiliro said, “It happened because everybody was chipping in–our Board, Kerri, Lori, my Confidential Secretary Mindy Berard, Councilmember José Berra, Town Attorney Roland Baroni, and Robyn and Vito Errico.”

Schiliro further reminisced by invoking the line from his favorite movie Field of Dreams: “There comes a time when all the cosmic tumblers have clicked into place, and the Universe opens itself up for a few seconds to show you what is possible.” 

So, dreams can come true, and the 63-acre property preservation is an example that one did.

How the Dream Benefits the Community

Residents of North Castle should be very pleased that their drinking water is protected. The picture could have been different, said Ensinger: “If the 63-acre property were developed into ten homes or potentially had a commercial or light industrial use, that could have had a significant negative effect on the water resource.”

Another benefit that residents can look forward to, likely in a year or so, is the walking trail that New York State has approved. 

Then, there is the benefit of better air quality. Since the property is next to Highway 684, “the woodland serves to naturally filter air pollutants and particulates,” said Ensinger. This type of land ensures “the permanent connectivity of large blocks of forest” and “contributes to regional efforts to combat climate change.”

But the benefits don’t stop there.

Steven DiFalco, land project coordinator for WLT, said the property has “different habitats that host a diversity of plant and wildlife species… an upland forest with rock outcroppings, a pond, wetlands and a vernal pool that serves as an important habitat for amphibians,” such as wood frogs and spotted salamanders. Plus a waterfall. Who knew!

And Supervisor Schiliro chimed in with possibly the best benefit of all: “The land is protected forever. It was easy to think that we would never be able to secure this property.

“But in comparison to how many years this land will now be protected–for hundreds of years–it was worth keeping the dream project on the front burner.”

A Sweep in Time — What You Need To Know about Riverkeeper’s Volunteer Event

by

Congratulations to Riverkeeper.org on its 10th Anniversary of Sweep, the annual event bringing community volunteers together to clean up parks and shorelines along the Hudson River!

Jen Benson, who has served as Sweep Coordinator for six years, planned the milestone event with help from assistant Corey Watanabe. The exciting news is that in spite of Covid-19, Sweep was a great success: “We had an explosion of interest–2,607 people at 147 sites. That’s a record for us!”

Most astonishing of all, volunteers collected 2,056 bags of trash, 2.7 tons of recycling, and two tons of tires, as well as other large debris including such things as couches, toilets, metal pipes, plywood, barrels, ropes, and foam blocks.

How did Sweep 2021 deal with the ubiquitous pandemic guidelines? The biggest challenge was “site capacity,” referring to how many volunteers could be placed at a site. This year, some sites needed to have fewer volunteers. All of the sites fully complied with social distancing and mask requirements.

Sweep Means More Than Meets the Eye

Jen, who moved to a new position at Riverkeeper, reflected on her six years of coordinating Sweep: “Riverkeeper Sweep has become a prime example of our approach to work together across a vast region to help restore the Hudson.”

Monica Dietrich, Senior Membership Manager, who stepped in to support the volunteer effort until a new Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator was hired, said that Riverkeeper Sweep is “way more than a single day of service for the Hudson River. It represents a collaborative effort between the Riverkeeper team and local partners,” people who care about their communities and want to help in some way.

As of September 19, Katie Leung has assumed the role of Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator. In addition to handling Sweep, she “will be overseeing Riverkeeper’s year-round volunteer opportunities–from habitat restoration projects to administrative support.” Monica is especially pleased that Katie will be key in re-envisioning and launching the Ambassador program “for dedicated volunteers who can represent Riverkeeper at community events.”

Katie Leung said, “I hope to carry on the great and inspiring work that my colleagues laid down already…. The groundwork is there for me… and I aim to continue the effort of getting volunteers who are willing to help in Sweep and other service opportunities onboard.”

Participating in Sweep does not require membership in Riverkeeper. But joining Riverkeeper is easy. In fact, a donation as small as a dollar snags you a membership in this worthwhile organization. That membership, Monica said, “helps to make it possible for us to protect and restore the Hudson River as well as to safeguard drinking water sources.”

Plans for 2022

If you and your family, neighbors and friends are interested in participating in Sweep 2022, jot the tentative date of Saturday, May 7, on your calendars!

Katie and Monica encourage readers to check out www.riverkeeper.org/sweep and “sign up to be on our mailing list.” Interested in leading a site or recommending a site that you think could use a community clean-up? Don’t hesitate to email Katie at kleung@riverkeeper.org.

Given the outstanding success of Sweep events and their positive impact on our environment, why not become part of this coming year’s 11th Annual Sweep?