What should our relationship with the Hudson River be now?
We in Peekskill live on the banks of one of America’s great waterways. The Hudson was the first American river that was colonized and used for trade. It was one of the the first waterways that was terribly polluted then returned from the brink. So now what?
The Hudson is still polluted, but not nearly as polluted as many people believe. It is generally safe to swim in, but please pay attention to local announcements. The Riverkeeper organization does an admirable job of keeping track of water quality and makes regular announcements if conditions become unsafe. The short answer is that the Hudson is generally safe to swim in. There are beaches along the river where people regularly bathe. In our area there’s an excellent beach at Croton Point plus the Riverpool in Beacon. (This is more of a wading pool for children, but it’s a fun visit.)
People have been boating in the Hudson for many many years, including activities that regularly bring them in contact with the water. This means kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing, and recently paddleboarding. Getting wet is part of these sports, even if you’re just launching in doing that rare capsize. Windsurfers have been launching up and down the river, getting in and out the water for decades. These are all perfectly safe to do, even if you find yourself in the water for a minute or two.
As for eating the fish, that’s a different story. The NYS Department of health has distributed a publication with great information about which river fish are safe to eat. The short answer is that because of PCB’s most river fish aren’t safe in large quantities, so it’s best to avoid them. Fish that are visitors can be eaten occasionally, but many people should still avoid them.
So the short answer is that it’s perfectly safe to go into the Hudson, except after conditions when there’s been sewage runoff. Check the Riverkeeper website for details. Fishing is more risky, and it’s best avoided unless you really know what you’re doing. And that murky, muddy look to the water? That’s not pollution at all. It’s just silt, a natural quality of most rivers.