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EVENTS
June 17, 5pm-8pmCommunity Row with East River CREWFree Community Rowing with East River CREW on East 96th St boathouse and esplanade. June 17, 6pm-10pm
WE ACT for Environmental Justice 20th Anniversary GalaCelebrating Environmental Leadership and Action. South Hall of Riverside Church June 18, 6pm-9pmNew Views 2009Benefit for the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative. Join friends, neighbors and fellow Greenway supporters. Erie Basin Park Red Hook, Brooklyn June 18, 7pm-9pmRestoration of the LilacHear about the Lilac, NYC's only historic steamship. $5 donation. Waterfront Museum, Pier 44, Red Hook, Brooklyn June 19, 2pm-6pm
Hackensack River Clean Up
Pull trash out of the Hackensack River from canoes. Laurel Hill County Park Secaucus, NJ June 19, 5pm-8pmBook Reading: Harbor VoicesAuthor Terry Walton celebrates the people, places and vessels of New York's working harbor. Free. 5pm-8pm. South St. Seaport Museum, 12 Fulton Street. June 20, 9amHunts Point Hustle 5KJoin Sustainable South Bronx for the 3rd Annual Hunts Point Hustle! THis 5k walk/run will start at the Hunts Point Riverside Park. Bronx
June 20, 9am-NoonNewton Creek Clean UpNewtown residents, businesses and property owners invite you to lend a hand with the cleanup. Meet at parking lot behind Newtown Bike Shop on Greene Street. Brooklyn June 20, 10:30amArmy Heritage Day on Governors IslandDiscover 150 years of Army history on Governors Island. Featuring re-enactments, children's programming, musical demonstrations, and lectures which pay tribute to army life here. With the National Park Service. June 21, 12pm-3pmFather's Day Schooner Match RaceBe on board classic schooners as their racing crews compete in a three-hour Match Race .
Chelsea Piers, Pier 59, near 19th Street and the Hudson River.
June 21, 1pm & 4pm
CIRCUSundaysFeaturing performers from around the globe who will dazzle with dexterity and delight.
Erie Lackawanna Rail & Ferry Terminal, Hoboken June 21, 1pm-2pm Treasures of a President: FDR and the SeaUncover more about FDR, a sailor and a statesman, and learn about the creation of the exhibit of his collections during this guided gallery tour. South Street Seaport Museum, 12 Fulton Street 212-748-8786
June 25, 7pm-9pm
Rebuilding the W.O. DeckerLearn about the craftsmanship that rebuilt this 1930 wooden
harbor tug!
Waterfront Museum, Pier 44, Red Hook, Brooklyn
June 26, 7am-9am
Liberty Island Swim
Come and cheer on others as they swim around the Statue of Liberty! Liberty Island
June 27, 10am-2pm
Clean & Green Gowanus Canal Clean Up. Join the Gowanus Canal Conservancy at our monthly clean-ups along the banks of the Gowanus Canal!
June 27Bronx River FestivalEnjoy a day at the Bronx River. Canoing, entertainment, food. June 27, 12pm-4pmSchool's Out for SummerMusic, games, refreshments and canoing in Norton Basin. Free. Michaelis-Bayswater Park, Rockaways. Pre-registration required. 718-318-4000, x307 June 27, 7pm-11pmWaterkeeper Alliance 10th Anniversary PartyJoin Waterkeepers from around the globe as they celebrate a decade of clean water advocacy. $75 per person. World Financial Center Winter Garden. June 27, 10pm-MidnightTime's Up Riverside RideShare the tranquility of Central Park plus the lovely tree canopy and grand vistas of the Hudson River from Riverside Park.
Meet at Columbus Circle. June 28, Noon-MidnightFirst Annual NYC Water FestivalFriends of Clearwater invites you to join Pete Seegar in a tribute to Carl Schwartz. The Frying Pan, Pier 66 W. 26th and the Hudson June 28, 1pm & 4pmCIRCUSundaysFeaturing performers from around the globe who will dazzle with dexterity and delight.
Erie Lackawanna Rail & Ferry Terminal Hoboken June 30, 7pm-9pmPlans for Atlantic BasinHear about the history of 1930's tanker Mary A. Whalen and a vision for a maritime hub in Atlantic Basin.
Waterfront Museum, Pier 44, Red Hook, Brooklyn July 18, 10am-4pmCity of Water DayFun with a purpose! Float, ferry, paddle, row, splash, canoe, and kayak your way to beautiful Governors Island for the 2nd annual City of Water Day Festival. Quadricentennial EventsOngoing
Amsterdam/New Amsterdam: The World of Henry HudsonAmsterdam/Nederlands
Scheepvaartmuseum Amsterdam, will employ rare 16th- and 17th-century
objects, images, and documents from major American and Dutch
collections to bring the transatlantic world to life and reveal how
Henry Hudson's epic third voyage of exploration planted the seeds of a
modern society that took root and flourished in the New World. Through Sept. 27.
Museum of the City of New York , 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd St. www.mcny.org River ReadingsThis
series, presented in collaboration with Poet's House, will explore the Hudson as literary
inspiration. Themes may include "Haunted Hudson," "Pastoral Hudson," and
"Immigrant Traditions." Series will include two panel discussions and three
outdoor readings. Dates to be announced. Wave Hill, Bronx. www.wavehill.org The Glory of Dutch Bulbs: A Legacy of 400 Years
Opening day of a new exhibition of rare Dutch bulbs at the NY Botanical Garden.The New Amsterdam TrailFirst
day of multi-platform, self-guided walking tour sponsored by Henry
Hudson 400, with the Dutch National Archives and the National Parks of
New York Harbor Conservancy at Federal Hall. Save the Date!September 9-10, 2009H209: A Water Forum
Business, environmental and government leaders explore solutions to the water
challenges of coastal cities. H209 is organized by the Henry Hudson 400 Foundation in cooperation with Liberty
Science Center, Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance and the Netherlands Water
Partnership.__________
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Please help build a blue movement in the region and lay the foundation
for a strong MWA and the greatest waterfront in the world. Financial
contributions made to the Waterfront Alliance, a 501(c)(3)
organization, are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
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 Modernizing NYC's Maritime Infrastructure
The race is on to be ready when the expansion of the Panama Canal is complete in 2015 and the giant Post-Panamax ships come calling
The recession bought us another few years, says NYC Economic Development Corporation, but we need to start new projects that will expand port capacity
Will New York City be ready when the expansion of the Panama Canal is finished in 2015? That was the question posed by City Council member Daniel Garodnick to representatives of the NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) at a joint hearing of the Council's Waterfronts Committee and Infrastructure Task Force on June 2.
By 2011, 37% of the world's ships will be post-Panamax, or, too large to pass through the Canal. When the Canal's multi-billion dollar expansion is finished and the post-Panamax ships are able to travel from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea and on to the Atlantic Ocean and the East Coast of the United States, will NYC waterways be deep enough to accommodate the giant vessels? Will there be enough space at the marine terminals? Enough dry docks, barges, tugs and other support services?
Two tankers pass in Ambrose Channel. photo by Robert Simko
Last summer's Maritime Support Services Location Study (read it here) from the EDC concluded that the Port of New York and New Jersey is growing at a faster rate than other U.S. ports. Demand for dry dock service is almost double capacity -- and growing.
To be sure, the current recession has slowed growth -- but some see this as an opportunity . "Until recently, maritime trade volumes were at levels far exceeding
expectations," Venetia Lannon, EDC senior vice president, explained at the City Council hearing. "In 2007 the Port of New York and New Jersey reached
container volumes that had been forecast for 2017, so we were ten years
ahead of schedule. With the recent economic downturn, trade volumes
through all the region's container terminals have dropped between 15
and 20 percent."
"The recession bought us another four or five years, but we need to start projects that will expand port capacity now," she added. She said that the City's maritime industry supports an
estimated 9,000 direct jobs and $3 billion in business revenue
annually.
Ms. Lannon and her colleague Andrew Genn went on to describe efforts to revitalize and expand the City's maritime infrastructure, centered around three marine terminals capable of handling
ocean-going vessels -- New York Container Terminal (NYCT, formerly Howland Hook Container Terminal) on Staten Island,
and in Brooklyn the Red Hook Container Terminal and the South Brooklyn
Marine Terminal.
- At NYCT, berths have been lengthened by 500 feet, and an intermodal rail yard was constructed to feed the
reactivated Staten Island Railroad. Use of the railroad has eliminated
50,000 truck trips from local roads.
- Future plans include: deepening the channel to 50 feet and improving land-side access
- At Red Hook, where there is an increase in container
volume and hundreds of new jobs, American Stevedoring was able to extend its lease by ten years, which in
turn allowed leases with Phoenix Beverages to be finalized. Phoenix imports beer, wine and spirits from Europe and the Caribbean and sends Brooklyn Lager
and NY State apples back to those markets.
- Future plans include: marketing the terminal and gaining more customers
- South Brooklyn Marine Terminal is being converted into a combination
automobile/general cargo facility, with a larger stevedore area and greater electrical capacity. The main berth is being dredged to 33 feet. When
completed, SBMT will support 300 new jobs and eliminate 100,000 annual truck
trips.
- Future plans include: redesign of container storage to improve efficiency
In other waterfront modernization, the City has introduced shore power at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, allowing ships to turn off their engines while docked. At Pier 9A in Red Hook, diesel cranes have been electrified to reduce air pollution.
Much remains to be done. As it goes forward with its Marine Cargo System Plan, the EDC is addressing freight transportation holistically -- incorporating adjacent land use and transportation, and community factors -- in four waterfront areas: Hunts Point, Red Hook/Erie Basin, Sunset Park and Howland Hook.
 Following the EDC to the microphone at the June 2 City Council hearing, Andrew Kimball, president of the Brooklyn Navy Yard testified about the future of the historic shipbuilding site. Having invested in pier upgrades, dredging and mechanical infrastructure, the BNY retains a strong waterfront industrial presence (see photo at right), with many other industries represented on the inland grounds.
Roland Lewis, president of the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance also testified. "The time is now to build on our existing waterfront infrastructure," he said. "Whether it is investment in new or existing dry docks or including bollards and cleats at new development sites, MWA is a strong advocate for a coordinated investment strategy and the necessary land use protections to ensure the long term competitiveness of the martime industry and associated support services."
To read the six-step approach for modernizing NYC's waterfront infrastructure, as recommended in the MWA's Waterfront Action Agenda, click here.
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Community Offers Ideas on the
Redesign of the Harlem River Promenade
 A dock!
A bicycle path!
A science barge!
The Bronx community comes
together to talk about redeveloping
the waterfront
The Harlem River Promenade, stretching 400 yards between the High Bridge and the Alexander Hamilton Bridge on the Bronx side of the river, is notoriously hard to reach. Only the most intrepid Bronx residents clamber down a steep hillside and cross the Major Deegan Highway, the Metro-North railway tracks and a narrow service road to get to this 400-yard stretch of waterfront.
Those who do, like the man and his son in the photo below fishing from the rocks, find a rare NYC amenity: direct access to the water.
The Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation wants to create public access to this waterfront stretch, as well as connect to the NYC Greenway system, and restore the natural shoreline. On June 11, the BOEDC sponsored a design workshop to start a public conversation about redesigning the Harlem River Promenade. "Almost everyone at
the workshop said water access -- a dock and boating -- was their priority," said Dana Waits of Starr Whitehouse, the firm that moderated the workshop.
The Harlem River Promenade redesign project coincides with work to reopen the High Bridge, a graceful 100-foot high aquaduct built in 1848 that was neglected and finally closed in the 1980s, as well as the redevelopment of Washington Bridge Park.
The Starr Whitehouse team will now analyze the best program options based on the site dimensions, potential program partners and design characteristics. At the end of the summer, another public charrette will take place and the team will report on its findings and receive feedback from the community. Check the BOEDC for further information.
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Conceptualizing
the Future of the
Hudson River in this Quadricentennial Year
(PART 1)
DEC releases "State of the Hudson" report
as advocates gather at the 2009 River Summit
More than 250 people gathered on June 8 to discuss the river valley environment at the 2009 Hudson River Summit, a conference organized by the Dept. of Environmental Conservation's Hudson River Estuary program and co-sponsored by
Historic Hudson River Towns, Clearwater, Hudson River Foundation,
Riverkeeper, Scenic Hudson, the Hudson River Environmental Society, the
Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance, the Nature Conservancy and others. Participants talked about needs and opportunities along the length of the Hudson. Noting progress in water quality, the mapping of river habitats and public access, among other areas, participants agreed that the active conservation movement of recent decades must continue. Drawing on the DEC estuary program's 2005-2009 Action Agenda, a draft 2010-2014 Action Agenda was released, along with a report on the health of the river entitled "The State of the Hudson 2009". Click here to download these and other materials from the 2009 Hudson River Summit.
Map: Clare Dunn and Lana Lau
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Conceptualizing the Future of the
Hudson River in this Quadricentennial Year (PART 2)
Leaders of Riverkeeper, Scenic Hudson and the sloop Clearwater
announce goals for a healthy Hudson Two days afer the Hudson River Summit, leaders of three major environmental organizations announced a joint vision for rejuvenating and protecting the Hudson River and its valley. As the Heritage Ships of the Great River Day Flotilla (see story below) sailed north in commemoration of the quadricentennial of Henry Hudson's voyage, Jeff Rumpf, executive director of Hudson River Sloop Clearwater; Alex
Matthiessen, president of Riverkeeper; and Ned Sullivan, president of
Scenic Hudson, held a press conference at the Poughkeepsie riverbank and listed ten goals "for a healthy, livable and prosperous valley" that are "intended to create a legacy that will outlast this year's celebrations." The goals are briefly described below. For details, click here. - a swimmable river where water quality is regularly tested and
reported
- a fishable river
- completion of General Electric's cleanup of toxic PCBs
- clean energy provided by modern power
plants with pollution-control technology
- 65,000 acres along the Hudson forever protected
- a heritage trail on both sides of the river from Albany to New York
City that affords walking, kayaking/canoeing and other recreational
opportunities
- vibrant land, water and wildlife that will buffer the impacts of climate
change
- establishing the Hudson River as a great learning resource, with support and advocacy
for environmental-education programs;
- establishing diversity outreach to all people along the river
- creating a sustainable economy based on building eco-friendly green cities
Photo: Steve Stanne/NYSDEC
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Waterkeeper Alliance Celebrates Ten Years
Ten years ago, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. took steps to mold the farflung system of "keepers" of the waterways -- riverkeeper, baykeeper, channelkeeper, etc. -- into a coalition. The result was the Waterkeeper Alliance, a group that has grown into a powerful association grounded in science and law that advocates for clean water, with 190 programs in 19 countries on six continents.
In celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Waterkeeper Alliance, the three local keepers -- Hudson Riverkeeper, Long Island Soundkeeper and NY/NJ Baykeeper -- are sponsoring a four-day conference and celebration in New York, the birthplace of the Waterkeeper movement. Nearly all the Waterkeepers are expected to attend, from Australia, China, Africa, Russia, India; even the Hann Baykeeper in Senegal will send a representative.
"We'll have working sessions each day," explained Murray Fisher, a member of the Waterkeeper Alliance board of directors and founder of the Urban Assembly New York Harbor School. Topics of those working sessions, he said, may include starting a non-profit, pollution investigation, acquiring a captain's license, lobbying and more.
The working sessions are not open to the public -- but the big bash in the Winter Garden is! All are invited to party with chairman and founder Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and the Waterkeepers from around the globe on Saturday night, June 27, at the World Financial Center Winter Garden. Special guest Daryl Hall from the musical group Hall & Oates will perform. Indulge in an organic and locally sourced hors d'oeuvres, including a raw bar, and an open bar with beer, wine and eco-friendly cocktails. Tickets are $75 per person. Visit www.waterkeeper.org to purchase tickets. For more information, call 914-674-0622, ext. 30, or email events@waterkeeper.org.
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Yo! Brooklyn!
You Can Catch a Water Taxi to Governors Island 
For the first time, Brooklyn residents may take advantage of regular taxi service to Governors Island. That would be a water taxi traveling across the 400 yards of Buttermilk Channel. As part of its Hop On/Hop Off service, the New York Water Taxi now stops in Red Hook and at the Fulton Ferry Landing. Adult
fare from Red Hook is $5. From Fulton Ferry Landing,
adults pay $10 and children under 12 are $6. For the full schedule of Hop-on Hop-off service to
Governors Island, visit
www.nywatertaxi.com. |
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New Section of Hudson River Walkway Seamlessly Links NJ's Natural and Urban Areas
From Liberty National Park through a protected natural area and past luxury housing Stroll along the new half-mile section of the Hudson River Walkway that links Liberty State Park with Caven Point and you'll pass through four distinct areas: the wide open space of the park, a preserved area where the pathway rises up on stilts above swampland, the luxury housing of Port Liberte and, finally, the green grounds of the Liberty National Golf Club. "It's a wonderful blend of nature and urban use," said Helen Manogue, president of the Hudson River Waterfront Conservancy of New Jersey. The half-mile path opened on June 15, part of an 18.5 mile walkway from Bayonne to the George Washington Bridge being coordinated by the Conservancy and the Dept. of Environmental Protection. It was paid for by the Liberty National Golf Club, as part of the land redevelopment agreement between the club and the State of New Jersey. "It's part of a long term strategy of waterfront preservation and something we gladly did," said Martel Meyer, general manager of the club. Approximately seven linear miles have yet to be built, mostly in Bayonne and Edgewater, although the next short sections to open will be in the vicinity of Hoboken. "We're trying to get all these gaps
closed," said Ms. Manogue as she dashed off to a meeting about walkway maintenance. "We just started a new project with the DEP," she said. "There are not really sufficient numbers of DEP investigators so we are doing a lot of the legwork checking on maintenance of the walkway. There's bad erosion in some areas and the walkway is starting to wash away."  Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy cuts the ribbon on the new section of the Hudson River Walkway. The Liberty National Golf Clubhouse is in the background.
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Blessing of the Fleet and River Day Flotilla Commemorate a Great Voyage 400 Years Ago
 Led by the Half Moon, a parade of boats maneuvered in close to the Battery seawall in the early evening of June 5, where they were hailed by a group of dignitaries including Governor David Paterson; Joan K. Davidson, chairperson of the NYS Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Commission; Pete Grannis, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner; Hugo Gajus Scheltema, Consul General of the Netherlands; and Capt. Robert R. O'Brien, Captain of the Port/USCG. With the VIPs were religious and spiritual leaders ready to send the boats off into the rain with blessings for a safe and prosperous season. It was the Blessing of the Fleet, the opening event of a weeklong celebration of Henry Hudson's extraordinary voyage 400 years ago. Michael Fortenbaugh, commodore of
the Manhattan Sailing Club and executive director of the Harbor Sailing Foundation, which organized the blessing, saw the event as evidence of the resurgence of recreational boating in the waters of New York. "Governor Paterson is a friend of boating and understands the
importance of the Hudson River and the harbor where this country's
environmental movement began," he said. "Once the river and harbor were cleaned up,
recreation could return and this is good for the people who live along
the shores of the harbor and Hudson River." The next day, the Great River Day Flotilla gathered near the Statue of Liberty and sailed up the Hudson. Unlike the Hudson-Fulton Celebration in 1909, which drew crowds to Manhattan's shoreline to celebrate the tricentennial of Hudson's voyage, few New York City residents watched the parade of boats sailing northward on the morning of June 6. Upriver, the crowds grew larger and more celebratory. Cortney Worrall, director of programs for the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance, was aboard the Clearwater that day. "It was great spectacle, especially with the historic ships," she said. "North of the city there were crowds and hoopla. Unfortunately, New York City has yet to fully take advantage of its waterfront. We have our work cut out for us to reconnect our urban neighborhoods, even those with the shoreline at their front doors, to the metropolitan waters." |
 Get the Word
Out About YOU!
Reach thousands of people at the City of Water Day Information Fair
Don't forget: City of Water Day, presented by the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance on July 18 on Governors Island, is one of the best
ways to tell people about your organization's work for the waterfront, our
harbor, the environment and the maritime industry. City of Water Day's
Information Fair takes place at beautiful, shady Nolan Park (see photo
above, courtesy of the Governors Island Education and Preservation
Corporation). You can count on thousands of people visiting your booth, table, display or activity.
Click here to learn more about the Information Fair at City of Water Day. Then be creative and let us know about your plans by filling out
and returning this form. You'll have a great
day promoting your mission. See you on July 18, 2009! |
MWA Boat Available for Your Use!
Attention
Alliance Partners! The Big G, a retired police boat, is available, no
charge, for your use. Take funders on a tour! Throw a party! All we ask
is a suggested contribution to cover the fuel usage. The Big G can hold
a dozen people. Click here to contact Captain Carter Craft for more information. Photo by Bernard Ente
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Recent Waterfront News
Answers About Dredging in the Hudson
The New York Times, June 17, 2009
Bayonne Bridge Hampers New York harbor shipping
The Broadsheet Daily, June 17, 2009
Paddlers Take To The Hudson River
NY1, June 17, 2009
Unsafe sewage levels in canal bacteria count high in Gowanus
Daily News, June 11, 2009
Coalition to host Newtown Creek cleanups
Phillyburbs.com, June 9, 2009
Hudson River advocates gather to fine-tune vision of waterway's future
LoHud.com, June 9, 2009
Who doesn't like Clean Water?
Daily Kos: State of the Nation, June 4, 2009
Where the Shipping News Is All Bad
The New York Times, June 3, 2009
A Clearer Clean Water Act
The New York Times, June 1, 2009
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