Hudson River Park has been collecting, analyzing, and removing large macro debris (1in. or larger) from riprap shorelines at Gansevoort and Pier 76 since 2015 using the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s marine debris protocol.
Data are entered into the NOAA Marine Debris Tracker and shared with other debris networks to contribute to the greater understanding of the state and impacts of plastic pollution on our local waterways and the debris is disposed of properly.
We also utilize our RanMarine WasteShark named Gulp! A remote-operated vehicle (ROV), Gulp can venture out on the water to collect debris in our River that is too far out of reach for Park staff and volunteers. Since 2015, the Park has hosted a total of 62 Shoreline Cleanup events and has removed over 42,000 pieces of marine debris from its shorelines with the help of 355+ community volunteers. This work removes trash from our shoreline but also provides information that helps scientists examine the distribution, concentration and variability of debris in the Park’s waters, which can help identify sources and severity.
Get Involved!
Hudson River Park’s River Project invites organized groups (ages 18+) to support the marine debris study through an engaging and informative volunteer day in the Park. Volunteers count, categorize and remove marine debris from our shoreline alongside dedicated River Project scientists. Join us to help improve conditions in our local waterways, protect Hudson River Park’s Estuarine Sanctuary and build a community of dedicated environmental stewards!
To learn more, email [email protected].
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