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Events Celebrating the New York/New Jersey Harbor Planned for National Estuaries Day; Nature Walks, Cruises, Beach Cleanups and Art Projects Are Among the Activities Offered

Release Date: 09/19/2003
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(#03106) New York, N.Y – From Jamaica Bay to Jersey City, family-friendly events celebrating the New York/New Jersey Harbor will be held starting September 20 in anticipation of National Estuaries Day , Saturday, September 27. Most of the events are free of charge. “The New York/New Jersey Harbor is the nation’s most dynamic estuary,” said Jane M. Kenny, EPA Regional Administrator. “Where else do estuary waters – the nurseries and habitats for thousands of species of fish, birds and mammals – surround a highly urban area that over 10 million people call home? EPA is proud of the work we’ ve done, together with our partners, to restore the Harbor estuary, and we urge New Yorkers and New Jerseyans to discover the wonderful ecosystem in their backyard.” The events, which include bird counts, eco-cruises, hikes and festivals, are arranged by a diverse group of New York and New Jersey-based non-profit organizations. A full list of harbor events is available on-line at www.harborestuary.org . The New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary extends from Westchester County in the north to Monmouth County, New Jersey in the south, east to the Rockaways in Queens. It includes the lower Hudson River, the Bronx and Harlem Rivers, Jamaica Bay, Newark Bay, the Arthur Kill, and the Raritan, Hackensack, Passaic, Navesink, Shrewsbury and Rahway Rivers. The Harbor Estuary Program is a partnership of federal, state and local environmental agencies, scientists and citizens working together to protect and restore the resources of the Harbor estuary. See below for a list of events in New York TIVOLI BAYS PUBLIC CANOE TRIP September 6 Annandale, New York 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Reservations are required. For more information: (845) 758-7016 RIBBON CUTTING AT GATEWAY GREENHOUSE EDUCATION CENTER AND WALK AROUND JAMAICA BAY ESTUARY September 13 Brooklyn, New York 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Celebrate National Estuaries Day with a five-mile walk for health along the bay through estuary waterfront communities and parks. The walk ends at the new Gateway Greenhouse Education Center at Floyd Bennett Field. A second group of people will assemble at the Greenhouse to plant trees, pot plants, and help with winterizing and general maintenance at the Nursery Center. The event concludes with both groups joining a formal ribbon cutting ceremony for the Gateway Greenhouse Education Center. For more information: Friends of Gateway, Lenore Schlossberg or Toby Brandt, 212-352-9330. CLEARWATER AT THE YONKERS RIVERFEST September 20 Yonkers, New York 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Clearwater will be a proud part of the 2003 RiverFest at the new Yonkers waterfront. Free dockside tours of the 100-foot Clearwater will include everything you ever wanted to know about ““sloops”” as well as a look at live Hudson River creatures and ecology. We’’ll also have public sail programs so you can help raise the 3000-pound mainsail and see Yonkers and the Palisades from the magnificent river. For more information: Hudson River Sloop Clearwater 845-454-7673 or LIFE'S A BEACH! September 20 New York State Volunteer for the New York State Beach Cleanup at a beach near you. Collect and record the debris around your favorite estuary, river, bay, sound, lake or ocean. This event is coordinated by the American Littoral Society as part of the International Coastal Cleanup. For more information: American Littoral Society, Hotline: 1-800-449-0790,Barbara Cohen, Beach Cleanup Coordinator, 718-471-2166 or [email protected] TIVOLI ACCESS TRAIL WALK September 20 Annandale, New York 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Join the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve on a 1.5 mile or a 3 mile trail walk. There will be a shuttle back to the village. For more information: Jean McAvoy (845) 758-7012 WALK ON TIVOLI SOUTH BAY September 20 Annandale, New York 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Take a 1.5 mile walk on Tivoli South Bay at low tide. Boots & reservation required. Mud is guaranteed! For more information: Jean McAvoy (845) 758-7012 HUDSON RIVER WEEKEND September 20 & 21 Wave Hill Garden, Bronx, New York 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wave Hill presents a “Hudson River Weekend” of activities and events that invite adults and children alike to take a closer look at the ecology and geology of the Hudson River Estuary. Through an art exhibition, landforms information station, family art and movement program, and a volunteer opportunity on the banks of the Hudson, visitors are invited to make new connections to this natural resource. Events will take place at various locations on Wave Hill’’s spectacular grounds overlooking the Hudson River and Palisades range. For more information: Wave Hill 718-549-3200. TEACHERS' OPEN HOUSE September 23 New York, New York 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Join us for the Second Annual Teachers’ Open House as we celebrate the week of National Estuaries Day. Meet teachers, environmental educators, and students involved in a Marine Biology Internship Program. Take a tour of the ‘‘Estuarium’’ and learn about local fish and invertebrates. Take back a wealth of material to help you bring the estuary into your classroom. Find out about seminars, field trips, internships, and teacher workshops. New teacher professional development hours awarded. Refreshments will be served. This event is presented by The River Project and New York University's Wallerstein Collaborative for Urban Environmental Education. Advance registration required. For more information: The River Project, Diana dos Santos, 212-233-3030. ECO-CRUISES: DISCOVER BROOKLYN’’S GOWANUS CANAL AND NEWTOWN CREEK September 27 Brooklyn, New York 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Join the Urban Divers aboard their monitoring vessels, CleanWater NYC and The Gowanus Monitor II, for special guided eco-cruises of the Gowanus Canal and Newtown Creek. Cruises will be approximately 1 ½½ hours and will include water sampling, fish monitoring and a live underwater video transmission to view what’’s living at the bottom of the estuary. Advance registration required. For more information: The Urban Divers, Ludger Balan, 718-802-9874 SCIENCE AT TIVOLI BAYS September 27 Annandale, New York 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Meet river scientists and take a 1.5 mile / 2.5 hour tour of the bay. Tours leave at 1:00 p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. Registration required. For more information: Jean McAvoy (845) 758-7012 GOWANUS CANAL BOAT TOUR September 27 Brooklyn, New York 9:00 a.m. & 10:45 a.m. Join the Brooklyn Center for the Urban Environment for a 1 ½½ hour boat tour focusing on the history and ecology of the Gowanus Canal. At various stages throughout the tour, science educators will explain how the Gowanus is an intricate and human-influenced estuarine ecosystem - a crucial transition zone between land and water that provides an environment for lessons in biology, geology, chemistry, physics, history and social issues. Boat is open; bring sunblock and water. Advance reservation required. For more information: Brooklyn Center for the Urban Environment, Ruth Edebohls, 718-788-8500 ext. 208 or GOWANUS CANAL DAY: A CELEBRATION OF NATURE RETURNED September 27 Brooklyn, New York 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Visit the Gowanus Canal for a festival featuring an afternoon of fun, community education and a shared celebration of the rebirth of the Canal. The Festival will include walking tours, local history exhibits, displays of canal critters, local art, vendors, entertainment and education about how a cleaner canal now attracts fish, birds and other wildlife as well as recreational uses. For more information: Gowanus Canal Community Development Corporation, Alicia Moore, 718-858-0557. GO FISH September 27 New York, New York 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Join Master Anglers for free catch and release fishing at Wagner Park in Battery Park City as you learn about the marine life in today’ ’s Hudson River and NY-NJ Harbor. In addition to the fishing, there will be a musical performance by Lou Gallo and Brady Rymer, art projects related to the Hudson River, public education displays on the NY-NJ Harbor Estuary, Hudson River, pollution, solutions, and protection, as well as live fish, crabs and other marine life. For more information: Battery Park City Parks Conservancy 212-267-9700. SAIL AWAY ON ESTUARY DAY September 27 New York, New York South Street Seaport Museum celebrates Estuary Day with public educational sails aboard the 1885 schooner Pioneer. Take a 2-hour sail aboard the only American-built iron-hulled sailing vessel still in existence! See Upper New York Bay from the deck of the Pioneer while exploring the aquatic ecology of the estuary that made New York a premier port. There will be hands-on activities and educational materials for all ages. Pre-registration accepted but not required. For more information: Schooner Pioneer 212-748-8786. ESTUARY DAY AT SOUTH STREET SEAPORT MUSEUM September 27 & 28 New York, New York 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. South Street Seaport Museum's Family Programs welcomes visitors to a number of programs focusing on the unique features of estuarine life, maritime crafts and children's yoga inspired by the aquatic animals of the East River. Visitors will touch, play, examine, create and discover as they learn. Reservations accepted for 1-2 PM children's yoga classes. For more information: South Street Seaport Museum 212-748-8758. JAMAICA BAY ECOLOGY SUNSET CRUISE September 28 Sheepshead Bay, New York 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Join the American Littoral Society and the Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers for a three-hour sunset cruise through the backwater marshes of Jamaica Bay. Learn about the history, ecology and wildlife of this great 13,000 acre urban estuary. Speakers from various federal, state & local agencies as well as community and environmental groups will discuss the many pollution problems and restoration efforts currently underway. The cruise passes close to the big marshes of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge where egrets, herons, ibis, osprey, peregrine falcon, waterfowl, oystercatchers and many other species of birdlife stop during the peak fall migration time. Wine & cheese will be served. Advance reservation required. For more information: American Littoral Society 718-318-9344. BROOKLYN WATERS AND WILDLIFE: EXPERIENCE THE HARBOR ESTUARY AT BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK October 4 Brooklyn, New York 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Visit Brooklyn Bridge Park and Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park for a unique, up-close experience of the Harbor Estuary and East River. The Park’’s ““Cove Between the Bridges”” teems with wildlife and shows how this slice of nature can thrive in our urban landscape. On October 4th the Brooklyn Bridge Park Coalition will offer boat and walking tours, bird watching, fishing, and information about this hidden habitat –– who calls it home and how we can help it flourish. For more information: Brooklyn Bridge Park Coalition, Sharon Soons, 718-802-0603. FLOATING FARMERS MARKET AT RIVERBANK STATE PARK October 4 New York, New York 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come enjoy free samples from New York's farms alongside an antique barge on the Hudson River! The NYC Soil and Water Conservation District is partnering with the Lower Hudson-Long Island Resource Conservation and Development Council to bring locally grown farm products to NYC. Come enjoy the water and support local farmers at this first-of-its kind event. For more information: (212) 637-3877 or [email protected] METRO WATERS TOUR October 4 New York, New York 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Climb aboard for more than just a boat tour! Join the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance as we help connect the many exciting events planned for Estuaries Day! See how easy and fun it can be to travel by water and learn about new and ongoing efforts to revitalize the waterfront of our region. For more information: (800) 364-9943. TIVOLI SOUTH BAY TRAIL WALK October 5 Annandale, New York 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Take a 3 mile walk around Tivoli South Bay. For more information: (845) 758-7016