WAMC: A Poughkeepsie-based environmental group is calling on the U.S. Coast Guard to halt the rulemaking process regarding a controversial proposal for anchorage sites in the Hudson River. The call comes one week before the end of the comment period.

The U.S. Coast Guard would create up to 10 anchorage sites in the Hudson River to park as many as 43 commercial vessels between Yonkers and Kingston.

Hayley Carlock is director of environmental advocacy for Scenic Hudson, which has just produced a virtual map.  “We developed this map that I think just really highlights how extensive the threats are to the Hudson Valley,” Carlock says.  Threats she says, such as impeding economic development projects along riverfront communities and spoiling views.

“The visual impact, it’s not just the shoreline areas that are immediately adjacent to where the barges would be anchored that will be impacted depending on elevation and other factors,” says Carlock. “There are areas quite far inland including, stunningly, some isolated areas in Catskill Park where you could actually visibly see those barges. Of course the impact would be even more in places like Bear Mountain State Park, Untermyer Park in Yonkers, Scenic Hudson’s Long Dock Park in Beacon and our new High Banks Preserve in Esopus, Storm King State Park.”  Read more.