NRDC: It’s difficult to put into words my appreciation for the Hudson River. From its source in Lake Tear of the Clouds at the foot of Mount Marcy to its terminus in New York Harbor, the Hudson continues to inspire my work for a just future.

Growing up in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, I spent much of my formative years on, in and near the river. The Hudson is a tidal estuary—where salty sea water meets fresh water running from upriver. The mix of fresh and salt water flows in and out with the tide, providing for

a tremendous amount of biodiversity—over 200 species of fish call this estuary home. It has been and will always be home for me, too. Watching a tidal estuary flowing past you in two directions teaches you a lot about the world; about resilience, determination, and resistance.

Despite its beauty and the important cultural role it plays in our community, the Hudson continues to face suffer from a legacy of pollution—including PCBs dumped for decades by General Electric. In recent years, however, and thanks to bold, citizen-led leadership, the life in and around the river has begun to show signs of a comeback. And yet, the Hudson, and all of the communities that rely on it, continue to face new environmental threats.

This past summer, the United States Coast Guard announced it was reviewing a proposal to expand the number of anchorage grounds—an area for a ship to anchor—in the Hudson River. The new proposal is for 43 new anchorage sites, in areas not historically navigated by large vessels. Read more.