Senate Resolution No. 2320
BY: Senator HARCKHAM
COMMEMORATING the 60th Anniversary of Riverkeeper
and honoring its enduring legacy of environmental
advocacy, stewardship, and protection of the Hudson
River and New York's drinking water resources
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
honor those distinguished organizations whose commitment to
environmental protection and public service has profoundly benefited the
people and natural resources of the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 60th Anniversary of Riverkeeper, marking six decades of
steadfast advocacy, environmental leadership, and dedication to
restoring and protecting the Hudson River and safeguarding clean
drinking water for millions of New Yorkers; and
WHEREAS, Riverkeeper traces its origins to 1966, when Hudson River
fishermen, recreational anglers, and concerned citizens united in
response to the alarming pollution and environmental degradation
threatening the Hudson River, America's "First River"; and
WHEREAS, At that time, hazardous industrial waste, raw sewage
discharges, oil contamination, and unchecked development had transformed
vast stretches of the Hudson River into what many regarded as an
industrial sewer, imperiling fish populations, wildlife habitats,
drinking water supplies, and treasured recreational opportunities; and
WHEREAS, Determined to reclaim and restore the river that served as
their livelihood, home, and community centerpiece, these citizens formed
the Hudson River Fishermen's Association, the precursor to Riverkeeper,
and began a groundbreaking environmental enforcement movement rooted in
citizen action, science, and the rule of law; and
WHEREAS, During the Association's first public meeting at the
American Legion Hall in Crotonville, New York, a standing-room-only
crowd of rivermen, anglers, families, and environmental advocates
pledged themselves to protecting the Hudson River from further abuse and
exploitation; and
WHEREAS, Inspired by the discovery of the Rivers and Harbors Act of
1888 and the Refuse Act of 1899 by outdoor writer and conservationist
Bob Boyle, the organization initiated a historic campaign to identify,
prosecute, and hold accountable polluters who were illegally
contaminating the Hudson River; and
WHEREAS, Through tireless advocacy and strategic litigation, the
organization successfully shut down unlawful industrial discharges,
secured landmark legal victories against major polluters, and helped
establish citizen enforcement as a powerful tool for environmental
protection throughout the United States; and
WHEREAS, The organization also played a vital role, alongside Scenic
Hudson and other advocates, in opposing the proposed hydroelectric
development at Storm King Mountain, helping to preserve critical striped
bass spawning grounds and setting important precedents for environmental
review and ecological protection; and
WHEREAS, Using proceeds from successful legal actions, the
organization launched the original Riverkeeper patrol boat, initiating a
tradition of vigilant monitoring and enforcement that continues today
through Riverkeeper's patrols of the Hudson River and its tributaries;
and
WHEREAS, Over the past six decades, Riverkeeper has become one of
the nation's leading environmental organizations, working to protect and
restore the Hudson River from source to sea and to safeguard the
drinking water supplies relied upon by more than nine million New
Yorkers; and
WHEREAS, Riverkeeper's mission is rooted in community partnerships,
science, advocacy, and the law, and its efforts have contributed
significantly to reductions in pollution, improvements in water quality,
the revival of recreational boating and swimming, and heightened public
awareness of environmental stewardship; and
WHEREAS, Riverkeeper continues to address ongoing environmental
challenges, including sewage contamination, aging infrastructure,
habitat degradation, climate change, harmful emerging pollutants, and
threats posed by unsustainable development and antiquated power
generation facilities; and
WHEREAS, Guided by its enduring core values, Riverkeeper affirms the
importance of healthy ecosystems, clean and accessible drinking water,
environmental justice, scientific integrity, public participation, and
equitable access to the environmental and recreational benefits of New
York's waterways; and
WHEREAS, Through citizen engagement, volunteerism, habitat
restoration, sustainable energy advocacy, and educational outreach,
Riverkeeper empowers communities throughout the Hudson Valley and New
York City watershed to become active stewards of their rivers, streams,
and drinking water resources; and
WHEREAS, Riverkeeper's vision for the future is one in which the
Hudson River and its tributaries are ecologically restored, resilient,
teeming with life, safe for swimming, fishing, and boating, and valued
and protected by all who depend upon them; and
WHEREAS, The State of New York owes a profound debt of gratitude to
the generations of advocates, fishermen, scientists, attorneys,
volunteers, and community leaders whose dedication and perseverance
transformed Riverkeeper into a model for grassroots environmental
activism and effective public-interest advocacy; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 60th Anniversary of Riverkeeper and to honor its
extraordinary contributions to environmental protection, clean water
advocacy, and the preservation of the Hudson River for present and
future generations of New Yorkers; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Riverkeeper.
