“What happens in Troy does not stay in Troy.” Those were the words of John Lipscomb, Patrol Boat Operator for Riverkeeper, speaking to a group of students from Columbia-Greene Community College aboard the 36-foot R. Ian Fletcher, a patrol and research vessel used by the not-for-profit organization to search out and deter polluters, monitor tributaries, check on water quality and protect the ecological integrity of the watershed. The students are all enrolled in a class titled River Ecology taught by Dr. Bill Shaw.

So what about Troy? “The river doesn’t live in isolation,” explained Lipscomb. “Any discharge of sewage or industrial waste, spill of petrochemicals, cooling water intakes or release of heated water can impact a large area, sometimes the entire river, perhaps in different ways, but almost always in a negative manner.”

He explained that one of the primary tasks of Riverkeeper is to identify and report sources of pollution along the river and its tributaries and take steps, often legal steps, to see that the discharge is stopped and the damage mitigated. He added, often just being a presence on the river can act as a deterrent to potential polluters.

Lipscomb said people often ask him, “How’s the water?” By that they aren’t referring to the salinity, pH, or turbidity of the river – they are asking “Can I swim in the river?” The answer is a big “maybe.”

Lipscomb explained another task of the Riverkeeper patrol boat, along with partners from Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory and Queens College, is to monitor the river for sewage contamination, specifically Enterococcus, an indicator of untreated sewage. The results are varied. On average, the Hudson fails to meet federal water quality standards for swimming 1 ½ days per week, and it is sometimes difficult to predict when or where high levels of sewage contaminants will be found.

According to Dr. Shaw, the mission of Columbia-Greene Community College is to educate its students about the Hudson River and its contributions to the environmental social, cultural, and economic fabric of the Hudson Valley. His course in Hudson River Ecology is an intensive undertaking, condensing the traditional 15-week course into two weeks, eight hours a day, four days a week. The syllabus combines field investigation with classroom work. The goal, according to Dr. Shaw, is to develop a sense of “The Hudson Valley citizenship”.

In addition to their visit with Riverkeeper, Dr. Shaw’s class will explore by canoe the rich wetlands of Tivoli North Bay, visit the sewage treatment plant in Woodstock, the power plant in Athens and will microscopically examine tributary insect larvae and Hudson River plankton and bottom invertebrates at the GCCC Field Station in the Cohotate Preserve.

By working with Riverkeeper, and interpreting the Hudson River Estuary Program 2010 Action Agenda, Dr. Shaw says that his students become informed about the many issues affecting the health of the Hudson River and will develop an ability to make educated decisions that will encourage protection, preservation and enjoyment of the Hudson Valley ecosystem. He added that as a “Community” College it’s appropriate to include, at the same time, an appreciation of the culture, history and scenic beauty of the Hudson Valley.

About Riverkeeper:

Riverkeeper is an independent, member-supported environmental organization founded on the premise that citizens themselves must roll up their sleeves to defend our waterways.

Riverkeeper’s mission is to protect the ecological integrity of the Hudson River and its tributaries, and to safeguard the drinking water supply of New York City and the lower Hudson Valley.

Riverkeeper

828 South Broadway

Tarrytown, NY 10591

Phone: 800-21-RIVER

Email: i...@riverkeeper.org

www.Riverkeeper.org