By Judith Schwartzstein, Vice President of Publicity, Sarah Lawrence College
Apr. 27, 2016: Compared to the rest of the world, the United States (and the Northeast, in particular) has a plentiful supply of clean water for recreation and drinking. But in order to keep it that way, more needs to be done to protect our water, environmental groups warned.
About a dozen grassroots environmental groups from across the Hudson Valley met at the Center for the Urban River at Beczak in Yonkers to celebrate Earth Day and talk about the challenges they face in protecting water quality.
“When you think about Flint, Michigan, and what has happened there, it was citizen science that helped to uncover this environmental disaster,’’ said Ryan Palmer, director of the Center for the Urban River at Beczak. “We are reminding people that Earth Day is not just about appreciating the environment, but about protecting it.’’
The program, sponsored by Sarah Lawrence College's Center for Urban River and the Hudson River Watershed Alliance, was attended by about 75 people. Groups represented included Riverkeeper, Groundwork Hudson Valley, Federated Conservationists of Westchester County, Saw Mill River Coalition, Bronx River Alliance, Pocantico River Watershed Alliance, and the Sparkill Creek Watershed Alliance.
Palmer said that the quality of water is central to our health, from the water we drink to the water we swim, fish, and boat in.
For more than a year now, the Center for the Urban River has been undertaking an ambitious water sampling program in the Hudson and Saw Mill to learn more about what is polluting these rivers and how to reverse this pollution.
In 2015, volunteers collected water samples on seven different days from 18 different locations along the Saw Mill River from Chappaqua to Yonkers. Palmer said that even with the limited number of samples analyzed, they were able to uncover some interesting trends. They hope to add up to 20 testing dates this year to build on their preliminary findings.
“We need eyes on the ground to spot these problems,’’ he said. “That's part of the value of citizen science,’’ he said.
The Center for the Urban River at Beczak (CURB) began in 2013 when Sarah Lawrence College entered an alliance with the Hudson River Valley Environmental Education Institute, which had operated the Beczak Environmental Education Center on the banks of the Hudson River in downtown Yonkers. The collaboration allowed the college to establish a research field station and facilitate faculty and student research while continuing environmental education programming about the river for school and community groups. In addition to providing hands-on K-12 environmental education, CURB works with partners such as the Riverkeeper to perform citizen/scientist-led studies to look for ways to combat sewage and other contamination of river water.
Pictured here: Ryan Palmer, director of the Center for the Urban River at Beczak, addresses crowd at Earth Day celebration in Yonkers.
Photo courtesy Judith Schwartzstein, Vice President of Publicity, Sarah Lawrence College
About the Bronxville Adult School & Contacts
The Bronxville Adult School is a not-for-profit organization incorporated in 1957 and chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. The School "offers all adults of Bronxville and surrounding communities the opportunity for personal growth through life enhancing skills and provides cultural, intellectual and recreational stimulation at a nominal cost."
The Bronxville Adult School
(914) 793-4435
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www.bronxvilleadultschool.org
Bronxville Public Library
The Bronxville Public Library traces its origins back to 1875, when it was a small lending library housed in a room attached to the “Bronxville Model School.” The Library was officially chartered in 1906 and moved into the Village Hall Building. The needs of the library grew with the town and, in 1942, a new standalone building was erected, which is where the Library is today. Over the years, the Library was renovated and expanded to meet the needs of the community.
The Library has wonderful resources for adults and children and offers a comfortable and relaxing environment. The Library also houses a fine art collection, consisting principally of Bronxville painters and sculptors.
The Library offers special events, art exhibitions, and programs for adults, young adults and children. All events are open to the public, unless otherwise indicated.
The Bronxville Public Library
914-337-7680
201 Pondfield Road (Midland Avenue & Pondfield Road)
http://bronxvillelibrary.org/
Sarah Lawrence College
914-337-0700
1 Mead Way
Bronxville, New York 10708