FACT SHEET - Hudson River Habitat Restoration, NY

DESCRIPTION: The study area included 125 miles of the Hudson River Federal channel from the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge to the federal lock and dam at Troy, NY.  The Feasibility Study evaluated aquatic ecosystem restoration measures, including evaluation of eroding shorelines, degraded fish and wildlife habitat, impediments to fish passage, and flood control measures. 

AUTHORIZATION: Section 551, Water Resource Development Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-303)

STUDY HISTORY: A feasibility cost-sharing agreement (FCSA) was executed in 1996 with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and New York State Department of State (NYSDOS) serving as non-federal sponsors. In 2002, the study was suspended when focused restoration sites were found to be no longer available for construction and consensus was not reached on path forward with the sponsor.   

NYSDEC Commissioner Joseph Martens requested that the study be resumed in July 2012. The sponsors’ renewed interest resulted from the recommendations of the Hudson Raritan Estuary Feasibility Study and the publication of the Comprehensive Restoration Plan (CRP) with the intent to develop a complementary restoration plan for the upper 125 miles of the Hudson River.   The local sponsors, NYSDEC and NYSDOS, formed the “Partners Restoring the Hudson” with more than 30 organizations, including The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Hudson Riverkeeper, and Scenic Hudson, with overwhelming support to advance the study. 

The New York District and Partners, with support from the Congressional Delegation, were successful in resuming the Feasibility Study in 2016, completed the Final Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment in August 2020 with a signed Chief’s Report in November 2020.  Recommendations were authorized for construction in the Water Resource Development Act of 2020. 

STUDY STATUS: Following study resumption, FY17 activities included the development of restoration goals and objectives, evaluation of baseline conditions and identification of restoration opportunities.  A total of 1665 habitat restoration opportunities were identified through Geographic Information System [GIS] analysis and nomination during municipality outreach meetings hosted by TNC, ”Partners Restoring the Hudson” and NYSDEC.  Sites were screened and prioritized in order to advance sites that provided the maximum ecological benefits meeting restoration goals.  A total of thirteen sites were selected for further evaluation and alternative development which included restoration of side-channels, wetlands, shorelines and aquatic organism passage (AOP).  The Alternatives Milestone was held in July 2017.   

FY18 activities included field reconnaissance (September/ December 2017) at 13 sites followed by more detailed field sampling in summer of 2018 at Binnen Kill, Schodack Island (side channels/wetlands/ mosaic habitat), Henry Hudson Park and Charles Rider Park (shoreline restoration) and Rondout Creek and Moodna Creek (AOPs) (including ecological functional assessments, shoreline profiles and tide data). In addition, engineering designs, quantification of benefits and cost, and Cost Effectiveness/Incremental Cost Analysis were completed.  The Tentatively Selected Plan (TSP) milestone, held on 18 December 2018, achieved concurrence on the proposed plan which included restoration at five sites within three restoration categories (including Shoreline Restoration, Mosaic Habitat/Side Channels and Tributary Connections) for approximately $98.4 Million. The Draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment was released for public review in June 2019.

Comments received from the public and landowners articulated opposition to the plan for two sites: Rondout Creek (Eddyville Dam) and Binnen Kill.  Coordination with NYSDEC resulted in these sites being excluded from the Recommended Plan. The Recommended Plan included three individual projects that would restore tidal wetlands (23 acres), 1 side channel/wetland complex (9 acres), 1,760 linear feet of living shoreline and would reconnect 7.8 miles of tributary habitat to the Hudson River.  The plan would provide a total of 59 average annual functional capacity or habitat units.  The plan would lessen some of the impacts constructing a federal navigation channel in the Hudson River had on aquatic ecosystems, including the loss and degradation of subtidal, shallow water and side channels, intertidal, and shoreline habitats, as well as the fragmentation of aquatic habitats that occurred as small dams were placed on tributaries to the Hudson River for industrial purposes. The estimated total first cost of the Recommended Plan was $46,432,000 and total fully funded project cost (escalated to the estimated mid-point of construction) was $65,987,000 (FY22 cost level). The Chief’s Report was executed by the Chief of Engineers on 19 November 2020 and included the following Recommended Plan:

 The Pre-Construction Engineering and Design (PED) Phase will be initiated for Henry Hudson Park Restoration Project pending appropriations and sponsor readiness.

STUDY COST: Total Estimated Study Cost (all phases): $5,015,000
Reconnaissance Study (Federal): $525,000 
Feasibility Phase (Federal): $2,245,000 (Post Resumption- $ 1,700,000) 
Feasibility Phase (Non-Federal): $2,245,000 (Post Resumption- $1,700,000)   

CONTACT:
Lisa Baron
Project Manager
P: (917) 790-8306 and C: (646) 385-1429
Email: lisa.a.baron@usace.army.mil
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District
Programs and Project Management Division, Civil Works Branch

CONGRESSIONAL INFORMATION:

Senator Charles E. Schumer (NY)
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (NY)
District Area: NY #17, NY #18, NY #19, NY #20