The Hudson River is the Center for Many

The Hudson valley area is just one of the many areas being stricken with environmental decay. From invasive species to pollution, the Hudson River that centers many cultures and lives in the state of New York has been repeatedly battered and decayed by various problems.

The problems in the Hudson River impact everyone around it in several ways:

First, many people rely on the river for drinking water. However, pollution like PCBs, nicknamed forever chemicals for their long decay, can contaminate this water, potentially causing health problems for people who use it.

Second, the Hudson is important for local jobs and businesses. Activities like fishing, boating, and tourism bring money into the area. If the river is polluted, fewer people will visit, and local businesses could suffer.

Finally, the river is home to many animals and plants. If the water quality drops, it can harm these species and disrupt the natural balance. This can affect things like natural flood control and air quality, which everyone benefits from. So, keeping the Hudson River clean is crucial for both people and nature in the area.

The concerns about the pollution problem (which is just one of the many that the Hudson River faces) are very much not unfounded, the map below, found in a 2016 article from the Colombia Climate School, pictures the water quality ratings a various point along the Hudson River, with the red dots indicating an area in which the fecal content was above safe levels.

Article written by Edward Sturm.