Hudson River Reserve, New York

Discovering the Location and Importance of SAVs in the Hudson River Estuary

Research staff at the Hudson River Reserve, in New York, have mapped and created an inventory of all the Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) in the entire Hudson River Estuary. They have also conducted an extensive study of this aquatic habitat to define its ecological role in the Hudson Estuary.

The SAV are critical for providing habitat for fish and aquatic insects and produce a significant amount of dissolved oxygen. Reserve staff have hosted Coastal Training Programs to provide this information to members of non-profit environmental organizations and federal and state agency natural resource staff.

Trainings focused on the importance of SAV in the ecosystem and availability of the SAV data. Efforts are now underway to establish a volunteer monitoring program working with Scenic Hudson and the Hudson River Watertrail Association.

The research, monitoring and coastal training programs were developed and carried out in partnership with Cornell University’s Institute for Resource Information Systems and Department of Natural Resources, the Institute of Ecosystem Studies, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and New York Sea Grant.

For more information contact CTP@noaa.gov