Science Bulletins: Bronx River Restoration

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522 20

Published 2012-06-06

In the 1600's, New York City's Bronx River was a drinking water source and a sylvan haven for beaver, oysters, and herring. It became blighted as urbanization progressed, reincarnating as an industrial power source, an open sewer, and a garbage dump. Today, landscape ecologists are reconstructing the waterway's ecological history as a reference point for its restoration effort. Watch conservation teams coax new life into the Bronx River as they restock it with native fish, lay down oyster beds, and remove invasive species along its shores.

All Comments (21)

@djdedan 11 years ago

Great to see this level of natural restoration in the most urban city in the country.
@drinny26 4 years ago

Its such a blessing to have a river run through your community. I walk there everyday.
@RonGay58 6 years ago

These people are doing a great job, God bless you all.
@fernandopinoordonez 11 years ago

healthy shores=healthy water, healthy air, healthy people.
@allanegleston4931 4 years ago

would love to see a follow up in 2020.
@drinny26 4 years ago

I live along the Bronx River. It’s beautiful. I wish they would remove the dams. I always see fish at the front of the dam and they can’t swim upstream. I also wish people would stop littering.
@MichelobX 10 years ago

great project, great story!
@green61185 4 years ago

I am glad to see this work done. Awesome job. I have one question/concern. Why did you wrap the shells in a plastic mesh container? Why wouldn't you use a small rope made from a biodegradable material?
@Uglypenn 2 years ago

Really cool I love this stuff! Thank you for taking the time to share
@michaeltartaglia3821 4 years ago

God bless everyone for thinking forward about river restoration.
@CubaMiAmor2010 7 years ago

I CANNOT SAY MUCH FOR THE OTHER IGNOPRANT COMMENTS, SOME WERE QUITE AMAZING. HOWEVER, I AM QUITE THANKFUL TO YOUR RESTORATION PROJECT. THANK YOU FOR CLEANING OUR RIVERS. WE HAVE TO KEEP MOTHER EARTH HEALTHY, FOR ALL OF OUR SAKES. EARTH IS DEMENISHING AS TIME GOES FORWARD.
@johnkeviljr9625 5 years ago

Great job guys! Stay the course. Impressive.
@michaelairley2015 3 years ago

Great video. UK chalk rivers. You'll get some inspiration there
@vophie 1 year ago

God Bless You
@johnschoenberg7025 5 years ago

so its been a bunch of years. What is the outcome compared to the plan?
@deanfirnatine7814 4 years ago

Awesome
@drinny26 4 years ago

Is there a plan to remove the several smaller dams that are in the river? Like the ones in the zoo, garden and several in lower Westchester.
@johnbrady1211 1 month ago

I grew up very close to this river. It's a good thing what these people are doing. But they will never see the Bronx River unpolluted. Even after they pull out all the human refuse, they would still have to dredge the toxic soil that is probably three feet thick after two centuries of using it for a sewage system and dumping place for industrial waste. That river used to glow green at night. We still swam in it...
@stevetobin3493 2 years ago

Doing great job, but the plastic bags around the shells will probably kill them
@randylanhart1796 3 years ago

Great job.... too bad big business will never admit that they are a HUGE part of the problem.