Issue link: https://bluemagazine.uberflip.com/i/25038
PHOTOS, CHRISTOPHER GAUTHIER improving our nation's rivers, streams and drinking water, recreational users have benefited from a continual rejuvenation of their favorite waterways. cons In 1972 only about one-third of the US's rivers and lakes were idered safe for recreational use. Today a full two-thirds have been restored, "The Hudson has seen dramatic improvement over the last 20 years due to improved sewage treatment. The water quality is better than it was in 1900," says Dr Dennis Suszkowski of the Hudson River Foundation for Environmental Research. The foundation has mounted an $30-million aggressive program with the government to hunt down sources of toxics such as PCBs and dioxins. The Hudson has been lucky to have the nation's first Riverkeeper, a leading voice in river policy. Riverkeeper's greatest victory to date was against Exxon for rinsing oil-laden water from its tanker holds directly into the river. With the cash settlement Riverkeeper funded remedial projects and went national, expand ing to 23 waterways and counting. The list of places with their own "keepers" includes San Francisco Bay, Puget Sound, the Tennessee River and the Delaware. Many of these chapters hold recreational river events. As water is cleaned up, the opportunity to put a whole city in perspective by pushing off from a floatiflg dock onto the waters far outvveighs the potential health risks of a dunk. There is another benefit of people getting back on the waterways, says Randy Henriksen: 'IThe more people on the water, the cleaner the water will be. We will be there to witness acts of pollution that would otherwise go unnoticed. " READ THEN DO Here are some organizations that are working to clean waterways Riverkeeper: A leading voice in river policy, it has chapters across the country. Contact the national alliance office to find out where there's a Riverkeeper near you. Tel: 800-21 7-4837. Fax: 91 4-424-41 50. E-mail: info@keeper.org. Hudson River Sloop Clearwater: Conducts environmental education, advocacy programs and celebrations to protect the Hudson River and related bodies of water. Tel: 91 4-454-7673. Web: http://clearwater.org. American Rivers: The mission is to protect and restore America's river systems and foster a river stewardship ethic. Tel: 202-547-6900. Fax: 202-347-9240. http://www.amrivers.org. When he is not writing, David Rattray sails and builds boats at Pier 26 on the Hudson River in Lower Manhattan. E-mail: amrivers@amrivers.org. Web: BEFORE YOU GET WET If you are not ready to give up the joys of getting out on the water, try to find out when, how and by whom your river or shoreline is sampled for water quality. While this information may be incomplete or misleading, at least it is something to go on. As a rule you should wait at least 48 hours after a rainfall before heading out for a paddle. As far as toxic chemicals go, in the absence of more scientific studies it is difficult to tell you to stay off the rivers and equally difficult say it is OK. But at the very least, as one researcher advises: "Don't drink the water." 56