​In January, the Hudson 7 was honored to host Captain John Lipscomb, who recently retired after serving as Riverkeeper’s boat captain since 2000. Over the course of his career, John has dedicated himself to the protection and restoration of the Hudson River.

Growing up in Irvington and Tarrytown, John developed a deep connection to the river, learning to swim and sail in its waters. In the early 1970s, he began apprenticing with WWII-era boat builders at Petersen’s Boatyard in Nyack, where he gained expertise in the maintenance and repair of wooden boats. He worked in both wooden and fiberglass boat repair and as a rigger, eventually becoming General Manager of Petersen’s from 1991 to 2000.

As Riverkeeper’s boat captain, John patrolled the Hudson River aboard the “R. Ian Fletcher,” a 36-foot Chesapeake Bay-style wooden vessel. From April to December, he traveled between New York Harbor and Troy, covering 4,000 to 5,000 nautical miles and monitoring pollution, tributaries, and waterfront facilities.

During the recent Hudson River Anchorages campaign, John served as a technical advisor to the Hudson 7, where the council voiced its concerns about the Coast Guard’s proposed redefinition of the Port of New York. This redefinition raised significant issues regarding the safeguarding of drinking water sources and the environment due to potential risks of hazardous spills from vessels carrying substances such as diesel fuel or heating oil. These spills could spread with tidal movements, threatening clean drinking water for the seven communities along the river. Through their collective efforts alongside Riverkeeper, Congressmen Ryan, Molinaro, and Lawler introduced the Hudson River Protection Act, which seeks to permanently ban the creation of additional anchorages between Yonkers and Kingston. This legislation passed the House of Representatives and is set to go before the Senate in May 2024. The Hudson 7 will continue to closely monitor this issue in the years ahead.
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Captain Lipscomb joined the council to recommend three priority issues for the Hudson 7 to focus on in the coming years:

1. Area Contingency Planning and Spill Drills – Continuing efforts to ensure effective spill response strategies for local risks.
2. Leachate and Wastewater Treatment Plant Pollution – Addressing ongoing environmental challenges related to landfill leachate and wastewater treatment plant discharge into the river.
3. CSX Rail Bridges and Potential Spills – Assessing the risks associated with CSX-owned rail bridges and the potential for hazardous material spills.
   
   

Captain John’s wealth of knowledge and dedication to the river will continue to guide the Hudson 7 as we work toward safeguarding the Hudson River as a drinking water source and the communities that rely on it.

The Hudson 7 (H7) has reached a significant milestone with the submission of its Drinking Water Source Protection Plan (DWSP2) to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) and Department of Health (DOH). This achievement marks the culmination of a two-year project funded by a DEC grant aimed at developing a comprehensive plan for the protection of the Hudson River as a source of drinking water. The plan, submitted to the state for review, is expected to be approved within 1 to 2 months. 

In addition to the benefits of having a well-defined source water protection strategy, each participating municipality will be eligible to capitalize on future state grants for water quality projects in communities with completed DWSP2s. These municipalities will also gain points toward their NYSERDA Climate Smart goals, further enhancing their environmental and sustainability initiatives. 

Participating Municipalities and Hudson 7 

​This plan was developed on behalf of the municipalities that are part of the Hudson River Drinking Water Intermunicipal Council (the “Hudson 7”), which includes:

• The Towns of Esopus, Hyde Park, Lloyd, Rhinebeck, and Poughkeepsie
• The City of Poughkeepsie
• The Village of Rhinebeck

Formed in 2018 with the goal of protecting the Hudson River as the source waters for its member communities, the Hudson 7 leveraged this grant to receive free technical assistance. This support enabled the creation of a locally developed source water protection plan tailored to each municipality’s needs. The DWSP2 builds on previous efforts, aligns priorities, and fills critical gaps in the current and future source water protection strategies of these communities.

Process and Development

Upon selection of the seven municipalities, the Hudson 7 partnered with two Technical Assistance Providers (TA Providers) from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). These TA Providers worked closely with the Hudson 7 to:

• Assess current and future water quality concerns of the Hudson River estuary and the contributing source water area.
• Interpret water quality data and develop maps.
• Identify potential sources of contamination.
• Develop actionable protection methods.
• Identify funding and partnership opportunities.
  
  

A DWSP2 subcommittee was formed on April 29, 2022, consisting of:

• Mayor Gary Bassett
• Paul Malmrose (Technical Advisor, Engineering)
• Randy Alstadt (PWTF Administrator)
• Dan Shapley (Riverkeeper, Technical Advisor)
• Devin Rigolino (Dutchess County)
• Rebecca Martin (Source Water Protection Coordinator)

This subcommittee provided critical local knowledge about current conditions of the source water areas and regional concerns related to water quality.

Comprehensive Plan for ActionThe resulting draft DWSP2 provides the Hudson 7 municipalities with a step-by-step implementation plan designed to:

• Promote public health and safety.
• Avoid preventable drinking water treatment costs.
• Increase community confidence in drinking water quality.
• Strengthen partnerships across multiple levels of government to effectively manage a uniquely complex drinking water source.

Importance of Implementation

Given the dependence of these communities on the Hudson River and its vast watershed, the protection and management strategies outlined in the DWSP2 are vital for ensuring water quality for current and future generations. The Hudson 7’s comprehensive approach exemplifies the importance of intermunicipal cooperation and serves as a model for source water protection across the state.

Next Steps

​Following the state’s review and approval of the plan, the Hudson 7 will distribute the final DWSP2 to the participating municipalities. These municipalities will then have a robust tool to guide their source water protection efforts and ensure sustainable water resource management for years to come.
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On November 12, Dutchess County (DC) Assistant Commissioner of Administration of the DC Department of Health (DOH) Anthony J. Ruggiero sent a letter to all Mayors and Supervisors in the county announcing a Memorandum regarding a recently adopted Resolution 2024156: Regulating Hazardous Pollution Sources in Proximity to Public Water Supply Sources, Aquifers, and Wetlands.  As of October 21, the resolution is now effective as Local Law 2 of 2024.

We hope to invite the DCDOH in to a future meeting to talk more about this Local Law and to field any questions in 2025.