 Photo Credit: Rebecca Martin The Hudson 7 celebrated seven years of collaborative stewardship on May 29, working to protect drinking water for over 100,000 Hudson Valley residents. To mark the occasion, the Hudson 7 unveiled its Draft Drinking Water Source Protection Program (DWSP2) Plan at the historic Cornell Boathouse on Marist College’s campus. This marks a major step toward ensuring the long-term safety and sustainability of the region’s shared water source: the Hudson River estuary. Established in 2018, the Hudson 7 represents seven municipalities from Dutchess and Ulster Counties that draw drinking water directly from the Hudson River. The council is a statewide recognized model for intermunicipal cooperation focused on source water protection. “After many years of hard work and collaboration, weare proud to share the draft of our DWSP2 Plan - a roadmap to safeguarding our drinking water in the face of new and growing threats,” said Mayor Gary Bassett (Village of Rhinebeck) and Chair of the Hudson 7. “This is not just a document; it’s a call to action for continued collaboration across sectors and communities.” The DWSP2 Plan identifies risks to the Hudson 7’s source water, including contamination from industrial activity and climate change, and outlines practical, science-based strategies to mitigate them. It was developed in collaboration with municipal partners, state agencies, and community stakeholders, with support from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Department of Health (DOH).  Photo Credit: Dan Shapley
As part of today’s celebration, the Hudson 7 also hosted a special educational session, “How River Changes Affect Treatment,” in partnership with the Poughkeepsies’ Water Treatment Facility (PWTF) led by Dottie DiNobile and Randy Alstadt, providing Hudson 7 drinking water operators with insights into how shifts in river conditions impact water quality and treatment approaches. The Hudson 7 sincerely thanks the supporting municipalities and counties, and extends special appreciation to Riverkeeper for its key role in helping establish the council in 2018 and for generously sponsoring the council’s anniversary events. They also thank the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Department of Health (DOH) for their valuable support for the Drinking Water Source Protection Program (DWSP2), an essential initiative to protect the Hudson River as a vital drinking water source for communities. For more information about the Hudson 7 and to learn about the DWSP2 draft plan, visit: https://bit.ly/4jjAyRA “This past year has once again been a productive and positive experience working with and alongside the Hudson 7,” said Nick Butler, Water and Sewer Superintendent for the Town of Esopus. “As I reflect on our accomplishments, the wealth of information and networking opportunities available to Water Operators within the Hudson 7 community stands out as especially valuable. These connections have led to the development of new relationships and the identification of shared services - truly outstanding.” “We deeply appreciate the support of the Hudson 7 and the leadership of our municipal partners,” said Jonathan Churins, Executive Director of Dutchess County Water and Wastewater Authority. “This collaboration strengthens our ability to deliver safe and reliable water services to the communities we serve along the Hudson River.” The dedication of the Hudson 7 reinforces the vital role our operators play every day,” said Thomas Legrand, Chairman of the Board of Dutchess County Water and Wastewater Authority. “We’re proud to work together in protecting public health and safeguarding one of our region’s most critical resources.” “I am proud of this partnership and the status we have achieved in being an effective advocate for a healthy Hudson River ensuring the quality of our drinking water,” said Elizabeth Spinzia, Supervisor of the Town of Rhinebeck. “Together we have been able to map out a plan for continuing our work in the future” “The Hudson 7’s work has resulted in a paradigm shift in the region, making the protection of drinking water a high priority,” said Dan Shapley, Senior Director of Advocacy, Policy and Planning, Riverkeeper. “The completion of its draft Drinking Water Source Protection Plan is an historic first: While there have been many actions over decades to protect the river, never before has drinking water protection been the explicit focus of such a plan. Riverkeeper is proud to have played a role in founding and supporting the Hudson 7, and in drafting this first-of-its-kind plan.” About the Hudson 7: The Hudson River Drinking Water Intermunicipal Council (Hudson 7) is a partnership of seven municipalities and two counties - including the Town and City of Poughkeepsie, Town and Village of Rhinebeck, Towns of Esopus, Hyde Park, Lloyd and Ulster and Dutchess Counties - working together to protect the source of drinking water drawn from the Hudson River for over 100,000 residents. About Riverkeeper: Riverkeeper protects and restores the Hudson River from source to sea and safeguards drinking water supplies, through advocacy rooted in community partnerships, science and law. 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. Captain Lipscomb joined the council to recommend three priority issues for the Hudson 7 to focus on in the coming years:
 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:
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:
Comprehensive Plan for ActionThe resulting draft DWSP2 provides the Hudson 7 municipalities with a step-by-step implementation plan designed to:
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.  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. |
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