By mid-April, cleanup season was fully underway as volunteers gathered at Erskine Place in Co-op City, an area where trash unfortunately builds up regularly. Keeping these river access points clean not only helps stop litter from washing into the Hutchinson River, but also makes these spaces more welcoming for the community to enjoy and connect with nature. Throughout the cleanup, local residents stopped to thank volunteers, share their appreciation, and ask how they could ge

Not every restoration project involves garbage bags. At Twin Lakes, the Hutchinson River Restoration Project partnered with the Westchester Parks Foundation on an invasive species removal project focused on restoring native habitat along the waterway. Volunteers worked together to cut back invasive plants that were crowding out native vegetation and threatening the health of the ecosystem. Removing invasive species is a critical part of restoration work because it helps prote

In late March, the Hutchinson River Restoration Project partnered with NYC H2O for a shoreline cleanup along Pelham Bay Park. With the help of 30 dedicated volunteers, more than half a ton of trash was removed from the beach and surrounding shoreline. The debris collected ranged from large items, including a floating dock device, to countless small pieces of plastic and litter that threaten fish, birds, and the overall health of the waterway. Every piece removed helps protect

The Split Rock Invasive Cleanup turned into more of a large-scale cleanup than an invasive removal effort. Bags of garbage and recycling were scattered across the landscape, with mattresses, grocery carts, and even bicycles abandoned without a second thought. For World Water day, HRRP showed up at Split Rock with a team of nine volunteers who removed nearly 3,000 pounds of garbage in just a few hours, making a significant impact on the area. Volunteers utilized abandoned groc

HRRP, Healthy Yards New Rochelle, and the New Rochelle Public Library collaborated to present a virtual tour of the New Rochelle section of the Hutchinson River. HRRP began the program by introducing the organization and highlighting its work, from hands-on cleanups and educational lectures to guided river walks and boat tours that connect the community to the river. Board member Amelia then provided a deeper look into the history of the region, discussing the glacial forces

Westchester County is confronting a serious environmental challenge as its aging sewer infrastructure leaks pollutants into the soil, nearby waterways, and the Hutchinson River. These leaks pose risks to public health and threaten the long-term quality of the waterways that local communities rely on. HRRP, the Town of Pelham, and the Environmental Coalition of the Pelhams (EcoPel) partnered with the Westchester Coalition for Clean Water (WCCW) to host a community presentation

The cleanup where the EcoPel Vine Squad hosted a volunteer event at took place at the corner of Wolf Lane and Colonial Avenue, across from the Pelham Library. Victoria, from the Hutchinson River Restoration Project (HRRP) attended the event and worked alongside Tai and Anna of the EcoPel Vine Squad. The group focused on clearing trash from the area, removing invasive vines, and adding to an existing dead hedge to better delineate the location of a vernal pool. During the cle

After a long and cold winter, HRRP organized its annual Split Rock Winter Walk. Twenty-four attendees joined the event, eager to reconnect with nature and learn about the area's rich past. What started as a refreshing outdoor activity quickly revealed some unexpected challenges that affect the trail and its surroundings. Discovering the Environmental Issues Along the Trail As the group moved along the Split Rock trail, they encountered several bags of trash thrown from the ne

2026 is here, and HRRP is already on the move. The Winter Walk Series is officially underway, with 26 people joining us for the Nature Study Woods walk. Our guide extraordinaire led a great discussion on plants you can still spot this time of year, the area’s old railroad system, and Reservoir #2. The weather cooperated nicely — not too chilly, and the rain held off until just as we wrapped up. A huge thank-you to CoffeeLabs for donating coffee for the walk, along with burlap

2025 Year in Review What an amazing year of growth, community, and adventure it has been! We have accomplished so much over the past twelve months, and we would like to thank all of you: the community. You all have shown up on rainy days, come out on scorchingly sunny days, walked through brush and vines, and picked up literal TONS of trash, 7000 pounds of trash were picked up with your help!!! We’d like to highlight our year to celebrate all that has been done, and to get u

In 2024, Ruby Olisemeka, one of HRRP’s dedicated board members, set out to transform public access to the Hutchinson River. Her vision...

"T he river was there—just hidden away. It was down at the edges of the toxic landfill, and out under the train tracks, by the dead end...

Finding the Source of the Hutch The Hutchinson River Restoration Project was determined to find the true source of the Hutchinson River....

Rodman’s Neck Round Two: Still Dirty, Still Determined Round two at the Rodman’s Neck / Turtle Cove section of the Hutch proved to be...

Our Canoe Adventure (and Misadventure!) Thanks to a grant from Citizens NYC, HRRP was able to purchase a canoe to kick off our new...

Sampling Setbacks, Sunshine, and a Whole Lot of Improvising As some of you may know, HRRP received a grant from Restore America’s...

Migui Park is Clean Once Again! Migui Park, located in Mount Vernon, runs alongside the Hutchinson River, meaning any trash left behind...

Alewife Herring Exciting news for the Hutchinson River—a river herring was spotted in early May and has been confirmed! This is a big...

A viral video from Two Feet Outdoors showing an unknown liquid flowing into the Hutchinson River led to an EPA investigation, which...