2025 Water Sampling

Sampling Setbacks, Sunshine, and a Whole Lot of Improvising

As some of you may know, HRRP received a grant from Restore America’s Estuaries to conduct water and soil quality sampling along the Hutchinson River—specifically in the industrial section of the channel. We're testing for volatile and semi-volatile compounds in both the soil and water. We began the sampling last year, but due to some setbacks, we didn’t finish. So this summer, we’re wrapping up the final few samples.

On a very hot and sunny July afternoon, we set out with plans to use our pontoon boat for the day’s sampling. But when we arrived, mechanical issues left the boat out of commission—and the lab had already delivered the sample containers. So, we did what HRRP does best: adapt and improvise.

Plan B: We took the car and managed to reach two of the four sites by land. Unfortunately, the other two were inaccessible (surprise—river access was a problem again).

Plan C: Time to launch the small boat with the electric motor! It took us two full hours to reach the last two sites and collect our samples, then another hour and a half to get back to the dock.

It was a long, hot, and sweaty day—but we got the job done. Hopefully, next time goes a little more smoothly!