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The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. is a story of people who have
given of themselves as members, as supporters and as volunteers - people
who have dreams for a better world and an unwavering belief that, as
individuals, we can make a difference in bringing about a cleaner, safer
world for ourselves and future generations. Clearwater conducts
environmental education, advocacy programs and celebrations. The
nucleus of the activities is to protect the Hudson River, its
tributaries and related water bodies, and to create public awareness of
the estuary’s complex relationship with the coastal zone. A magnificent
natural design blending the freshwater streams of the Adirondacks with
the salt tides of the Atlantic, the Hudson is a prime example of an
estuary’s ecosystem that, as a type, ranks second only to rain forests
in biological productivity. |
Education
- The sloop Clearwater is the centerpiece of Clearwater’s
public education programs. Clearwater is a 106-foot wooden sailing
sloop designed after 18th and 19th century Dutch sailing sloops. In
1966, folk singer and activist Pete Seeger had the vision that the
public would come to care for all of our threatened waterways by
learning to care for one boat and one river. He inspired a group of
dedicated people who made the dream a reality. Launched in 1969,
Clearwater serves as a moveable classroom, laboratory, stage, and forum.
More than a dozen national and international programs have successfully
modeled programs after those pioneered by Clearwater.
Each year, Clearwater accommodates nearly 13,000 children and adults for
education sails that teach history, biology, and environmental science
and navigation along the Hudson River, New York Harbor and Long Island
Sound. Thousands more are reached through on-land classroom visits,
field programs and public exhibits.
Advocacy
- Clearwater’s environmental action programs have gained a wide
reputation in the Hudson Valley for effective science-based strategies
in the public interest. From original research on large-scale issues,
to support of small grassroots community groups, we employ a range of
innovative and traditional citizen advocacy techniques designed to
restore and protect the quality of the Hudson River watershed. Our
environmental action staff is composed of highly motivated, accomplished
men and women with degrees in the environmental sciences, assisted by
interns from area colleges, contract specialists, and volunteer advisers
from many professions.
A number of state and federal laws create the statutory framework in
which we operate, but all too often the laws prove ineffectual or the
agencies implementing the laws become vulnerable to political pressure.
Guided by a set of core environmental values, staff members work
cooperatively with concerned citizens, elected officials, and state and
federal regulatory agencies to find alternative solutions. Public
awareness is one of our primary strategies, since an educated, concerned
citizenry is a powerful force for change. As a last resort, we will
litigate to protect the environment.
Our objective is a Hudson River ecosystem free of harmful pollutants,
with ample habitat to sustain the reproductive integrity, health and
well-being of life at all trophic levels - including human. Some of our
specific watershed-scale issues include the twenty-year battle to remove
PCB contamination from the Hudson River, forming a sustainable
development alliance to mitigate the negative effects of development
pressure, and fighting the excessive use of pesticides. We are also
active in many large scale local problems, such as the Manhattan west
side waterfront, Indian Point nuclear reactors, and New York/New Jersey
Harbor dredge spoil disposal.
Celebration
- Clearwater annually conducts waterfront festivals
attracting thousands of people for music, dance, folk arts, crafts and
environmental education. The Great Hudson River Revival festival alone
attracts up to 20,000 people each year. The smaller shad, strawberry,
corn, and pumpkin festivals arranged by our Sloop Clubs bring people to
the river to celebrate the fruits of the Hudson Valley, and remind them
that the vitality of the region is tied to the health of the
environment. Seasonal harvest festivals provide enjoyment for local
residents, opportunity for artists to perform and display their talent,
and the chance for Clearwater to spread its message of environmental
care to audiences that might not otherwise attend a slide show, field
trip, or lecture. |
My Dirty Stream by Pete Seeger (BMI), vocal & banjo Pete Seeger
Copyright 1964 Falls River Music, Inc., 1993 Clearwater, performance 1977 Clearwater
Photos by Charles Porter, Steve Stanne, Porter, Porter |
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