1966 to the Present
In 1966, a handful of river-lovers decided to change the course of events that was destroying the Hudson, and reclaim a natural treasure for us all. They wanted to dramatize the river’s plight, recall its history, and help guide its future. They wanted to provide their fellow citizens with a first-hand look at the neglect and pollution of the river, and move them to action. So they built a boat.
Since then, there’s a great deal we’ve accomplished and a great deal we can be proud of.
- Building and launching the sloop brought the plight of the Hudson before a national audience.
- Created an enduring environmental icon, identified with the Hudson Valley.
- First environmental group to focus on the entire river and its ecosystem.
- First wooden sailing ship with a mission to preserve and protect the environment.
- First on-board environmental classroom accessible to children of all ages, races, backgrounds.
- Almost 400,000 children have experienced the Hudson River aboard the sloop Clearwater.
- Inspired the creation of many similar ship-based environmental education programs.
- Played a key role in the passage of the Clean Water Act.
- First toxic discharge ‘pipe-watch’ in Hudson Valley.
- First successful prosecution in New York State under the Clean Water Act (Tuck Tape, Beacon, NY).
- Supported the passage of many landmark environmental laws, both federal and state.
- First ship-based organization to promote women to higher crew positions, including many captains.
- Pioneered accessible operations and festivals long before ADA.
- Ongoing affirmative outreach to inner city communities to offer sailing and educational positions on sloop.
- Saved a 4-mile stretch of Manhattan Hudson River shoreline from development. Now a park.
- First to begin the 25-year battle with GE to remove toxic PCBs from the river.
- First organization to interpret and release Toxic Release Inventory data.
- Drafted and issued first report on dredged sediment decontamination techniques.
- First survey of Hudson River anglers’ preferences – determined that PCB-contaminated fish are being widely eaten by subsistence fishers. Became a cornerstone of EPA action on PCBs.
- First valley-wide environmental group to address issues of environmental racism.
- Worked with agencies and other environmental groups to preserve habitat from development.
- Made ‘public access’ a universal watchword concept in Hudson Valley community planning.
- First riverfront festivals with an environmental message.
- The Hudson Valley’s only true membership organization, with member-elected board of directors.
- Sloop Clearwater declared itself a nuclear-free zone.
- Anti-nuclear activism helped prevent New York from becoming a major home port for nuclear vessels.
- Clearwater threat to block river against garbage barges helps NYC develop model recycling programs.
- Successfully obtained ‘Most-Endangered River’ status for Hudson, because of PCB contamination.
- Successfully employed outreach tactics to pass resolutions supporting PCB removal through 67 communities, including three counties and New York City, despite $80 million GE opposition.
- Conducted first workshop on environmental valuation for Hudson River NRD trustees.
- Efforts of affiliated groups:
- Beacon Sloop Club reclaimed waterfront land, showing the way for other communities.
- Monmouth County Friends of Clearwater led fight against offshore dumping.
- Brought 3,500 people to river in 42 communities for PCB Candlelight Vigil.
- First major regional festival with all-solar stages for big audiences. (Revival 1999).
- First festival to be completely powered by renewables (Revival 2001).
- Played a key role in American Heritage River designation for Hudson.
- Brought Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt to Hudson River for major policy speech on PCBs and GE.
- Partnered with religious groups to write first GE shareholder resolutions about Hudson River PCBs.
- Clearwater has been an incubator for environmental scientists, activists, and community leaders.
…and perhaps most important of all, the many, many small, everyday victories that occur, one acre, one species, and one person at a time.
