Chief’s Report inked for Hudson River Habitat Restoration Study

Lt. Gen. Scott A. Spellmon, USACE Commanding General and 55th U.S. Army Chief of Engineers, has signed the Hudson River Habitat Restoration Ecosystem Restoration Chief’s Report, representing the completion of the study and making it eligible for congressional authorization.

The Chief’s Report recommends three individual ecosystem restoration projects including Henry Hudson Park, Schodack Island Park and Moodna Creek within the 125-mile study area from the Federal Lock and Dam at Troy, NY to the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge.

These projects would restore a total of approximately 22.8 acres of tidal wetlands, 8.5 acres of side channel and wetland complex, and 1,760 linear feet of living shoreline with 0.6 acres of tidal wetlands. The plan would also reconnect 7.8 miles of tributary habitat to the Hudson River through the removal of 3 barriers along Moodna Creek.

These projects would restore a total of approximately 22.8 acres of tidal wetlands, 8.5 acres of side channel and wetland complex, and 1,760 linear feet of living shoreline with 0.6 acres of tidal wetlands. The plan would also reconnect 7.8 miles of tributary habitat to the Hudson River.

“The signing of this Chief’s Report is a significant milestone for the HRHR Project,” said Col. Matthew Luzzatto, USACE New York District Commander.

“This has truly been a team effort and I want to thank our non-federal sponsors, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and New York State Department of State, and all of our engineers, scientists and partners at the local, state and federal level for their unwavering support.”

The Chief’s Report will now undergo further review by the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works and Office of Management and Budget before formal submittal to Congress.