Re: Tryin to beat the heat? Stay out of the Hudson River!
commercial boating. read: garbage barge.
I was above the city, but not quite to the cleanest waters when I swam in the hudson. Was in college, went down to the area to visit some friends. Went down to the bank, swung off a rope swing a few times, and then someone spotted some feminine products floating by. Quickly exited the water, haven't been back in. You can have it. I much prefer Lake Champlain. Don't even have zebra mussels in my area!
There is next to zero garbage traffic north of the GW bridge. The vast majority of waste traffic departs from the NY bight outbound. The majority of southbound traffic from upstate NY is gravel, slate, bluestone, food product and coal. Northbound traffic is mostly fuel product and construction supply.
In the 70's the river was at its worst with little effluent regulation leading to closed fishing and recreational use. Since that time, regulation and oversight has brought the river back to conditions better than the first reliable records were generated over sixty years ago.
I am currently staying on a small lake in the Poconos roasting my stuff off. The lake is gin clear with no motors allowed and only a handful of homes. I would hardly expect this of a river that serves the most populated city and busiest port in the nation.
I am headed via the Hudson to West Point from Long Island Sound next month. My only wish is cooler weather!!!!!
