Media Advisory: A Day In The Life Of The Hudson River Estuary 2011

On Tuesday, October 18 environmental education centers and school classes all along the tidal estuary will collect scientific information and share it to portray the ecosystem on this "Day in the Life of the Hudson River." Three thousand students from around the state will use hands-on field techniques at 60 locations from New York City to Troy to catch fish in nets, collect water and invertebrate samples, and examine water chemistry parameters. Beyond just a field trip, a "Day in the Life" allows students to collect firsthand information about their communities' natural resources, and explore how their piece of the river fits into the larger ecosystem.

WHO: DEC Commissioner Joe Martens along with staff from DEC's Hudson River Estuary program and students and teachers from the Montessori Magnet School to engage in hands-on science exploration of the Hudson River. The Commissioner may be joined by Mayor Jerry Jennings.

The Press is invited to attend.

WHAT: A primary goal of DEC is to connect New Yorkers to nature. DEC's Hudson River Estuary Program helps prepare students to become stewards of the river's water quality and natural resources. More than 60 waterfront locations between NYC and Troy (see press release for a selection of locations and schedules: http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/77746.html).

WHERE: City of Albany Riverfront Park at the Corning Preserve (Amphitheatre)

Groups will be rotating through the following stations:

• Amphitheater Group 1 - physical river site observations, wind, tide, current, air temperature, turbidity, chlorophyll
• Amphitheater Group 2 - chemical river water temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, % saturation

WHEN: 12:45 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, October 18.