August 2002

Chris Bowser, Clearwater Education Director
at the Maritime Museum
Tuesday, August 13, 7:00 pm

"The Hudson River Today - Past, Present and Future"

Chris Bowser, Clearwater Education Director, will present an overview of the Hudson River, its past, present and future, at the Hudson River Maritime Museum on Tuesday, August 13, at 7:00 pm. Admission $3.00, for museum members, $2.00. For more information call 845-338-0071.

The nonprofit organization Hudson River Sloop Clearwater was created to defend and restore the Hudson River, one of the great and historic rivers of this nation. Chris' talk will cover the early history of the Hudson River, a source of inspiration and a source of natural resources, and the current and future challenges for today's River.

The Hudson River is a 150 mile long tidal estuary with many important fish species and natural wonders. There is still a tremendous amount of work to be done for the Hudson. But the River does flow cleaner than it has in decades. Many of the worst polluters have been challenged and stopped. Its shores are being cleared of abandoned warehouses and empty factories, opening up grand vistas and making room for new parks.

The Hudson River is a rich trove of resources, and has been for a long time. Not all these resources are readily visible, but the more you investigate the river, the more complexities surface. Keeping the river healthy is not easy, but the Hudson River's successes are prime examples of citizen stewardship.

Clearwater´s story began in 1966, when a handful of Hudson Valley residents came together believing that by learning to care for one boat on one river, the public could come to care for all our threatened waterways. And what better boat for the job than a replica of the vessels which were once a much more common sight on the Hudson. The sloop was launched three years later on May 17, 1969 in South Bristol, Maine. In the years since, Clearwater has traveled to towns and cities along the Hudson, New York Harbor, and Long Island Sound. To the people who see her broad sails from the shore, the message is a poignant reminder of the potential beauty and wealth of our region´s much-abused and neglected waterways.

As always at Clearwater events, a few appropriate musical pieces will be scattered throughout the program, as well as activities for the audience to participate in if they wish.

Chris Bowser has been working for the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater since 1996. Previous to that he received a degree in Biology from Rutgers University and served as a Peace Corps forestry specialist in West Africa. He and his wife Jennifer currently live in Ulster County, a few boat-lengths from the River.

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