Hudson Valley Volunteers Don Waders, Help Protect American Eels: VIDEO

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — You know it's spring when citizen scientists up and down the Hudson River don their waders to help migrating juvenile American eels in an annual research and monitoring project run by New York's Environmental Conservation Department.

New York is home to significant habitat critical to the lifecycles of many migratory fish species, and eels are one of the most interesting — and unusual — but the species, Anguilla rostrata, is in decline over much of its range.

American eels are hatched in the Sargasso Sea north of Puerto Rico, and every spring the babies swim all the way to the Hudson River and other estuaries as translucent, two-inch-long "glass eels." They will live in freshwater rivers and streams for up to 30 years before returning to the sea to spawn.

"Now in its 15th year, DEC’s Hudson River Eel Project is an excellent way to connect students and local residents with nature while gathering data to advance the study of American eels and this species’ role in our ecosystem," Commissioner Basil Seggos said in an announcement calling for volunteers.

People are drawn to the connections between their neighborhoods and their waterways. Every year students, watershed groups, environmental professionals, and community residents get involved. They are trained in basic protocols to assure useful data is collected.

The Projects

• Fyke Nets: Large fyke nets are set in the mouths of tributaries for six to eight weeks each spring, catching the juvenile eels as they migrate upstream. Each net is checked every single day by two or more volunteers. Often, people sign up to check a net one or more specific days per week. It takes approximately an hour to sample each day. All gear and materials are provided, but personal transportation to the site is required. Volunteers should be willing to work outside under variable conditions, and work collaboratively within a team of students and volunteers.
• Eel Mops: Eel mops are devices made to mimic juvenile eel habitat. They are passive traps that are set in the water and checked for living things as often or as little as needed. In addition to glass eels, we often find invertebrates and other small fish as well! Learn How to Make an Eel Mop (PDF).
• Eel Ladders: On their journey upstream, eels are confronted by barriers that prevent access to favorable habitats. At a few locations by dams, we set eel ladders that catch eels attempting to swim upstream. The eels are then counted, sized, and released above the dam. The ladders are checked twice a week during the summer sampling season.

Classroom visits by DEC educators help bring the project alive to thousands of students.

DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program and Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve began the project to gather data for multi-state management plans for eel conservation.

Coastal states from Florida to Maine monitor the young-of-the-year migrations of American eels, using Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission protocols. Hudson River eel project participants are trained in these field collection protocols to ensure useful data collection.

New Yorkers interested in volunteering for the eel project are advised to email eelproject@dec.ny.gov.

Nearby sites include:

• Saw Mill River and the Center for the Urban River at Beczak in Yonkers
• Furnace Brook in Cortlandt
• Minisceongo Creek in West Haverstraw
• Sparkill in Piermont
• Indian Brook at Constitution Marsh in Cold Spring
• Quassaick Creek in Newburgh
• Hunters Brook in Wappingers Falls
• Fall Kill in Poughkeepsie
• Crum Elbow Creek in Hyde Park
• Enderkill in Staatsburg
• Black Creek in Esopus
• Saw Kill in Annandale-on-Hudson

Eel collection is taking place daily at most sites until mid-May. Since the project’s inception, volunteers have caught, counted, and released more than 1 million juvenile eels. Most are released above dams, waterfalls, and other barriers so they have better access.

Check out the Hudson River Eel Project Report, which covers results from 2008-20. Watch the eel project video above or on DEC’s YouTube channel. For more information, visit DEC’s website.