Our Bronx River Conservation Crew, in collaboration with Alliance partners, maintains a full-time presence on the river, monitoring river conditions and doing ecological restoration projects that improve water quality, stabilize the riverbanks and improve river habitat. Weekly, the Crew, a full-time force of ~10 staff members, assesses the river corridor and greenway for blockages, both in the water and on the paths, to maintain the river’s navigability for small boats and access to the riverbanks by foot.

To read about what we've been up to lately, check out the Bronx River Biolog.

From 2006-2007, together with hundreds of volunteers, the Conservation Crew freed the river’s waters of an astonishing amount of debris: over 3,000 tires, 7,500 other large objects, and some 85 tons of litter and flotsam. In addition, the Conservation Crew has also planted over 15,000 trees, and restored more than 60 acres of parkland along the Bronx River since 2005.

We train members of Sustainable South Bronx’s B.E.S.T (Bronx Environmental Stewardship Training) Program in ecology and river management, and some of its graduates have joined the Crew. Members of the Crew have found career opportunities in ecology and in team management. The Crew also works with volunteers, community-based organizations, school groups and other restoration teams. These collaborative relationships provide the opportunity for Crew members to mentor youth who are interested in restoration, which will ensure future stewardship of the River by engaging youth and resident volunteers.

For more information about the Crew, contact Conservation Manager, Valerie Francis: valerie.francis@parks.nyc.gov.