Staten Island Students Count Juvenile Eels at Richmond Creek Bluebelt

April 17, 2024

Presence of Juvenile Eels in the Inter-Connected Network of Bluebelts Is an Indicator of a Healthy Waterbody; Photos of the Event Are Available On DEP's Flickr page

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently hosted two dozen students from the Saint Clare School in Great Kills for the annual count of juvenile glass eels at Staten Island's Richmond Creek Bluebelt in Richmondtown. The American eel is born at sea, floats to the coast on prevailing currents and migrates to clean, healthy waterways along the east coast where they can live for up to 20 years. Eel populations are an important indicator of water quality and experts have seen a resurgence in the eel population in New York Harbor as testing shows the water is cleaner and healthier than it has been since the Civil War. Thus far in 2024, close to 8,300 glass eels have been counted in Richmond Creek.

"The annual eel count in the Richmond Creek Bluebelt is a terrific opportunity for young New Yorkers to learn about this complex ecosystem that sustains various species, and the role we can play by maintaining clean and healthy waterways," said DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. "I'd like to thank the Saint Clare School for their environmental stewardship and continued participation."

Each spring eels arrive in estuaries like the Hudson River as translucent, two-inch long "glass eels." As part of ongoing research, volunteers and students use a ten-foot cone-shaped net specifically designed to catch the eels and then count and release them back into the water. The 2024 eel monitoring program began at the end of February and will continue until the end of the eels' migratory period, typically mid-May. Staten Island is one of 16 sites, ranging from New York City to Albany, where counts are taken as part of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's Hudson River Eel Project.

In 2022, approximately 2,006 glass eels were observed in Richmond Creek and more than 311,573 were counted at the participating Hudson River Estuary monitoring sites. Eel populations had been in decline along the east coast of the United States for decades due to a combination of over fishing, water quality degradation, and man-made barriers to migration, such as dams.

On Staten Island, DEP has made substantial investments to build out the sewer system and connect thousands of homes to the City's wastewater resource recovery facilities, eliminating the need for septic tanks. Additionally, over the last 25 years DEP has built more than 80 Bluebelts across Staten Island with additional sites currently in construction and design. In October, DEP joined with New York City Mayor Eric Adams to announce the completion of the $110 million expansion of the New Creek Bluebelt

Bluebelts - ecologically rich and cost-effective drainage systems that naturally handle the runoff precipitation that falls on streets and sidewalks - provide both critical support to Staten Island's drainage infrastructure and beautiful open green space for residents, while creating diverse habitats for wildlife. As New York City prepares for rising sea levels and heavier rains due to climate change, Bluebelts offer a natural and effective solution for stable and sound stormwater management.

Originally implemented on Staten Island, the Bluebelt program preserves natural drainage corridors including streams, ponds, and wetlands, and revitalizes and enhances them to optimize their functions of conveying, storing, and filtering stormwater. Bluebelts have proven to be an excellent mechanism for reducing urban flooding while creating a rich natural environment for the local community.

About the NYC Department of Environmental Protection

DEP manages New York City's water supply, providing approximately 1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water each day to nearly 10 million residents, including 8.8 million in New York City. The water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the city, comprising 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels and aqueducts bring water to homes and businesses throughout the five boroughs, and 7,500 miles of sewer lines and 96 pump stations take wastewater to 14 in-city treatment plants. DEP also protects the health and safety of New Yorkers by enforcing the Air and Noise Codes and asbestos rules. DEP has a robust capital program, with a planned $31 billion in investments over the next 10 years. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter.

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