The most populous city in the United States, New York City (NYC) is surrounded by water. Right at the confluence of two nationally recognized estuaries, the Hudson River and Long Island Sound, the Bronx and Harlem Rivers are two critical NYC waterways that provide numerous important benefits to Bronx and Manhattan residents.

The region—once inhabited by Lenape Algonquian peoples, including the Mohegan, Wappinger, and Munsee tribes (New York Nature and Legends of America)—was a thriving ecosystem of forests, meadows, and marsh lands with abundant native species, like tulip trees, beavers, seals, fish, oysters, and other shellfish. The native culture was one rooted in shared land with naturally changing boundaries.

Following over 400 years of colonization and urbanization, like all NYC waterways, Bronx and Harlem River ecosystems are now threatened by industrial pollutants, combined sewer overflows, impervious surfaces, and more. Today, the New York State Department of Health has put in place fish consumption advisories in waterways across the region, and while water quality overall has been improving since the 1970s, continued investment and action is needed to achieve the swimmable and fishable goals of the Clean Water Act. As more people understand the economic and health benefits of a thriving environment, there is renewed interest in restoration and rejuvenation of NYC’s urban waters. The Bronx & Harlem River Watersheds Urban Waters Federal Partnership is working to bring together community, local government, and federal agencies around a common set of priorities to move forward on restoring the Harlem and Bronx Rivers.