Are there eels in the hudson river

For the 14 th season, volunteers up and down the Hudson River estuary are searching creeks and streams for juvenile American eels. Right off the bat. We open up the net, and look in here. See these wiggling pieces of linguini?

That is a classic glass eel right there. Glass eels are transparent, one-year-old American eels. About two or three inches long, the tiny eels have reached upstate New York after a thousand-mile migration up the East Coast.

A couple years later we had 26, in one day. Volunteer Barbara Hinzen also loves the eels. She lives right across the road from the monitoring site in the Hannacroix Creek. Hinzen has developed a technique for counting the eels, which arrive at her feet in a plastic pail. The eels themselves are an important part of the ecosystem — the juvenile eels are a food source for many species.

There are many opportunities to get involved with the eel project. Below are descriptions of our eel projects. Check out other volunteer opportunities with the Hudson River Estuary Program. If you are interested in getting involved, email eelproject dec. 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!

Volunteer with the Eel Migration Research Project. Participate Research Academic research and monitoring programs focused on emerging Hudson River and urban watershed issues. Education Experiential place-based education programs K, precollege credit courses, and teacher trainings.

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