Please Register Below

Protecting our rivers can be done in many different ways. One way is through watershed planning, a comprehensive, stakeholder-driven process of assessing the current health of a river and all of the lands that drain to it, as well as identifying possible interventions to eliminate sources of pollution or bolster ecosystem and community well-being. The Hutchinson River, which runs through Westchester County through Scarsdale, Eastchester, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Pelham, and the Bronx before it empties into the Sound at Eastchester Bay, is in desperate need of this planning. Today, all segments of the lower Hutchinson River are listed on the New York State 303(d) list of impaired waterbodies.

Phase I of the watershed plan covering Westchester County was completed in 2024 and Phase II will expand the plan down into the Bronx to cover the entire watershed. The Steering Committee for the Hutchinson River Watershed Plan will help shape the planning process to ensure that the final plan accurately represents the goals and interests of the watershed stakeholders within the context of the US EPA 9 element framework. Participants will be asked to facilitate communication from the organizations they represent, review and provide comments on draft documents and work products, and help engage stakeholders essential to the preparation and implementation of the watershed plan. The Steering Committee is voluntary and will represent a cross section of watershed stakeholders. It will ideally include representation from each of the major municipalities in the watershed, the County, NYSDEC, nongovernmental organizations and other interested members of the community.

Participation in the Hutchinson River Watershed Steering Committee will involve attending Steering Committee meetings to be scheduled every other month beginning in February 2026. Phase II (the Bronx) of the watershed plan will also serve to combine the elements developed during Phase I (Westchester County) to create a single watershed plan for the Hutchinson River. Work is expected to continue through 2027, with a final plan for the

Hutchinson River Watershed, anticipated in October of 2027. Steering Committee members, if interested, will also have the opportunity to engage directly with community members through local tabling events or participating in programs that will bring members of the public to the Hutchinson River.

We would be grateful to have your insight and local expertise contribute to the development of the Hutchinson River watershed plan as a member of the Steering Committee.

Wednesday, February 25, 2026
2:00 PM or 6:00 PM

About Save the Sound Membership

Save the Sound is a non-governmental nonprofit working across the Long Island Sound region in New York and Connecticut. For just $25 a year, members power on-the-ground projects that help communities and ecosystems adapt to escalating climate threats. Your support protects clean water through hands-on science, community partnerships, legislative advocacy, and legal action, and helps preserve the region’s forests, islands, and riverfronts.

Member benefits include:

• A subscription to SoundBites, our printed quarterly newsletter featuring in-depth stories on restoration efforts, climate action, and progress across the Sound
• An invitation to our Annual Meeting each fall, offering opportunities to connect with staff, fellow members, and engaging guest speakers
• Invitations to eco-friendly fairs, guided hikes, film series, regattas, and Paddle for the Sound, our summer recreational paddling event
• Free registration for member-only webinars and educational programs, both virtual and in person, featuring environmental experts

Join or renew your $25 membership when you register for this event.