Congressman Pat Ryan and local advocates celebrate new federal law permanently banning additional Hudson River barge anchorages to protect drinking water and wildlife

Poughkeepsie, New York – A yearslong campaign to protect the Hudson River from additional barge anchorages has reached a milestone, with Congressman Pat Ryan and local advocates gathering to celebrate federal legislation that makes those protections permanent.

The Hudson River Protection Act, first introduced by Ryan in 2023, is now law. It bars additional barge anchorages on the river, addressing concerns about hazardous cargo, drinking water supplies and damage to wildlife habitat. Its passage follows sustained pressure from residents, environmental organizations and elected officials across local, state and federal government.

President Trump signed the measure as part of the fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act. For the communities that depend on the Hudson, the outcome marks the result of a fight over how the waterway should be used and protected.

At the Poughkeepsie gathering, Ryan credited the people and organizations that kept the issue before federal officials. Riverkeeper, Scenic Hudson and the Hudson 7 were among the groups involved in pushing for lasting safeguards.

“If there’s one thing we can all agree on it’s making sure our drinking water is clean and that our Hudson River is safe and protected. For far too long, big corporations have polluted and put at risk our precious River in pursuit of profits. But not anymore. The Hudson is more than a river – it’s the lifeblood and the heartbeat of our community,” said Congressman Pat Ryan.

“Today we celebrated the years of effort by every single member of our Hudson Valley community. I especially want to thank my partners at Riverkeeper and Scenic Hudson for their tireless work and commitment to protecting the Hudson. Never again will big corporations be able to turn our River into a parking lot for dangerous barges, polluting the drinking water for 100,000 of our neighbors. This victory proves that when the Hudson Valley stands up with one voice to demand change, we can accomplish anything.”

The measure targets additional anchorages rather than imposing a blanket ban on all barges traveling along the Hudson. Supporters sought to prevent expanded use of the river as a place where commercial vessels carrying oil and other potentially dangerous materials could remain anchored.

Drinking water was central to that effort. More than 100,000 Hudson Valley residents depend on water drawn from the river, making the possibility of a major spill a concern shared by several communities.

The Hudson 7 brings together seven Mid-Hudson municipalities that rely on that supply. Its chair, Village of Rhinebeck Mayor Gary Bassett, described the scale of that dependence and the need for communities to work together.

“The Hudson 7 is an intermunicipal council representing seven Mid-Hudson municipalities that rely on the Hudson River as a drinking water source. More than 107,000 people in Dutchess and Ulster Counties depend on the river for their drinking water, with five treatment plants drawing directly from the Hudson to serve communities including Rhinebeck, Esopus, Lloyd, Hyde Park, and Poughkeepsie,” said Bassett.

“The river doesn’t follow municipal boundaries. A spill doesn’t stop at a town line, and a flood doesn’t stop at a county line. Protecting this shared resource requires regional cooperation and strong federal leadership. Today, we thank Congressman Ryan for his sustained leadership in advancing the Hudson River Protection Act.”

The dispute that prompted Ryan’s legislation intensified in 2023. That year, the Coast Guard issued a Marine Safety Information Bulletin that raised concerns about weakening restrictions on commercial vessels anchoring in the Hudson.

Ryan challenged the bulletin, warning that expanded anchoring could have serious consequences for public health and the river’s ecosystem. A response from Michael Emerson, the Coast Guard’s director of marine transportation systems, arrived more than two months later. Ryan considered it inadequate because it left open the possibility of additional oil barges anchoring along the waterway.

By October 2023, Ryan, Riverkeeper, Scenic Hudson and the Hudson 7 were calling on the Coast Guard to maintain the anchoring ban. Ryan also took the issue to the House floor and invited Hudson Valley families to submit their views through a public response form.

A revised bulletin followed in November 2023 after widespread community opposition. It temporarily paused the Coast Guard’s plan, but it did not settle the dispute. Ryan and his partners remained concerned that future policy could still permit unlimited anchoring.

That uncertainty helped drive the push for a permanent federal law. A temporary pause offered some protection, but advocates wanted a lasting answer to the prospect of new commercial anchorages.

Riverkeeper Associate Director of Government Affairs Jeremy Cherson said the achievement reflected nearly a decade of public involvement. He also noted that the Coast Guard’s rulemaking process was still moving forward.

“As the Coast Guard reviews comments and finalizes its rulemaking barring new anchorages along the Hudson River, we look back to celebrate the Hudson River Protection Act as a powerful testament to what we can accomplish when communities come together to defend the river they depend on,” said Cherson.

“For nearly a decade, Riverkeeper and thousands of New Yorkers have fought to ensure that the Hudson is protected from the risks posed by new commercial vessel anchorages. This law honors that persistence by safeguarding critical habitat, protecting drinking water for more than 100,000 people, and making clear that the Hudson is not a place for industrial exploitation. We’re grateful to Congressman Pat Ryan, our partners, and the countless Hudson Valley residents who raised their voices and refused to let the river’s future be put at risk.”

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Beyond drinking water, the campaign focused on the Hudson’s role as a home for fish and a place for outdoor recreation. The river and its connected waters support more than 200 fish species. They also provide spawning and nursery areas for striped bass, shad and herring, helping sustain fisheries along the Atlantic coast.

Anchors dragging across the riverbed can threaten habitat, including areas where restoration work has sought to help endangered fish. Advocates also raised concerns about the noise from vessel generators and bright lighting associated with anchored barges.

Oil, asphalt and other hazardous cargo added to those worries. Ryan argued that more oil barges would increase the risk of a catastrophic spill. The Hudson’s importance extends beyond the communities drawing from it daily: it also serves as a backup drinking water source for New York City.

In Ulster County, officials pointed to both household water needs and the many ways residents use the waterfront.

“Residents of Ulster County have a deep and abiding appreciation for the Hudson River. County Executive Metzger recognizes and supports the more than 9,000 county residents who draw their drinking water from the Hudson River, and the thousands more who enjoy fishing, boating, picnicking, and hiking along the waterfront. On behalf of the Department of Environment, we express our appreciation to Congressman Ryan and the advocacy groups who worked tirelessly to secure passage of this legislation,” said Andy Bicking, Director of Ulster County’s Department of Environment.

Scenic Hudson likewise described the law as a significant step toward protecting the river’s ecological health. The organization had worked alongside Ryan and other partners throughout the effort to prevent new upper Hudson anchorages.

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“Without the Hudson River Protection Act, our river was at risk of becoming a busy highway and parking lot for marine vessels carrying crude oil or other dangerous cargo. Scenic Hudson is proud to have partnered with Congressman Ryan to finally put an end to this threat. The Hudson River Protection Act, introduced and championed by the Congressman, will permanently prevent efforts to add new upper Hudson River anchorages, protecting the ecological health of the river and the health of those who rely on it for drinking water and recreation. Scenic Hudson will continue to partner with our friends in the Hudson Valley, Albany, and Washington to vigilantly protect this critical waterway,” said Carli Fraccarolli, Scenic Hudson’s Government Relations Manager.

The legislation’s inclusion in the defense authorization measure brought the anchorage protections into federal law. Ryan also secured other provisions in that package, including a pay raise for troops.

For the advocates gathered in Poughkeepsie, however, the focus was the Hudson and the people who depend on it. Their campaign connected concerns about tap water, fish habitat and waterfront recreation to a specific federal policy dispute.

With the law enacted, attention now includes the Coast Guard’s work to review comments and finalize its rulemaking. The celebration recognized the result already achieved while organizations such as Scenic Hudson pledged to remain involved in protecting the river.