September 2026 Palisade Boat Club Newsletter
IN LIKE A LAMB AND OUT LIKE A LION: FALL’S ARRIVAL
Members enjoyed tremendous weather in September before the month ended with an early Nor’easter. Thank you to Jason McGinnis for the lovely summer pics and Randy Gunnell for the brave Nor’easter photos (anyone else want to surf the float?).
HUDSON RIVER ECOLOGY NEWS
🌧️ Climate Stress: The September Nor'easter & Hudson Line Hardening
The lower Hudson's exposure to severe weather was made visible over the weekend of September 25–27, 2026, when a powerful nor'easter combined with peak high tides to drive coastal flood warnings from New York Harbor up through the lower Hudson Valley. Wind gusts hit 60 mph across the Bronx, Westchester, and Long Island Sound, while the National Weather Service issued flood advisories along the riverbank as far north as Poughkeepsie and Kingston. Just two days earlier, Governor Hochul was already moving to seek an SBA disaster declaration for damage from earlier July flooding in the Hudson Valley.
The storm underscored the urgency of new investment announced on September 23, when the MTA confirmed that $270 million in federal funding will harden a 20-mile stretch of the Metro-North Hudson Line against chronic flooding, mudslides, and downed trees. Construction won't begin until 2029 — a reminder that transit resilience and shoreline resilience are increasingly inseparable from the river's ecological future.
🐟 Fisheries in Crisis: Striped Bass Spawn Fails for a Third Year
The Hudson's signature migratory fish are still in trouble. Data from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, released earlier this year, confirmed that the river's Atlantic Striped Bass Juvenile Abundance Index came in at 8.27 fish per haul — below the long-term average and below the 25th percentile for the third consecutive year. Because the Hudson and Chesapeake Bay together produce roughly 90% of the Atlantic coast's striped bass, weak year classes like this one could translate into noticeably fewer catchable fish beginning in the early 2030s.
DEC has helped convene a new striped bass working group through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to prepare for tougher management choices ahead of the next full stock assessment in 2027. Against that backdrop, April brought a quiet milestone: the state Department of Health, for the first time in 50 years, relaxed consumption advisories on certain species — including striped bass, yellow perch, and blue crab — from the lower Hudson, citing steadily declining PCB levels.
🦪 Restoration Momentum: Federal Funds for a New Bronx Reef
Habitat work is scaling up alongside the warnings. In June, Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15) announced an $833,000 federal investment, secured through Community Project Funding, to construct a new large-scale oyster reef in the Hudson with the Billion Oyster Project. The reef is designed to filter pollutants and rebuild habitat for fish and other marine life, while also serving as a STEM living classroom for Bronx students connected to the New York Harbor School network. The project directly complements the existing six-acre reef near the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge highlighted in our August update — and signals that nature-based infrastructure is becoming a permanent feature of the lower Hudson's recovery.
CLUB BEAUTIFICATION
There are a variety of repair and beautification projects happening at the club. On Saturday September 12th a team began the work of carrying buckets of the gravel and sand that were delivered last month down to the house. Stay tuned for more work parties where you can get some quality work hours logged.
Big thanks to Roel for taking down the old television and to Eddy and Francisco for mounting the new one. Photo credit: Jason McGinnis
NEXT FUNDRAISER: PAINT & SIP ON OCTOBER 24TH
We’re putting the FUN back in FUNdraiser! Our next fundraiser is on Saturday, October 24th. We will host a combination of events:
Brunch Only - 11:30AM - $15
Knot Tying Class - 12:30PM - FREE
Paint and Sip + Brunch - 1:00PM - $45
Please RSVP and send payment to Tracy by October 16th if you'd like to come! Payment information below.
If you'd like to help out with the event, which will count toward your work hours, please contact Tracy.
MEMBERS ON THE MOVE
We wish Alan a very Happy 71st Birthday! Apparently the key to a joyful and healthy life is …. swimming in the Hudson River. The secret is out!
Photo credit: Jason McGinnis
CLUB DO'S & DONT’S
Member Jason McGinnis reminds club members of the right way (on the left) and the wrong way (on the right) to use club equipment. Also, the club has a strict carry in, carry out policy. Members are responsible for removing all garbage and recycling - unless you leave deposit cans in the marked recycling bins so that the club can return them for cash.
IMPORTANT MEMBER INFO
ABOUT NON-MOTORIZED BOATS AND EQUIPMENT: Please ensure you contact the Lieutenant, Chris Grieco grec0719@optonline.net, before bringing any non motorized boats, motors and related equipment down to the club.
ABOUT MOTORIZED BOATS: For motorized boats, please contact the Captain, Randy Gunnell rbgunnell@gmail.com, before bringing any boats to the club.
LOCKERS: If you'd like a locker assigned, please follow up with Chris Grieco, grec0719@optonline.nt.
REMEMBER: Always hang the no trespassing sign when coming and leaving the club.
RECYCLING REMINDER: The recycling bins at the club are only for deposit cans that will be returned for the deposit to benefit the club. All other recycling must be carried out by the members bringing it in, similar to ordinary garbage.
REMINDER: Work hours for 2026 can be entered here, the link is also on our website.
GET YOUR FREE COAST GUARD WATERPROOF WATERCRAFT DECAL: Not only are these good to have in case of a lost boat, but they help us ID boats in the house. Get your free decals here.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
To contribute photos and stories to the newsletter, please email: PBC-newsletter@jamesmumm.org.
Visit the Palisade Boat Club website: https:/thepalisadeboatclub.com/
