Is the Harlem River polluted?


Is the Harlem River polluted? The Harlem River has been shaped by tide patterns and climate change, and like the Hudson River it contains a legacy of toxic pollution.


How clean is the Harlem River?

Water quality in the Harlem River in New York has improved greatly since passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972, though there are still instances where it doesn't meet state and federal standards according to first time analysis of the river data by the U.S. Geological Survey.


Are there fish in the Harlem River?

Harlem River and its tributaries are home to a variety of fish species. With the abundance of fish in the waters, New Yorkers are able to enjoy year-round fishing.


Can you eat fish from the Hudson River NYC?

Men over 15 and women over 50 can eat up to one, half-pound meal per month of striped bass. See our trimming and skinning tips below for more information on how to reduce PCBs in a fish meal. Women under 50 and children under 15 should not eat any fish from the Hudson River.


What is the cleanest urban river in the US?

Charles River, Boston Bostonians can thank the Charles River Conservancy, which launched the Swimmable Charles Initiative in 2004, for reclaiming public access to the formerly Dirty Water. The Conservancy claims that the river is now one of the cleanest urban rivers in the United States.