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Rheophilic: preferring or living in flowing water.

Writer's picture: Sikena KhadijaSikena Khadija

Updated: Aug 13, 2021

Me. I'm rheophilic. For as long as I can remember, I've been drawn to the Hudson River. When we first moved to Kingston in the fall of 1975, we lived on The Strand, on Abeel Street. Oddly enough, my journey has come full circle, and I now live half a block up from our old apartment. I remember when the barges and tug boats lined Dock Street, I think I remember seeing coal on Island Dock too. I'm not sure if I'm placing images I've seen throughout the years into my memory, though.

The Rondout leads out to the Hudson. We keep our boat at the creek's end, so we have to travel through this image whenever we go out to the river. It's a "No Wake" zone, so we have to go very slowly. I always think back to when I was little walking along this strip.

Dock Street & Island Dock , Rondout Creek Then and Now

I also remember when the Hudson was so polluted that no one would swim, boat, or fish in it. In 1966 the Hudson River fishermen formed the Hudson River Fisherman's Association to stop the pollution from killing the river. They are known today as Riverkeepers.

It's now 2021, and the river is recovering! The wildlife on the river is thriving. I see so many bald eagles, osprey, great blue heron, and egrets while out on the water! I never tire of seeing them! I am so thankful for all of the work Riverkeeper does to ensure that the river continues to come back healthy.




So much of my life is on the Hudson River. From early spring to mid fall, I pretty much live on it. In 2017 I became a member of Riverkeeper. I did so for a few reasons. I want the river to be healed and protected for future generations. I want the wildlife on the Hudson to continue to thrive, and I want the fish populations that were devastated to return. Riverkeeper also works to protect drinking water here in the Hudson Valley as well as New York City. Their work is vital! A lot of my work focuses on the River. I decided to contribute 10% of every river print or note card sold to Riverkeeper in addition to my yearly contribution. I share all of this with you in hopes that you will want to learn more about Riverkeeper and to become a member. Click here.


Riverkeeper at work

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