April 29, 2025

Presence of Juvenile Eels in the Inter-Connected Network of Bluebelts is an Indicator of a Healthy Waterbody; Photos of the Event are Available on DEP’s Flickr page

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on Friday hosted a combined 30 students and scouts from the Saint Clare School in Great Kills and Boy Scout Troop 25 for the annual count of juvenile glass eels at Staten Island’s Richmond Creek Bluebelt in Richmondtown. The American eel is born at sea and rides prevailing currents to clean, healthy waterways along the east coast, where they can live for up to 20 years. Eel populations are an important indicator of water quality, and experts have seen a resurgence in the eel population in New York Harbor as testing shows the water is cleaner and healthier than it has been since the Civil War. Juvenile glass eels migrate through New York Harbor to freshwater habitats, including the Richmond Creek Bluebelt where nearly 8,520 glass eels have been counted so far in 2025.

”The yearly eel count at the Richmond Creek Bluebelt offers a wonderful chance for young New Yorkers to explore this intricate ecosystem that supports many species, and to understand the importance of keeping our waterways clean and healthy,” said DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. ”I’m grateful to the Saint Clare School and the Boy Scouts for their ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and their continued involvement in this unique program.”

Each spring eels arrive in estuaries like the Hudson River as translucent, two-inch long ”glass eels.” As part of ongoing research, volunteers and students use a ten-foot cone-shaped net specifically designed to catch the eels and then count and release them back into the water. The 2025 eel monitoring program began at the end of January and will continue until the end of the eels’ migratory period, typically mid-May. Staten Island is one of 16 sites, from New York City to Albany, where counts are taken as part of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Hudson River Eel Project.

On Staten Island, DEP has made substantial investments to build out the sewer system and connect thousands of homes to the City’s wastewater resource recovery facilities, eliminating the need for septic tanks. This expansion of the sanitary sewer network, as well as improvements to wastewater treatment techniques, prevents pollution and improves the water quality of New York Harbor, thus attracting the American eel.

Over the last 25 years, DEP has built more than 96 Bluebelts across New York City with additional sites currently in construction and design. Bluebelts preserve natural drainage corridors including streams, ponds, and wetlands, and revitalize and enhance them to optimize their functions of conveying, storing, and filtering stormwater. They support Staten Island’s drainage infrastructure, provide beautiful open green space for residents, and create diverse habitats for wildlife. As New York City prepares for rising sea levels and heavier rains due to climate change, Bluebelts offer a natural and effective solution for stable and sound stormwater management.

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing approximately 1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water each day to nearly 10 million residents, including 8.5 million in New York City. The water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the city, comprising 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels and aqueducts bring water to homes and businesses throughout the five boroughs, and 7,500 miles of sewer lines and 96 pump stations take wastewater to 14 in-city treatment plants. DEP also protects the health and safety of New Yorkers by enforcing the Air and Noise Codes and asbestos rules. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us on X.