[CalebD]

Hellosailor, thanks for the input which all makes sense. I grew up on a harbor off the sound in the 70's and there were probably worse water quality issues into the 80's when there was massive fish kills due to eutrophication (low or now oxygen in the water). The sea gulls and water fowl could not eat all the dead fish lining the shore. The western Sound seems quite a bit better now and I have been swimming in it and can see the bottom through about 8' of depth (which I couldn't as a teenager IIRC).
The Hudson Estuary is newer to me although I have lived by it's mouth in Manhattan for the last 10 years. There have been some hot, hot days that I have just wanted to jump in to cool off if only for a few seconds but there are no beaches anymore in Manhattan.
I was just sailboat racing tonight up at Nyack, NY and there are still fish breaking the surface (I suspect carp) so this is probably a good indication of the water's health as well. The river does not smell bad while sailing on it or once I have jumped in but it is a little creepy to think that there is a nuke plant warming up the water and my memories of effluent going out with the tide in the last big regional blackout. So sad.
I believe that there are some communities that still rely on the Hudson for their drinking water as well. Are you with the Riverkeeper organization? I miss Robert Gainer's helpful advice and would consider helping out.
Catskills not mountains? It is true. NY has some interesting geology.
Barnacles on my prop are another indicator that the water is pretty healthy.
All the best.