POTSDAM -- Clarkson University is to lead the development and operation of an environment and education center on the banks of the Hudson River at Pier 26 in Manhattan.

The Hudson River Park Pier 26 Estuarium will promote scientific research and public discovery of the Hudson River estuary and surrounding water system, the school said.

Estuaries occur where fresh water meets salt water, resulting in a nutrient-rich habitat with high biodiversity. The Hudson River estuary, which stretches 153 miles from Troy to New York Harbor, is often considered one of the most significant estuarine habitats in the United States. It is home to numerous species of fish, birds, crustaceans and invertebrates that contribute to a diverse and dynamic ecology. Unique to Hudson River Park is its designated 400-acre urban Estuarine Sanctuary, established when the park was created by state legislation in 1998.

Clarkson, with institutional partners New York Hall of Science and Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc., will work alongside the Hudson River Park Trustto develop a site design that includes indoor and outdoor programming, interactive exhibits, classrooms, lecture spaces and a river research field station. This new initiative expands the park’s nearly 400 environmental awareness public programs. The estuarium will also be used as a site to explore related environmental topics such as climate change and sea level rise.

Conditional selection of the Estuarium’s operating consortium was made pursuant to a Request for Expressions of Interest issued by the rust in April 2014. The trust and its partners have secured nearly $10 million in dedicated funds to advance the design and construction of the Estuarium, including a $5 million grant from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, $4 million from DEC, and a $335,000 grant for planning and design from the DOS with an equal match from HRPT.

The trust will now begin discussions with Clarkson University and its partners to develop a detailed plan for the design, operation and management of the facility. A public comment and review period will also occur in connection with the anticipated lease for the facility.

“In today’s world, museums, galleries and even estuariums are no longer a singular destination: rather, visits to such institutions are part of a learning journey,” Clarkson president Tony Collins said. “Clarkson University is extremely excited to be a part of the Hudson River Park Trust’s vision for the future and to be bringing a world-class network of partners together as stewards of this vital watershed linking its headwaters in the Adirondacks to the New York Harbor.”

“This collaborative alliance allows us to move forward with a long-planned research and science discovery center right here in the park,” said Hudson River Park Trust president and CEO Madelyn Wils. “The trust is already a leader in environmental education on the river, and with our new partners, we will strengthen our contributions to educating children and adults of all ages on important environmental issues.”

“New York Harbor is the source of one of the most significant estuarine habitats in the United States, and the Borough of Manhattan is honored to be the site of this impressive environmental and education center that will protect and promote its dynamic ecology. We welcome members of this exciting new consortium, whose work will preserve our harbor’s marine resources while generating important research and encouraging recreation on the waterfront and up the Hudson,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer.