Harriman State Park: A Biodiversity Study Area in the Hudson Highlands

    For this semester's biodiversity study, I selected Harriman State Park in southeastern New York. Harriman is a place I have known for much of my life, from attending summer camps there as a kid, to later hiking, camping, and even spent a summer working there during my undergrad years. These experiences have given me an appreciation for the park's natural landscapes and recreational opportunities, but definitely have left me wanting to learn more about the local ecology supporting the area, and I thought that this project would be an ideal opportunity to combine my firsthand experiences with scientific investigation!

    Established in 1910, Harriman State Park spans about 47,000 acres across Orange and Rockland Counties, and is one of the larges parks in the New York State Parks system (New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation [OPRHP], 2025). The park contains 31 lakes and reservoirs, more than 200 miles of hiking trails, extensive forest cover, wetlands, streams, and rocky ridges characteristic of the region (OPRHP, 2025). Located less than an hour's drive from New York City, Harriman represents one of the largest protected natural areas within a heavily developed metropolitan area.

    The park contains a variety of ecosystem types that support diverse biological communities. Forests dominate much of the landscape, while wetlands, streams, lakes, and rocky upland habitats contribute additional ecological complexity. The ecological significance of the area is also reflected by the nearby Iona Island/Doodletown Bird Conservation Area, located within the broader Bear Mountain-Harriman landscape, which supports more than 165 bird species and provides habitat for several state-listed species including Bald Eagles, Least Bitterns, and Northern Harriers (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation [NYSDEC], 2025).

    Harriman also provides habitat for a variety of mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. Some species commonly observed within the park include white-tailed deer, beavers, river otters, snapping turtles, coyotes, warblers, black bears, and more (NYSDEC, 2025). I'll be including some of my own "wildlife walk" observations in later posts, so stay tuned! Overall, the diversity of habitats within the park contributes to its value as both a conservation area and a recreational resource. 

    Despite its protected status, Harriman faces several challenges impacting local biodiversity. One significant concern is the long-term ecological impact of white-tailed deer densities. USGS research found that decades of intensive deer grazing in Harriman and neighboring Bear Mountain State Park have reduced tree generation, altered forest understory composition, and facilitated the expansion of certain invasive and browse-resistant plant species (Nuttle et al., 2019). These changes can affect forest structure, plant diversity, and wildlife habitat over time.

    In addition to deer impacts, invasive species represent another emerging challenge. New York State Parks has identified Hydrilla, a federally listed invasive aquatic plant, in Lake Sebago within Harriman State Park. If left unmanaged, Hydrilla can alter aquatic ecosystems, reduce native biodiversity, and affect recreational usage of lakes and reservoirs. However, state agencies are currently implementing a multi-year management program to limit the spread of this specific invasive and hopefully mitigate these impacts (OPRHP, 2025). 

References

Nuttle, T., Ristau, T. E., & Royo, A. A. (2019). Evaluating legacy effects of hyperabundant white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in forested stands of Harriman and Bear Mountain State Parks, New York. U.S. Geological Survey. https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20191103 

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). (2025). Harriman State Park: Watchable wildlife site. https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/watchable-wildlife/sites/harriman-state-park

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). (2025). Iona Island/Doodletown Bird Conservation Area. Retrieved from the New York State Bird Conservation Area Program. 

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP). (2025). Harriman State Park. https://parks.ny.gov/parks/harriman

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