New York City Reservoirs Filled Only 80 Percent

New York City Reservoirs Filled Only 80 Percent



October 2007

 New York City has agreed 
to help regulate temperatures and water levels in the Delaware River by 
releasing up to a total of 35 million gallons a day from three of its 
reservoirs. 
The Delaware River Basin Commission at its September 26 meeting directed 
commission staff to begin the public rulemaking process to implement an 
amended Flexible Flow Management Program for operation of the three New 
York City Delaware Basin reservoirs. 
The intent of the agreement is to reduce flows and floods downriver from 
the Cannonsville, Pepacton and Neversink reservoirs during extreme 
conditions. 
The agreement's spill mitigation component is intended to reduce the 
likelihood that the three reservoirs could be full and spilling over 
coincident with a major storm or thaw. It does not include specified void 
targets. 
The reservoir agreement is part of a new water management proposal for the 
Delaware River reservoirs, agreed to unanimously by New York State, New 
York City, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, through the Delaware 
River Basin Commission. 
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete 
Grannis Thursday endorsed the new agreement saying it would improve trout 
habitat, bolster flood mitigation efforts and restore a more natural flow 
to the Delaware River. 
The reservoirs not only feed the Delaware and other rivers but also supply 
drinking water to 17 million people. 
"This is an innovative plan for dealing with a long-running issue," 
Grannis said. "Flood control, the trout fishery, biodiversity and 
recreation opportunities all can be aided while assuring adequate 
quantities of drinking water to millions. This new water release protocol 
could serve as a national model." 
Major highlights of the plan include:
  More water for the East Branch and West Branch of the Delaware River and 
  the Neversink River. Under a 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decree, New York 
  City could divert up to 800 million gallons per day from the reservoirs. 
  However, NYC has agreed to cap that at 765 million gallons. 

  Better trout habitat. Because of the extra available water, the river 
  will be able to maintain colder and more regular temperatures. 

  Natural flows. Flows will be modified to reflect more natural water 
  levels, an attribute desired by many anglers and environmentalists. It 
  will allow more water to be released when reservoirs are full or near 
  full; and when reservoirs reach a certain level, releases are switched 
  to lower releases -- but to levels that are still high enough to protect 
  aquatic habitat. 

  An end to daily calculations to determine releases. In the past, a 
  difficult, drawn out and, at times, contentious practice of daily 
  computations was employed to determine releases. Instead, the plan will 
  use scientific habitat research and computer modeling to develop a 
  series of water releases that are tied to the reservoir levels and to 
  the season of the year. Daily calculations would no longer be necessary. 


  Better public information. Forecasts about reservoir levels will be 
  available more than a day in advance, perhaps as much as several weeks 
  in advance.
The plan drew praise from groups that have long worked on Delaware River 
Basin issues. 
"We have been working for more than 30 years to bring about managed 
releases and flows for the Delaware River system and are pleased to see a 
new plan finally emerge," said Ron Urban, president of the New York State 
Council of Trout Unlimited. 
"This approach will achieve higher and more protective water releases for 
the wild fish and aquatic life in these prolific rivers while continuing 
to protect New York City's drinking water supply." 
"We applaud the agreement to alter the management of its dams in the Upper 
Delaware River basin to better support downstream aquatic species and 
ecosystems," Kathy Moser, acting state director for The Nature Conservancy 
in New York. 
The plan goes into effect on an interim basis immediately. 
Delaware River Basin Commission Executive Director Carol Collier said, 
"The next steps will be to draft and publish proposed rule changes to 
implement the Flexible Flow Management Program, hold informational 
meetings and public hearings, review the public comments received, make 
possible modifications to the proposed rules, and adopt final regulations. 
Our target is to complete the process by May 2008." 
More information and public comment specifics are online at: 
http://water.usgs.gov/orh/nrwww/odrm/ 

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