Muddy water from the Shandanken Tunnel as the cause for issues on both Upper and Lower Esopus.
From The Daily Freeman:
Problems with muddy water releases from the Shandaken Tunnel have been the focus of lawsuits since 2001. The environmental watchdog group Riverkeeper, which has described the Esopus as “Yoo Hoo Creek,” was part of a coalition including the Catskill Mountains Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Theodore Gordon Flyfishers and other environmental organizations that won a $5.7 million judgment against the New York City Department of Environmental Protection in 2003 over releases from the tunnel into the Esopus Creek. The award, though, remains in litigation.
And from the Save The Esopus Facebook page:
Senator Bonacic calls for an end to DEP turbid wastewater releases
by Save Esopus Creek on Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at 11:09am
Last night met with a Rep. from Senator Bonacic’s office. I am thrilled to report that Senator Bonacic is in FULL SUPPORT of our position that DEP Turbid waste water releases must stop immediately. Senator Bonacic- personally called DEC Region 3 Director Janeway to request an immediate moratorium on Turbid releases into the Esopus Creek. THANK YOU SENATOR BONACIC!!! Senator Bonacic will also be sending reps from his office to tour our area & assess the damage caused by DEP & attend the scheduled meeting with DEP on 1/14.
