DEC COMMISSIONER APPLAUDS 2009 DELAWARE RIVER BASIN RESERVOIR RELEASE PROGRAM

Press Release, FYI June 9, 2009

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
Commissioner Pete Grannis today applauded a new agreement that will help
protect fish from the stresses of high temperatures in the Delaware
River Basin this summer by clearing the way for more cold water releases
from the Cannonsville Reservoir. The agreement will also improve habitat
by reducing unnatural fluctuations in reservoir releases.

Approved by New York, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the City
of New York, the accord calls for a substantial increase in the amount
of cold water released to the West Branch of the Delaware River from the
Cannonsville Reservoir compared to last year while continuing to provide
that water releases be scaled back if drought conditions arise.

“The Delaware River Basin is a critical watershed that supports
diverse wildlife habitat and a drinking water supply for millions of
people,” Commissioner Grannis said. “The agreement furthers a
critical balance I have directed my staff to pursue - safeguarding the
water supply needs of residents, mitigating peak floods, and protecting
critical fish habitat. We look forward to working with our Delaware
River Basin partners on ways to continually enhance these important
priorities.”

New York City’s Cannonsville Reservoir is located on the West Branch
of the Delaware River in Delaware County, New York.  Placed into service
in 1964, it is nearly 4,800 acres in size and holds 95.7 billion gallons
at full capacity.

Cold water released from the reservoir bottom will help the renowned
trout fishery by reducing thermal stress caused by summer’s warmer
temperatures. Absent prolonged drought conditions, the agreement
increases base water releases by up to 25 percent over last year - to
325 cubic feet per second - for most of this summer. The agreement
announced today will also help reduce unnaturally large and frequent
river flow fluctuations - known as the “yo-yo effect.” These
fluctuations can occur as a result of reservoir releases being made to
meet Delaware River flow objectives in downstream states -- but
constantly rising and falling river levels can be detrimental to aquatic
habitat.  

In order to ensure protection of the public water supply, the reservoir
releases will be reduced if drought conditions arise.      

The modified agreement announced today is a result of the collaborative
efforts of the responsible government agencies involved who adopted a
comprehensive Flexible Flow Management Program (FFMP) in 2007 that
governs Delaware River Basin reservoir diversions and releases under the
terms of a 1954 U.S. Supreme Court Decree.  Among other things, the FFMP
is designed to provide safe and reliable supplies of water essential to
serve the needs of over 17 million people who depend on water from the
New York City’s Cannonsville, Pepacton and Neversink Reservoirs and
their tailwaters.  

An advantage of the FFMP is the ability to adapt releases in response
to new information and as scientific understanding improves. In
cooperation with its partners, DEC will continue to actively promote an
improved water release program through an adaptive management process
that is based on ongoing monitoring and assessments.

The FFMP and its associated agreements may be accessed at the United
Sates Geologic Survey Office of the Delaware River Master website,
http://water.usgs.gov/osw/odrm/ .