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COMMISSIONER APPLAUDS 2009 DELAWARE BASIN RESERVOIR RELEASE PROGRAM
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New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis yesterday 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/ .

Media Contact

Renee Goodbee rrgoodbe@gw.dec.state.ny.us

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