DRBC meets on May 11, 2011

The Delaware River Basin Commission has posted the Notice of Commission Meeting and Public Hearing scheduled for Wednesday, May 11, 2011 on the Commission’s web site at www.drbc.net that may contain a project of interest to you.

May at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum

May is here and is simply the best month to be trout fishing in the Catskills and visiting the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum(CFFCM). The Catskills are alive with activities and events for all. Take a Maycation and take advantage of the discounts by local merchants.  

May 7, join the Long Island Fly Rodders to give back to the area and clean the Willowemoc Creek and Beaverkill River. Co opting in the 2011 Stream Clean will be the Theodore Gordon Flyfishers, Long Island Boy Scouts, and Member of the Roscoe Chamber of Commerce. Clean up begins at 9:00AM, LIFR BBQ at 1PM and fishing immediately after. FFF Professional Casting instructors Floyd Franke and Gail and Paul Gallo will hold a free Casting Clinic from 11AM to 1PM and Classic Trout's JB Martin will demonstrate fly tying in the museum.  

May 14, Mike Hogue, Badger Creek Fly Tying owner will be demonstrating his latest creations at the vise and author Joe Perrone, Jr. will be signing his great Catskill Mystery Opening Day.  

May 21 & 22, America's premier international fishing tackle crafts event, Woodstick will be held. Visit the Center for a two day gathering of today's finest tackle craftsmen from Europe, Japan, and the USA as they exchange and share creations of classic tackle today. A contingent from Japan will represent their countrymen in this event. Please visit and show your support and concern. In coordination of this great event, The Hardy Cup will be unveiled and attendees will be given the opportunity to compete in the first annual bamboo casting competition from Noon - 4 PM on Saturday, May 21. FFF Professional Casting instructors Floyd Franke and Gail & Paul Gallo will hold a free Casting Clinic from 11 Am to 1PM and Scott Cesari will demonstrate his innovative realistic fly tying in the museum.  

May 28, the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum will celebrate their 30th Annual Fund Raising Dinner and Auction at King's Catering at 5:30. The day is preceded by the Annual Members Meeting at 10AM; the last opportunity to cast in the Hardy Cup bamboo rod fly casting competition before the final day on August 6, and a great opportunity to see many of the long time pioneers who started the CFFCM in 1981.

Call the CFFCM at 845-439-4810 to make your reservation. Join fellow fly fishers at this dinner to support the CFFCM to continue its work to preserve, protect and promote fly fishing. The Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum is all about fly fishing, and the center of it all. The CFFCM recognizes the Press for keeping fly fishing and outdoors sports alive and well.

For any additional details on the May happenings at the CFFCM call 845-439-4810.

Upper Delaware River Fishing Reports

Upper Delaware River Report

East Branch Delaware River Report

Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum 29th Summerfest and Anglers Market

Livingston Manor, NY.   On August 6, 2011 Hardy USA and The Catskill Fly
Fishing Center and Museum (CFFCM) will hold the first annual Hardy Bros. Cup
casting competition, at the 29th  Summerfest and Anglers Market at the
CFFCM.  This annual casting event will be open to all individuals and the
only requirement is to use a bamboo fly  rod 9' in length or smaller.  This
casting contest will be based on two distance casts and one accuracy cast.
Handicaps will be applicable to rods under 8' in length and a tie breaker
will be determined by the age of the rod.  Casters should be able to cast a
sight fly 50 feet with a 7.5' leader.  Leaders and sight flies will be
provided.

This contest was created by Hardy USA and CFFCM  to celebrate the 100th
Anniversary of the introduction of the. Hardy C.C. de France Fly Rod   by
Hardy Bros. Ltd.   The over all point champion will receive a Commemorative
100th anniversary C.C. de France  hand crafted by Hardy master rod makers,
Tom Moran and Callum Gladstone.  Second and third place finishers will
receive a Hardy classic fly reel.  The winning caster's name will be
engraved on the Tiffany designed "Hardy Bros. Cup" that will remain on
display in the Catskill Fly Fishing Museum.  An  award ceremony will take
place  at 6:30PM on Saturday, August 6, at a complimentary barbeque hosted
by Hardy at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum.

This annual event has been designed to share in the pleasures of casting
bamboo fly rods.

No fee or advanced registration required.  

A casting field will be laid out at upcoming CFFCM events:

May 21 & 22, Woodstick- a field show devoted to the classic fly fishing
tackle and accessories by today's traditional craftsmen.

May 28 & 29 for the CFFCM Annual Dinner Weekend.

For complete details on scoring and handicaps, please visit www.cffcm.net
<http://www.cffcm.net/>  .  

NJ DEP Anounces Modification in Delaware River Water Management Plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 7, 2011 

Contact: Lawrence Ragonese (609) 292-2994 

Lawrence Hajna (609) 984-1795 

Michael Saucier (NYC DEP) (718) 595-6600 

DEP NEGOTIATES IMPROVED NEW YORK CITY RESERVOIR OPERATING PLAN TO BETTER PROTECT DELAWARE RIVER'S RESOURCES 

(11/P49) TRENTON - New York City has agreed to modifications of releases of water from its reservoir system in the Catskill Mountains to better protect the ecology of the Delaware River in New Jersey and other downriver states, and help provide drought relief and flood protection, Commissioner Bob Martin announced today. 

The agreement worked out with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and approved by the four states that share the river basin - New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware - will better control the river's salt line, typically found in an area around the Delaware Memorial Bridge in Salem County, thereby better protecting aquatic life, as well as drinking-water suppliers and industries that utilize fresh water from the river. 

The agreement enables water purveyors in a broad swath of central New Jersey to tap into a larger share of Delaware River water via the Delaware & Raritan Canal. It also calls for the city to test a procedure to help to alleviate threats of flooding along upper portions of the Delaware River. 

"This agreement is a perfect example of agencies working together and across state lines to reach a goal that is good for the entire region, one that is consistent with good water supply practices,'' said Commissioner Martin. "I must commend New York City for working with us toward resolving our concerns with its operating plan for its reservoir system and recognizing that the way the city releases water from its reservoirs is felt many miles downstream." 

"This landmark agreement protects New York City's water supply, and at the same time, increases the amount of water available to New Jersey, and will better protect the river's ecology, and help reduce flooding throughout the basin,'' said New York City Environmental Protection Commissioner Cas Holloway. 

These steps will take effect June 1. After one year, all the parties will evaluate the reservoir management plan to see how it can be improved. 

New York City operates three reservoirs in the Catskill region of southern New York State that are located in the headwaters area of the Delaware River. These reservoirs can store more than 276 billion gallons of water. 

New Jersey, New York City, and the states of Delaware, New York and Pennsylvania are all parties to a 1954 federal court Consent Decree allowing for shared management of the Catskill reservoirs. New York City releases water from its Delaware Basin reservoirs as part of court-approved Flexible Flow Management Plan (FFMP). Releases from the city's Delaware reservoirs have been governed by that plan since it was approved by the U.S. Supreme Court in October 2007. The modifications are an update to the FFMP. 

Under terms of the modifications: 

• Fishery officials from all four states and the city will form a panel to advise the city on maintaining water flows and temperatures to maintain a healthy and vibrant fishery. 
• New Jersey can increase its diversion via the Delaware & Raritan Canal during drought warnings from 85 million gallons per day to 100 million gallons per day. During drought emergencies, the diversion will remain at 85 million gallons per day. 

• New York City has set an operational goal to maintain its reservoirs at 10 percent below capacity from Sept. 1 to March 15, and an average of five percent below capacity from July 1 to Sept. 1 and from March 15 to May 1. That step could help alleviate river flooding during periods of major storms and heavy snow melt. 

Using a high-tech modeling tool, the city's Department of Environmental Protection developed a new formula that dramatically improves the ability to forecast and model water conditions, and make decisions on use of shared resources of the Delaware River in a new and better way. That can improve conditions for fish and other aquatic life in the Delaware River and keep the river's salt line in check. During droughts, this area of brackish water can move up the river and potentially affect industrial and drinking water intakes in southern New Jersey.

Catskill Fly Tyers Guild's Fly Tyers Rendezvous

April 16, 2011 at the Rockland House in Roscoe, NY from 9AM to 4PM is when the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild will be holding this years Fly Tyers Rendezvous.  You will have a chance to sit and talk with some of the best tyers in the country and learn some of their techniques as well.

The Catskill Fly Tyers Guild was formed in 1993 by Floyd Franke and Matthew Vinciguerra as a way to preserve, protect and enhance the Catskill fly tying heritage. Members of the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild believe the development of fly fishing in the Catskill Mountains of New York is synonymous with the development of fly fishing in the United states. This rich heritage is seen as the foundation of the Guild's present efforts in promoting the development of future generations of Catskill fly tyers and in providing a forum for the sharing of information.

For more information on the rendezvous and on the guild, visit their website at: http://www.catskillflytyersguild.org

Delaware River Designated as National Great Water

Designation highlights the river’s national significance

TRENTON N.J. – The Delaware River has been designated a “Great Water,” joining 18 other waterways nationwide selected for that honor by a national coalition formed to protect waterways of high economic, social and environmental importance.

            The America’s Great Waters Coalition, based in Washington, D.C., announced its 2011 selections last week. The coalition was formed in 2009 to advocate for the restoration and protection of lakes, bays, rivers and marshes that are rich in natural resources and have a significant impact on their surrounding regions.

           

            The Delaware River is the longest un-dammed river east of the Mississippi, flowing for 330 miles from Hancock, N.Y. to the Delaware Bay, where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean. More than 15 million people in four states depend on the river’s water for drinking, agricultural and industrial use. The Delaware includes natural wonders -- three stretches along its course are included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers program – and important commercial assets.

            “We welcome the news that the Delaware River has been recognized as a Great Water of national significance,” said Kelly Mooij, Director of Government Relations for New Jersey Audubon. “We look forward to working closely with our partners in the Delaware River Basin Commission and the coalition to find regional solutions to the challenges of protecting the river and its basin. One state acting alone can’t address the complex issues involved in managing the resources of a river vital to the interests of four states.”

           

            Besides the Delaware, eight other Great Waters were named by the Coalition on March 22, World Water Day. They are: the New York/New Jersey Harbor, Albemarle Pamlico Sound, Colorado River, Galveston Bay, Missouri River, Narragansett Bay, Ohio River and the Rio Grande. Ten more waterways were honored last year. While the Great Waters vary in geographic location and physical characteristics, they are plagued by similar problems such as toxic pollution, altered water flows, habitat loss, and destructive invasive species.

The Delaware additionally faces new threats from hydraulic drilling for natural gas, a controversial process known as fracking.

   

            “Hydrofracking in the Marcellus Shale formation is one of two imminent threats to the river system’s well-being,” said Dan Plummer, board chairman of Friends of the Upper Delaware River and a member of the coalition. “A second threat is the inadequate water releases from New York City-owned reservoirs, an issue that has plagued river residents, anglers and other visitors, and the habitat and fisheries in the Delaware system for decades.”

        Other conservation advocates focused on the significance of the river to wildlife, including threatened and endangered species.

            “The Delaware is vitally important to wildlife, too,” said Mooij. “The largest population of breeding horseshoe crabs in the world comes ashore in Delaware Bay, laying eggs that are an important food for as many as a million migratory birds, including the endangered red knot.”

            Margaret O’Gorman, executive director of Conserve Wildlife, also noted the habitat value of the Delaware’s waters and shores.

“Of course the Delaware River is a ‘Great Water,’ sustaining an incredible diversity of wildlife, both common and rare, along its length,” she said. “The Delaware River has been key to the recovery of the bald eagle, which has seen statewide populations grow from one pair in the late 1980s over 80 pairs breeding in New Jersey today. The river also provides critical habitat to the Atlantic sturgeon and sustains shorebird populations whose continued decline is cause for alarm.”

            The nation’s Great Waters are the backbone of America’s economy, impacting people, businesses, communities and wildlife but, the coalition warned, these waters are under attack.  Landmark legislation and funding for restoration efforts that have protected our nation’s waterways for more than three decades are now at risk. Honoring specific waterways is one way to lend fresh impetus to conservation efforts.

“The ‘Great Water’ designation confirms the Delaware’s status as a national natural treasure,” said Plummer. “It further inspires us to oppose drilling practices that could sterilize miles of pristine water and to fight for a rational water-release plan that will preserve the Delaware River from its headwaters to the bay and beyond.”

Across the country, restoration efforts funded by the federal government are producing on-the-ground results. In the Delaware River, for example, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) made $27.5 million available for restoration projects that compensated for a 2004 oil spill by a cargo ship. Projects included dam removals, wetlands upgrades and improvements along the shoreline. Part of another $20.3 million award from the Oil Spill Liability Fund made last year will be used to create 50 acres of oyster reefs off Cape May County. But the work is far from done, and critical decisions lie ahead, advocates said.

"The Delaware River has an irreplaceable role in this nation's past and present — whether it can have a healthy and contributing role in our future will be determined by the actions and decisions of today,” said Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper. “Dangerous gas drilling, irresponsible dredging and increasing pollution are threatening the ability of the Delaware River to nourish and support our communities with healthy water, food and jobs.  The Great Waters program could play an important role in helping us to protect the river for the benefit of all, now and into the future."

The Coalition calls for prompt action to ensure the health, safety, and livelihoods of the millions of Americans that depend on our Great Waters. These waterways benefit everyone not only because of their economic, social, and environmental importance, but because they are national treasures that support our nation’s economy and provide rich resources for future generations.

            “From the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, from the Puget Sound to the Everglades, Great Waters are the lifeblood of our nation, driving regional economies, preserving our national heritage, and shaping the daily lives of Americans,” said  Theresa Pierno, co-chair for the America’s Great Waters Coalition and executive vice president for the National Parks Conservation Association. “We cannot afford not to protect our nation’s Great Waters. Whether it is for drinking, fishing, transportation, recreation, trade, or energy, keeping the Delaware River clean and accessible is essential to our health, happiness, and financial well-being.”

           

The Great Waters Coalition works to illustrate to the American public and decision-makers that our water resources must become a national priority for the security of our economy and way of life.  Three main goals drive the Coalition’s work:  (1) making the restoration of our Great Waters a national priority, (2) securing sustainable dedicated funding for restoration, and (3) enacting and ensuring sound implementation of restoration. To learn more about the Great Waters Coalition, and to view a complete list of America’s Great Waters, please visit:  www.nwf.org/greatwaters