Plug Gets Pulled on Lower Woods Pond

Lower Woods Pond is part natural and part manmade.  It's the manmade part that's become the problem.

The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) announced that due to concerns about the integrity of the dam that transformed this 50 acre natural lake into a 91 acre man-made lake, the lake will be drawn down to it's original size.

“Failure of the dam does not appear to be imminent, but the dam’s earthen embankment and its spillway do not meet current engineering or regulatory standards,” said Jack Rokavec, PFBC chief of engineering. “In addition, observed seepage paths may be indicative of internal erosion which could represent a serious dam safety condition.”

“The Commission takes its regulatory and public safety responsibilities very seriously,” he added. “The Commission is drawing down the reservoir to protect the lives and property of the 25 residents living downstream."

The lake is expected to drop at the rate of half a foot per day. This shrinking of the lake has caused the PFBC to lift all regulations as to size limits. creel limits and seasons on the lake through March 31, 2013. This should be an interesting place to fish with the Wild West atmosphere that could ensue.

“We have chosen to temporarily lift the regulations in order to reduce the number of fish in the lake in anticipation of a reduced lake size,” said Dave Miko, chief of the PFBC Division of Fisheries Management. “We want anglers to fish the water and harvest and make good use out of as many fish as they can.”

Maybe some fish relocation to other lakes in the area would have been a more sporting alternative.

Due to the draw down the boat ramp has been closed too.

Lower Woods Pond is located in Lebanon Township, Wayne County. It is owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and managed by the PFBC. Construction costs to repair the facility are estimated at $2 million.

The lake’s dam is one of 11 dams managed by the PFBC which are classified by the state Department of Environmental Protection as high-hazard and unsafe. Nine of the dams do not have funding. Fixing the nine unfunded dams would cost about $43 million.

Oil Slick Could Reach Delaware River

The former Erie-Lackawanna Railroad site is now owned by the city of Port Jervis, NY on the southern end of the Upper Delaware River National Scenic & Recreation River.  This also happens to be on the northern end of another national park, The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.  Between these two National Parks there is over 110 miles of river supposedly protected.

I say supposedly because the latest thing to surface (no pun) is an underground oil slick made up of more than 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel that could contaminate the special protection water of the Delaware River.

The NY Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) plans on building an interceptor trench to prevent the oil slick from reaching the river. The oil slick is currently located about 1/4 mile from the site and officials estimate that it could take 20 years for the oil to reach the river.  I don't know about you, but that makes me feel much better since we all know "officials" are always right.

Why doesn't the state use some of the modern technology that exists in the oil & gas industry to suck this diesel fuel from the ground.  It's 10,000 gallons of already refined crude oil that should have a better use somewhere else. Or is it the technology that can extract natural gas from thousands of feet below the surface not capable of extracting an oil slick from several feet below the surface?  Is it not a safe technology?

We can expect to see more of these situations if fracking for natural gas is ever allowed in the Delaware River Basin. It might be diesel fuel or some other harmful product or by-product the gas industry will leave behind. That's one thing history has taught us about that industry, they don't discriminate.

Delaware Watershed Conservation Coalition’s Suggested Changes/Additions to FFMP/OST

Changes are definitely needed in the current water management plan and the Friends of the Upper Delaware River was at the most recent Delaware River Basin Commission's (DRBC) Regulatory Flow Advisory Committee's (RFAC) meeting adding their two cents for the health of the river and fish.

You can read their comments and input here: http://www.fudr.org/blog/2012/12/12/delaware-watershed-conservation-coalitions-suggested-changesadditions-to-ffmpost/

Delaware River Basin Commission Rejects Petition To Regulate Pipelines

The Delaware River Basin Commission officially rejected the request that it exercise its existing authority over pipelines. This decision is in response to a request for a hearing submitted on August 9 and a petition submitted on September 12 by the Delaware Riverkeeper Network and signed on to by 52 environmental, civic, community and faith organizations.

13 new pipeline projects (including expansions) are proposed for the Delaware River watershed.  There is no state or federal agency that is considering the cumulative impact of all of these new projects.  The DRBC is the one agency that has the jurisdiction and mission that would support a cumulative impacts assessment and ensure compliance with special protection water regulations of the agency.

“DRBC’s decision not to review pipeline projects is pure cowardice; the agency is more interested in protecting contributions to its budget from the states than carrying forth the mission for which it was created, which is to protect the water resources of the Delaware River Basin for us all, not the gas drillers and pipeline companies,” said Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper.

“Pipelines are a known and growing source of air pollution that is contributing to climate change, to water pollution from polluted runoff, and to the devastation of wetlands, streams, and healthy forests critical for flood and species protection,” said van Rossum.  “They are also responsible for the increased taking of private and public lands through the exercise and/or threat of their eminent domain authority.  They are the big bully partners of the gas drillers and it is sad to see the DRBC duck their responsibilities.”

According to a map handed out by the Delaware Riverkeeper Network at the meeting, new pipelines and expansions are proposed to cut through the counties of:

Pennsylvania: Berks, Chester, Delaware, Lebanon, Monroe, Montgomery, Pike, Schuylkill, and Wayne

New Jersey: Gloucester, Hunterdon and Sussex Counties

Delaware: New Castle and Kent Counties

New York: Broome, Delaware, Orange and Sullivan Counties

Petitioners want more oversight on pipelines in the Delaware River watershed

With tens of thousand of miles of new natural gas pipelines expected to transverse the Delaware River watershed through PA, NJ & NY to move the Marcellus natural gas being fracked from wells, conservation groups have petitioned the Delaware River Basin Commission to take jurisdiction over pipeline proposals by using the existing authority granted to the multi-state commission.

"The DRBC should use its existing authority, or establish new authority, to ensure … no new pipelines will be constructed that might adversely affect water quality,” said Kate Sinding, an attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council who, along with 51 other organizations, has signed onto the petition.

The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) is made up of the governors of PA, NJ, NY and DE along with a representative of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The DRBC can enact rules and regulations to protect the watershed.

Another way a river is mismanaged

New York City hoards water only to dump it when it could have been released without threat to water supplies to protect the health of the rivers. This shows what an absolute failure their OST management plan really is. A plan looks ahead. This is totally reactionary. It's a plan that gives the river water when it doesn't need it and doesn't give it water when it does need it.

New York City Reservoir Drawn Down to Prepare for Hurricane Sandy

Residents along Delaware River Should Expect Higher Water Levels

HARRISBURG -- The partner governments who cooperatively manage the Delaware River—Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and New York City—announced today that more than 120 million gallons of water per day are being released from the Neversink Reservoir in Sullivan County, New York.
The water is being released from the reservoir, located in the Delaware River basin about 75 miles northwest of New York City, in order to make room for rainfall from Hurricane Sandy.

“While modeling forecasts show the storm may lose strength when it makes landfall, there are still large volumes of rain that are expected to come down,” DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said. “In order to create more capacity in the reservoir to capture stormwater and prevent spilling, everyone has agreed that a release at Neversink Reservoir is in all of our best interests.

“Residents along the Delaware River may see higher than normal river volumes in the coming days in advance of the storm,” he said. “But this release now will help prevent the possibility of much higher river flows and flooding later on in the course of the storm event.”

Earlier this year, Pennsylvania and its partners signed an extension of a water management agreement that allowed for such releases in advance of storms. The agreement also includes measures to protect the habitat in the waterways and to balance the drinking water needs of millions of residents in the four states.

The two other New York City-owned reservoirs in the Delaware River watershed, Pepacton and Cannonsville, are at about 70 percent capacity. Additional releases at these reservoirs will not be conducted at this time. The Cannonsville Reservoir is along the West Branch of the Delaware River, and the Pepacton is on the East Branch.

Mandatory PFD Use Beginning November 1 through April 30

There's a new boating regulation that starts on November 1, 2012 in all Pennsylvania waters, which includes much of the Upper Delaware River System.  Staright form the Fish & Boat Commission regulations: 

"...a person shall wear a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device (PFD or life jacket) during the cold weather months from November 1st through April 30th while underway or at anchor on boats less than 16 feet in length or any canoe or kayak."

The New York Water come under the same regulation from a law passed in that state in 2009. The New York regulation states:

"No owner or operator of a pleasure vessel less than twenty-one feet, including rowboats, canoes, and kayaks shall permit its operation, between November first and May first, unless each person on board such vessel is wearing a securely fastened United States Coast Guard approved wearable personal flotation device of an appropriate size when such vessel is underway."

So, since all the Upper Delaware River system either borders New York or is in New York the PFD regulation isn't really anything new.  Just look at this post as a reminder.

Upper Delaware Council Hires Resource Specialist

The Upper Delaware Council, Inc. (UDC) announces the hiring of Travis O’Dell of Long Eddy, NY as its Resource Specialist effective October 9.

O’Dell will provide the non-profit organization with technical support on land and resource management activities relevant to the Congressionally-designated Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River corridor.

The UDC conducted a three-month search process to fill the vacancy created by the Sept. 30 retirement of David B. Soete of Honesdale, PA after 23 years on the job.

O’Dell graduated from Roscoe Central School in 2003. He earned an Associate in Applied Science in Fishery and Wildlife Technology in 2005 and a Bachelor’s of Technology degree in Wildlife Management in 2007, both from the State University of New York at Cobleskill.

The 27-year-old had been self-employed as a carpenter while seeking a local position in the conservation field.

He previously held internships or was seasonally employed by: the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as a park ranger at Mongaup Pond and camp counselor at Camp DeBruce; by Wetland Studies and Solutions of Chantilly, VA; the New York State Power Authority in Gilboa, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory in Fort Collins, CO, and HDR Inc. of Nanuet, NY in various technician roles; and by Upper Delaware Campgrounds in Callicoon as a canoe wrangler.

“I always have been and always will be a citizen of the Upper Delaware Watershed. It is an area I am familiar with and passionate about. I believe in and share the goals of the River Management Plan for protecting the river and landowners’ rights,” O’Dell says.

Since 2010, O’Dell has lived on a 100-acre property that was the home of his late grandparents Edward and Zelda Milk, on a road named after his great-grandfather Arlyn Milk, located in the settlement of Goulds in the Town of Hancock.

He is the son of Victoria O’Dell of Roscoe, and Richard and stepmother Patricia O’Dell of Damascus, PA.

Travis recently celebrated one year of marriage with his wife Kayla, who is employed by the Northeast Parent and Child Society as a foster care child advocate based in Oneonta. The couple welcomed a baby daughter, Lilyana, on July 26, 2012.

O’Dell is a hobby farmer, raising Icelandic sheep, pastured pigs, and free-range chickens with a commitment toward sustainable agricultural practices. He enjoys fishing, hunting, kayaking, and hiking, and is a member of the Basket Historical Society of the Upper Delaware Valley.

The Upper Delaware Council was established in 1988 as the oversight body responsible for coordinating implementation of the River Management Plan for the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River.

Its voting members are the eight New York towns and five of the seven Pennsylvania townships that border along the 73.4-mile-long designated river section, along with the State of New York and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, who appoint representatives to a governing board. The Delaware River Basin Commission is a non-voting member. The UDC operates under a long-term Cooperative Agreement with its partners at the National Park Service and employs three full-time staff.

For more information, please contact the UDC at P.O. Box 192, 211 Bridge St., Narrowsburg, NY
12764; (845) 252-3022; or www.upperdelawarecouncil.org

Partnership with Harvard School of Public Health to Enhance Modeling and Monitoring of Drinking Water Quality

Studies Will Provide Quantitative Information on How Storms Affect Turbidity in Watershed Streams and Reservoirs; Data Will Improve NYC Water Supply Operators’ Forecasting Models for Water Quality in Anticipation of Severe Weather

New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Carter Strickland today announced a new scientific collaboration with Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) to study water supply turbidity and to enhance watershed modeling and monitoring. The study, which will include scientists from both HSPH and DEP, consists of three specific projects designed to assist in the operation of the New York City water supply: Statistical Analysis of Turbidity in Reservoirs; Sediment Source Tracking; and Hydrodynamic Circulation in Kensico Reservoir. By developing quantitative water quality metrics and scientific modeling, the study will help improve DEP’s understanding of the relationship between turbidity and the intensity and duration of rainstorms. After receiving record levels of rainfall in 2011 through events such as Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, the study’s results will produce data critical to improving water quality modeling predictions in anticipation of severe weather events. The three studies will cost $80,000, are funded by the Harvard Club of New York City and will conclude in the spring of 2013.

“Through this partnership with the Harvard School of Public Health DEP will gain considerable assistance with our water quality modeling and data analysis,” said Commissioner Strickland. “These studies will help us better understand the link between severe weather and turbidity, and improve our water quality operations as a result.”

“What is attractive to us is that we will bring together students at all levels, both undergraduate and graduate students, from throughout the University,” said Dr. James Shine of Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health. “Our goal is to engage students interested in environmental sciences and allow them to see how science is used to inform public decision making, in this case the quality of water delivered to New York City. These experiences will reaffirm the students’ commitment to the environment.”

The research collaboration will consist of three major studies:

• Statistical Analysis of Turbidity in Reservoirs will assess the uniqueness and duration of major deviations in turbidity levels over the course of DEP’s long-term monitoring records, determining the link between elevated turbidity levels and meteorological factors;
• Sediment Source Tracking will involve laboratory study of field samples collected from select streams in the Catskill and Delaware systems to assist in determining specific sources of turbidity, providing chemical measurements that will help assess current water quality models; and
• Hydrodynamic Circulation in Kensico Reservoir will insert a “numerical tracer” into a two-dimensional computer model of Kensico reservoir, and use the model run to monitor water quality during simulations of increased flow through the reservoir. The model outputs will be evaluated in comparison to both current monitoring at Kensico Reservoir as well as hypothetical weather scenarios created for the purpose of experimentation

New York City Begins Study of New Method to Seal Cracks in Delaware Aqueduct

$4 Million, Year-long Study Will Determine Effectiveness of Lime in Sealing Cracks in Concrete Water Pipes

New York City Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Carter Strickland today announced the start of a year-long pilot study to evaluate a new method of sealing cracks in concrete water pipes that could eventually help stop leaks and maintain the Delaware Aqueduct –an 85-mile water tunnel that conveys approximately half of the drinking water from four upstate reservoirs to more than eight million people in New York City, and one million people in Ulster, Orange, Putnam, and Westchester counties. A Syracuse University lab test, funded in part by DEP, demonstrated that introducing lime and other chemicals into water flowing through concrete pipes can effectively seal hairline cracks and reduce leaks. In August, DEP began a $4 million proof of concept experiment at the Rondout Reservoir that will simulate actual conditions in the Delaware Aqueduct and determine if this new leak sealing technique can be applied on a larger scale.

“The Delaware Aqueduct is a critical link between our reservoirs and the nine million New Yorkers who rely on the water it supplies,” said Commissioner Strickland. “This study is one of many investments we are making to ensure future generations have access to this precious resource, and a demonstration of our commitment to exploring every option to stop leaks in the aqueduct.”

The lime study experiment is taking place in a temporary structure on the southeast side of the Rondout Reservoir. Inside, water from the reservoir is being pumped through three 2,400-foot sections of 1.5-inch diameter pipe. Scientists are testing different flow rates to determine if the lime and other chemicals introduced into the pipes will seal cracks under conditions similar to those inside the Delaware Aqueduct. A high flow setting simulates the actual velocity of water inside the aqueduct and will help determine if lime is deposited in cracks at that speed. A lower flow setting will help scientists learn if enough lime remains in the pipe to seal cracks after it travels for approximately 80 minutes—the time it takes water to travel from the reservoir to the leaking sections of aqueduct in Wawarsing. The experiment will also help researchers assess the extent to which lime deposits build on the walls of the pipe, which can reduce capacity in the aqueduct.

As water flows through the test pipes, modules spaced in 800-foot intervals simulate different-sized cracks, and monitor changes in pressure that allow researchers to determine if those cracks are being filled. The experiment will also help calculate appropriate lime dosage and which chemical combinations are most effective at sealing cracks. Chemical combinations being examined include: lime, lime with carbon dioxide, “liquid lime” which uses calcium chloride, sodium hydroxide, and carbon dioxide.

Water exiting the experiment site will be treated and then discharged back into the reservoir. All water reintroduced to the reservoir will be permitted by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and will not have any adverse effects on the New York City drinking water supply.

The pilot project is part of Water for the Future, a comprehensive $2.1 billion plan to fix the leaking Delaware Aqueduct. The plan includes construction of a three-mile bypass tunnel around a portion of the aqueduct that is leaking in Roseton in Orange County, and repair work to sections that are leaking in Wawarsing in Ulster County. DEP plans to break ground on the bypass tunnel in 2013, and expects to complete the connection to the Delaware Aqueduct in 2021. The tunnel repair program is expected to create between 1,000 and 1,500 jobs.

In addition to creating jobs, DEP recently announced $7 million in funding to expand the Napanoch Water District from the Vernooy Kill to the State Police Barracks area on Route 209, including most of the side streets such as Smith Road, Kelsey Lane, Kagan Road and Foordemoore Road. DEP also announced a $5.5 million home repair fund for eligible projects that address groundwater issues in the area that had been previously designated for the buyout program. The fund will be administered by the Town of Wawarsing.

Upper Delaware River Public Access Getting Better

Access on the Upper Delaware River can sometimes be an issue with almost all of the riverfront land in private ownership. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission has only a relatively few access points along the 75 mile corridor and the same for the New York Department of Conservation on their side of the river. This is slated to change in at least one New York county that borders the river.

New York's  Local Waterfront Revitalization Program has awarded Sullivan County $125,000 to be used to improve access along the river.  Sullivan County borders the river from the mouth of the Mongaup River upstream to Long Eddy, NY.

Now if only the Decree Parties could agree to put a little more water in the river...

Help Wanted: Executive Director

Friends of the Upper Delaware River, a nonprofit conservation group based in Hancock, N.Y., is looking for an Executive Director to lead the organization in its efforts to protect, preserve and enhance the ecosystem and cold-water fishery of the Upper Delaware River System. Click here for full job description and how to apply

Clean Up on the West Branch of the Delaware River Scheduled

The Friends of the Upper Delaware River along with their partners, the Stanley Cooper Sr. Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Pike Wayne Chapter of Trout Unlimited have scheduled a river clean up on the West Branch of the Delaware for August 11, 2012 at 11:00 AM.

The focus of the cleanup is the the Monument Pool which begins the border between Pennsylvania and New York.  Over the past couple of years the Pennsylvania bank has become a dumping ground for various household items and just plain garbage.  These organizations have joined forces to get the mess cleaned up.

The meeting place will be at the River Run restaurant parking lot.  The River Run is part of West Branch Angler at 150 Faulkner Road in Hancock, NY 13783.  The more help the better, so if you can be there please email info@fudr.org and let them know.

Bald Eagles Stop July 4th Celebration... sort of

The small town of Narrowsburg, NY on the bank of the Upper delaware River has had its annual July 4th fireworks display stopped in a way by the US Fish & Wildlife Service.  And for good reason...

Last year the fireworks caused some young of the year eagles to leave their nest, so the US Fish & Wildlife Service stepped in this year and warned that there could be thousands of dollars in fines if any eagles are hurt.  The local fire department who sponsors the display felt it best to cancel the event not to risk any fines or hurt any eagles.

Narrowsburg bills itself as the "Bald Eagle Capitol of NY" and hosts an annual event called EagleFest to celebrate the bald eagle population of the Upper Delaware River.

Upper Delaware Council Hires New Executive Director

The Upper Delaware Council, Inc. (UDC) promoted Laurie Ramie of Hortonville, NY as executive director of the non-profit conservation organization, effective June 9, 2012.

The UDC board unanimously approved a resolution hiring Ramie at its June 7 monthly meeting, citing her attributes and 15 years of experience with the UDC as its public relations/fundraising specialist since April 21, 1997.

Ramie had been serving in an acting executive director capacity since Dec. 5, 2011 in anticipation of the Jan. 1, 2012 retirement of William E. Douglass, whose tenure lasted for 22 years.

The executive director is responsible for providing leadership in overseeing all program-related UDC activities aimed at ensuring proper and effective implementation of the River Management Plan for the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River.

The position requires having skills in intergovernmental coordination; organizational administration; verbal and written communications; strategic planning; staff supervision; public outreach; and an extensive knowledge of resource management issues.

The executive director provides chief staff support for the Council, whose current voting members are 13 towns and townships that border along the Upper Delaware River, the State of New York, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Delaware River Basin Commission is a non-voting member.

Incorporated in 1988, the UDC operates under a Cooperative Agreement with its federal partner agency, the National Park Service, to fulfill legislative responsibilities outlined in the River Management Plan.

Three full-time staff members carry out the directives of a board comprised of appointed municipal and agency representatives and alternates.

Ramie grew up in Ogdensburg, NY and earned a Cum Laude Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in English (Writing Concentration) from SUNY Plattsburgh in 1988. After college, she worked in community journalism for a decade in St. Lawrence County and Sullivan County, NY.

Prior to joining the UDC, Ramie was employed by Catskill-Delaware Publications from 1992-1997, lastly as editor of the Sullivan County Democrat newspaper.

For more information on the UDC, its schedule of public meetings, and activities, please visit www.upperdelawarecouncil.org, call (845) 252-3022, or contact the business office at P.O. Box 192, 211
Bridge St., Narrowsburg, NY 12764.

DELAWARE BASIN STATES AND NEW YORK CITY ANNOUNCE ONE-YEAR RENEWAL OF CURRENT RESERVOIR OPERATING PLAN AGREEMENT

MILFORD, Pa. (May 31) – New York State, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the City of New York today announced that they have unanimously agreed to a one-year extension of the current Flexible Flow Management Program (FFMP) intended to meet water supply demands, protect fisheries habitat downstream of the New York City (NYC)-Delaware Basin reservoirs, enhance flood mitigation, and repel the upstream movement of salt water in the Delaware Estuary.

Diversions and releases of water from the three city reservoirs (Cannonsville, Pepacton, and Neversink) are jointly managed by the four states and NYC under the terms of a 1954 U.S. Supreme Court Decree that settled an interstate water dispute between New York State and New York City, and the lower basin states.

The Decree Parties (four basin states and NYC) will use the additional time to further evaluate this interim reservoir management plan and use the experience to help guide ongoing negotiations to develop future multi-year agreements.

The FFMP renewal, which will be in effect through May 31, 2013, will continue to rely on the use of the city’s Operations Support Tool (OST) to manage the water forecast to be available in the three NYC reservoirs located in the headwaters of the Delaware River and guide the selection of releases. The OST is a sophisticated monitoring and modeling system that allows for better predictions of reservoir-specific water storage levels, quality, and inflows than previous tools. The progressively evolving OST has proven to be a very useful tool in managing the FFMP. Its development continues on schedule with the final version due out in the fall of 2013.

Release rates in the renewed one-year agreement are patterned after recommendations provided in a January 2010 joint fisheries paper from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

NYC will continue to create a higher potential to achieve a 10 percent storage void in the reservoirs from September 1 to March 15 as well as an average five percent void from July 1 to September 1 and from March 15 to May 1. It is hoped this program will help mitigate river flooding during periods of high inflows and heavy snow melt. Snow pack during the most recent winter was well below normal.

In addition, reservoir releases will continue to be adjusted to assist in repelling the upstream migration of salty water from the Atlantic Ocean that moves up the tidal Delaware River during low-flow conditions. As salt-laced water moves upriver, the City of Philadelphia and other public water suppliers can be affected, along with industrial surface water users and ecosystems.

The renewed FFMP maintains New Jersey’s increased maximum diversion from the Delaware River Basin via the Delaware & Raritan Canal to a daily running average of 85 million gallons per day when the basin is in a drought emergency.

Additional details, including the FFMP agreement and OST background information, can be viewed on the web site of the Office of the Delaware River Master, which administers the provisions of the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court Decree, at http://water.usgs.gov/osw/odrm/.

Pennsylvania Signs One-Year Renewal of Multi-State Water Agreement for Delaware River

Pennsylvania has signed a one-year renewal of an agreement governing the management of water in the Delaware River, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced today.

The renewal of the flexible flow management program, which was also signed by fellow parties Delaware, New Jersey, New York and New York City, is effective Friday, June 1.

Pennsylvania is a party to the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decree that established an equitable allocation of water use under federal common law.

“This agreement will ensure that the continual and steady flow of water in the Delaware River protects Philadelphia’s water supply from salt water, which can flow in from the Atlantic Ocean,” DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said. “This extension will allow all of the partners to work together this year to find longer-term solutions to the flow issues on the Delaware River.”

The agreement allows for the occasional release of large volumes of cold water from reservoirs in New York to improve fishery habitats and ecology downstream as well as provide a balance in water supply throughout the states during drought conditions. The reservoirs provide drinking water for millions of residents in the four states.

The agreement also calls on New York to store less water in some of the reservoirs during most of the year, creating greater storage capacity during storm events to help reduce flooding downstream.
For more information, visit www.dep.state.pa.us or call 717-783-4693.

Upgraded Forecast System Will Provide Water Supply Operators with More Information

 No matter what they say, it's never win-win when it comes to NYC.  It's NYC wins, everyone else loses.

Environmental Protection Commissioner Carter Strickland today announced a new agreement with the National Weather Service in which DEP will provide the Weather Service with up to $1 million to help speed up the development of state-of-the-art forecasts of water flows through streams in the watershed. Streamflow forecasts enable DEP water supply operators to better predict the amount of water that will enter reservoirs and as a result more accurately predict reservoir levels and water quality in the future. The enhanced streamflow forecasts will eventually be a part of DEP’s Operations Support Tool (OST), a cutting-edge, $5.2 million integrated monitoring and modeling system that collects real-time data on stream inflow, water quality, and reservoir storage levels, integrates forecasts of future inflows, and applies system operating rules to predict future conditions in the water supply system. OST helps DEP make more informed decisions about how to operate the system to ensure reliable, high quality supplies by retaining water in advance of dry conditions and to release water in advance of wet conditions. The agreement will allow the National Weather Service to speed the development and implementation of the Hydrologic Ensemble Forecast Service (HEFS), which will provide probabilistic forecasts to help water supply operators understand the range and likelihood of river levels and as a result help them assess risk.

“This is a win-win situation for both DEP and our partners, the National Weather Service,” said Commissioner Strickland. “NWS gets additional funds to pilot its new forecasting system in a discrete region, which will facilitate their eventual nationwide rollout. And DEP gets the cutting-edge forecasts needed for the Operations Support Tool much sooner than if we had to wait for the nationwide rollout.”

“Effective partnerships with state and local government play a big role in our vision for a Weather-Ready Nation, and our agreement with NYCDEP is a great example,” said Jack Hayes Ph.D, director, National Weather Service. “With NYCDEP’s help accelerating our schedule, we can improve our warnings for events that threaten lives and livelihoods and give sophisticated users, like DEP, the forecasts they need to optimize their water resources decisions based on their operating rules and risk tolerance.”

The National Weather Service began experimental development of the ensemble forecasting capability several years ago and the nationwide implementation is scheduled for completion later in 2014. DEP’s Operations Support Tool will be complete by 2013 and requires HEFS forecasts to provide the most use to system managers. NWS will use DEP funds to hire additional staff who will help speed the development of the system at the two offices that cover the New York City water supply region: the Middle-Atlantic River Forecast Center (MARFC) in State College, PA (covers Cannonsville, Pepacton, and Neversink Reservoirs) and the Northeast River Forecast Center in Taunton, MA (covers Schoharie, Ashokan, Rondout, and all East-of-Hudson reservoirs).

The Hydrologic Ensemble Forecast Service will help water supply operators assess risk. For example, if a storm is forecast, HEFS will produce several different forecasts (an “ensemble”) of peak river levels that provide an objective estimate of the uncertainty in the river forecast. Operators can use this information along with knowledge of current water supply conditions to assess risk and make more informed operational decisions. Current NWS operations provide only a single peak forecast with no estimate of forecast uncertainty.

The Operations Support Tool enables DEP’s water supply operators to more accurately predict water storage levels in the city’s reservoirs so that DEP can better manage the movement of water throughout the reservoir system, and ultimately, to the nine million New Yorkers who rely on the city’s drinking water every day. It substantially increases DEP’s operational responsiveness and the ability to protect water quality and improve the aquatic habit below the reservoirs.

DEP manages the city’s water supply, providing more than one billion gallons of water each day to more than nine million residents, including eight million in New York City, and residents of Ulster, Orange, Putnam and Westchester counties. This water comes from the Catskill, Delaware, and Croton watersheds that extend more than 125 miles from the City, and the system comprises 19 reservoirs, three controlled lakes, and numerous tunnels and aqueducts. DEP employs nearly 6,000 employees, including more than 750 scientists, engineers, surveyors, watershed maintainers and others professionals in the upstate watershed. In addition to its $49 million payroll and $132 million in annual taxes paid in upstate counties, DEP has invested more than $1.5 billion in watershed protection programs—including partnership organizations such as the Catskill Watershed Corporation and the Watershed Agricultural Council—that support sustainable farming practices, environmentally sensitive economic development, and local economic opportunity. In addition, DEP has a robust capital program with a planned $13.2 billion in investments over the next 10 years that creates up to 3,000 construction-related jobs per year.

A Fishing Guide Walks Into a Bar…

HANCOCK, NY--It sounds like the start of a joke: Guy walks into a bar. But the punch line didn’t seem so funny. 

 

The story began when I got a call on the morning of April 26 from Jim "Coz" Costolnic, a board member of Friends of the Upper Delaware River and the owner of Border Water Outfitters, a fly shop and guide service in Hancock.

 

Coz was a little perturbed.

 

He said, “Hey, Dan, I hear they’re shutting down the Cannonsville flow to zero today. What’s up with that?”

 

Costolnic is among hundreds of people—guides, shopkeepers, motel and resort owners, restaurateurs, waitresses, etc.--who make a living from the Upper Delaware River fishery. Fish and fishermen/women had been abundant in April.

 

And now Coz was hearing that water releases from the Cannonsville Reservoir on the West Branch of the Delaware, were going to be completely stanched for some sort of dam repair.

 

Oh, great. To boot, this was happening on the weekend of FUDR's 5th Annual One Bug fishing fundraiser, which raises much-needed funds to protect the local rivers, streams and communities.

 

I asked Coz about the source of his information.

 

He said, “A guy in a bar was talking to a river guide, over wings and a beer. A very reliable source. The guy works up at the Cannonsville dam.”

 

FUDR seems to get a lot of tips about things like this from guys in bars.

 

I told Coz I would make some calls, and I started with Tom Murphy, a division chief with New York City’s Bureau of Water Supply. I consider Tom an ally, after years of working together to get a better water-release plan in place from Cannonsville and the other New York City-owned reservoirs that feed the Delaware River system.

 

Murphy confirmed that there would be a shutdown.

 

He explained that an 18-inch pipe in the dam release chamber had developed a crack and needed repair. This required the line to be drained and dried so it could be welded. Releases were being suspended so the stilling pool, to which the line discharges, could be emptied to below the pipe’s elevation. This exposed the pipe so the welding could be done.

 

Murphy said the work was scheduled to be done that day to take advantage of favorable natural stream flows as a result of recent heavy rains.

 

I told Murphy that a complete and sudden shutdown of Cannonsville releases didn’t make any sense because it could strand fish in the shallows. Nobody wants to see that.

 

He and I discussed the need for water releases be ramped down gradually to give fish a chance to find refuge in deeper pools. I didn't expect Murphy completely understand all this, but I wondered who from the state Department of Environmental Conservation would have authorized this work, knowing that fish and the ecosystem that depends on these cold-water releases could be left high and dry.

 

Murphy said he had been speaking with Brenan Tarrier of the DEC. I got him on the phone and repeated the concerns of the conservation groups I was speaking for. I asked him who authorized the water shutdown. You won’t be surprised to know that no one wanted to take credit. I wouldn’t want to own up to it, either.

 

Norm McBride, a DEC Region 4 biologist, normally would have been our man, but he was unavailable, using up vacation time before retirement. Due to DEC cutbacks, Norm's position has yet to be filled.

I asked the DEP and DEC to give me a couple of hours before beginning the shutdown so we could find an expert for advice. Pete Bousum, another FUDR board member, jumped in his truck and intercepted Mark Hartle from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, who was floating the main stem of the Delaware River with Lee Hartman, Delaware River committee chairman for Pennsylvania Trout Unlimited. We also contacted Dr. Robert Bachman, a Pennsylvania Fish and Boat commissioner.

 

These conservationists all agreed that the following day, April 27, would be a better time to repair the pipe. The weather forecast called for overcast skies, light precipitation and a high temperature in the 40s.

 

After more conversations with Murphy and others, the DEC agreed the work would begin with a gradual ramping down of releases starting at 4 a.m. April 27.

As a consolation, I asked that the amount of water that could not be released from the Cannonsville Reservoir during the shutdown be released from the Pepacton Reservoir into the East Branch of the Delaware River, which helped the main stem downstream of Hancock. Murphy agreed to do this for us and assured me that the repair crew would work as quickly as possible. Responding to our concerns, the DEC also had a crew and tanker truck on hand to rescue any fish that got stuck in the shallows.

 

In the end, the modified repair plan went off without a hitch—and without any fish drama.

 

Peter Innes, a DEC supervisor, told me, “By all accounts, it was a successful operation.”

 

A few people deserve credit, including Murphy and state DEC staffers Tarrier, Dave Cornwell and Dan Zielinski.

 

So why should we care?

 

I care because I am deeply committed to protecting our precious rivers, as board chairman of FUDR and spokesman for the Delaware Watershed Conservation Coalition.

 

Putting off this necessary repair could have created a more serious problem—and a longer shutdown—somewhere in the future, perhaps at a time with less favorable weather conditions. The city and DEC did the right thing.

 

I am grateful that the government agencies involved responded to our concerns, and we are pleased at the growing sense of cooperation between these agencies and the private-sector conservationists who dedicate our time and money to protect this resource.

 

So the story has a satisfying ending. I just hope that next time we don't have to find out about consequential water-flow plans when a guy walks into a bar.

Dan Plummer

Chairman of the Board

Friends of the Upper Delaware River

catskilldan@mac.com 

607-363-7848  office

607-363-7975  fax

www.fudr.org

Environmental Quality Board Gives DEP the Green Light to Further Study Delaware River Upgrade Petition

This morning the Environmental Quality Board at their regular meeting voted 13-5 to give PA DEP the green light to further study an upgrade petition for the Delaware River that was submitted by 24 organizations and 150 watershed citizens on December 9, 2011 to upgrade the Delaware River and tributary streams to Exceptional Value.

DEP presented to the Board that the petition was administratively complete, therefore requesting the Board vote to move the petition through the next regulatory step of review. Kelly Heffner, PA DEP, presented a map of the proposed upgrade area that includes over 1,600 square miles of the Basin, of which the majority of those streams have high quality designation currently and are located in mostly forested and rural areas of Wayne, Pike and Monroe counties.

Petitioners include a broad array of organizations and several were present at the meeting to answer questions from the Board before the vote was taken. Petitioners also delivered additional letters of support from the community, including another 27 businesses and organizations and more than 80 citizen letters that were gathered over the weekend. Petitioners highlighted the science, diversity, water quality, and national recreational significance in this region that they say merits the upgrade.

"The upper reaches of the Delaware River and the tributaries that feed it are irreplaceable sources of clean, fresh and healthy waters, with an enviable natural beauty. Despite all the good intentions and good rhetoric, if we don't apply the laws we have on the books to protect them from pollution and harm, then we cannot honor our commitment to present or future generations of children and families of passing on a resource that is as healthy as it was when delivered into our hands. Ensuring Pennsylvania's Exceptional Value Status is given to those reaches of the Delaware and tributaries we have petitioned for is a vital step in ensuring all of our communities can continue to benefit from these waterways and the healthy drinking water, sustainable jobs, and unparalleled family fun they provide," said Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper.

Exceptional Value status makes sense on so many levels," said Dan Plummer, Board Chairman of Friends of the Upper Delaware River. "The fishery and habitat of our streams and rivers will benefit, and local economies will see a payoff from any increased recreational usage and tourism generated by these pristine waters. Plummer says he has found unanimous community support along the Upper Delaware for EV status. "Everyone seems to see this initiative for what it is: another level of protection to keep these valuable natural resources clean, cold and pure forever," he said.

“Exceptional value protection in the Delaware Basin will ensure the opportunities of clean water: vibrant livelihoods, safe recreation and healthy drinking water. These are values consistent with national and state investments that help communities thrive,” said Liz Garland, American Rivers.

"By upgrading the status of the Upper and Middle Delaware to Exceptional Value, we are making a smart investment in the protection of this critical resource, as well as in the future of the 22 billion dollar a year recreational tourism industry that it supports", said Cathy Frankenberg, Appalachian Mountain Club.

"The Clean Streams Law of PA was written to protect streams from further degradation from the moment the law was passed. If data shows that the Upper Delaware watershed meets the criteria for Exceptional Value status, then under the law it should receive that designation in Pennsylvania's environmental rulemaking. We know that Clean Water Action members will support DEP when, after its review, they find that the Upper Delaware should have received this status long ago," said Brady Russell, Eastern PA Director, Clean Water Action.

Upper Delaware River Fishing Reports 2012

This year we're once again providing the fishing reports for the Orvis Fishing Report Page for the main stem of the Upper Delaware, the East Branch of the Delaware and the Neversink River.  These reports will be updated at least weekly, more frequently when anything changes.  Just click on the link above and then go to the New York page.

All the best on the water!

Help designate the Upper and Middle Delaware River to Exceptional Value

Help designate the Upper and Middle Delaware River to Exceptional Value by writing a letter and being part of the original submission to the PA Department of Environmental Protection. This designation is reserved for the state’s cleanest and healthiest streams.

Your support will strengthen the power of the petition and increase the likelihood that the PA DEP will grant it. We need to let them know that we care about this special watershed, and that we want it preserved with the strongest protections under the Clean Water Act.

Click on this link: Go to the Delaware Riverkeeper Network’s website and send a letter of support

April 2012 Upper Delaware River Fishing Report & Forecast

Another season is about to begin on the Upper Delaware with this Sunday, April 1st as the official start.  Technically, the season never closes on much of the system. But on the official New York trout season opener of April 1, all stretches of the East, West and Main Delaware become legal.

This year we've been seeing some of the earliest hatches ever starting with early stone flies and moving into olives, Quill Gordons, blue quills, caddis and Hendricksons. Yes, Hendricksons were seen hatching in March on the Upper Main Stem and on some days the numbers of insects were much more than just a scattering.  The stone fly hatch was/is impressive this year and in mid March with much warmer water temps than usual the fish were very active and keyed in to them well providing some excellent dry fly action.

As April opens up you can expect some unusually low water conditions for this time of year. Cooler nights have brought the water temps back down to the 40's which will slow the insect hatching and fish activity from what it was.  Who know, maybe even bring things back or nearly back on track.

This is a time of year that typically has rising water and ice cold water temps from the influence of snow pack melt. We don't have any snow pack and what we are seeing is something very close to the opposite. Rain hasn't helped. We're currently in a deficit of of about 4 inches for the year which is near half of normal and it's only March. But no need to for panic, yet.  April and May, our wettest month, are still ahead and a good dumping of rain could see us complain the rivers are blown out for a couple of days. At least I hope so.

To see how low the water is right now look at the mean flow for the date and compare it to the current flow. The USGS gauges important to the Upper Delaware can be found here: Delaware River Water Flow Data As an example, the mean flow at Hale Eddy on the West Branch for this date is 2,070 CFS. The current flow is just 264 CFS.  Throughout the system water levels are 15% to 25% of what they normally are. What's important now is that the cool early Spring temperatures are keeping the fish safe.  Or are they really safe?

Low water will concentrate the fish. Simply, there is less river for them to spread out in. This concentration makes them easy pickings for the kill 'em and grill 'em crowd. You know, those people who have no respect for wild fish and who will rape the resource for the ill founded thrill of fulfilling some bizarre and perverse urge to destroy rather than build up and support. It's hard to believe in this day and age there are so many ignorant fisherman out there and even harder to believe that the state agencies in charge allow such mayhem to go on.

In a perfect world there would be enough clean water to produce an abundance of fish to feed anyone who wished to take them. In the real world that's not the case. We need to stop pretending that killing the brood stock of wild fish is good for the fishery. It's not. Any state fisheries biologist who says that a pressured wild trout fishery can support a harvest should be fired. He's not doing the fish any good.

Anyway, I'm off of that rant... for now.

Now, as far as the rest of the season is concerned, will we be looking at very low water conditions? I can only say it would be best to consult a crystal ball or local psychic for that answer. Too many times over the past decade we've seen extremes in weather cause complete flip flops in conditions. Sometime these reversals are for the worse, sometimes for the better. Let's hope for the better.

 

NY State Trout Season Opening Festivities April 1, 2012

Sunday, April 1, 2012 is the 130th Trout Season opener in NYS.

Celebrating the 130^th Season Opening With an All Star Cast

The Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum (CFFCM) will officially launch the 2012 season with an All Star Cast at 9:30 AM on Sunday April 1. This year’s ceremony will be held in front of the CFFCM on the fabled Willowemoc Creek (Located at 1031 Old Rte. 17 between Roscoe and Livingston Manor, NY, accessed at either exit 94 or 96 on NYS 17/86).

This year’s celebration will be bigger and better than ever before with the return of Actor Olek Krupa, and a few others to cast in a new season. Hosted by the CFFCM’s 1st Family of Fly Fishing: Jeff, Erin, Alicia and Allie Phelan along with Aileen Gunther, Sullivan County Assemblywoman. Everyone is invited to participate in this First Cast of the season and all are encouraged to bring their own rod and waders to make it a memorable moment.

Following The All Star Cast, visitors can cast the bugs out after a long winter with some fine bamboo fly rods (no experience necessary). Bring your own bamboo rods or try what is there, everyone of all ages is welcome to join Mike Canazon and the Bamboo Boys, from 11 AM until 1 PM at the Livingston Manor High School Gym. This annual event is sponsored by the Livingston Manor Rotary Club.

In the museum, Ted Patlen will welcome in the new season with a fly tying demonstration and session though out the day and Agnes Van Put will ladle out her famous soups in the Gift Shop.

At 1:30 PM everyone will gather downstairs to officially cut the ribbon to the new Agnes Van Put Kitchen, followed by a ‘shovel in the ground’ ceremony for the construction of the Catskill Rodmakers Workshop and Heritage Craft Center. This construction will add 5,000 square feet to the Paul Dahlie Education Building and house The Wulff Gallery on the upper level.

The Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum is recognized as the center of the fly fishing community. It’s all about fly fishing.

First Cast ceremonies have usually been the weekend after April 1st . This year it was determined to make it official on April 1st , the real ‘opening day’, considering it falls on a weekend and will not do so again for 5 years. The CFFCM welcomes all, fishermen or not, to visit this very special day in the Catskills

Discovering the Delaware River Youth Enrichment Program

The Hancock Community Education Foundation, in a partnership with Hancock Central School, is beginning a new program called “Discovering the Delaware River Youth Enrichment Program” for all students in grades 5 through 12.

The objective of this program is to educate students about fisheries, ecology and the natural resources in their own community. The program will provide an opportunity for children and their families to learn new skills and introduce them to a lifetime sport.

The Fly Rods used for instruction and fishing for this new program have been provided by the New Your State Department of Environmental Conservation. Mr. Gregory Kozlowski the Fisheries Outreach Coordinator for the NYSDEC was instrumental in making sure that the students had the proper equipment needed for this program.

In April 2012 the entire HCS middle /high school students will receive casting instruction during their regular physical education classes. These lessons will be taught by Mr. Matthew Mastropietro the elementary Physical Education teacher from Deposit Central School. He will spend five days working with Mrs. Julie Cornwell, Mr. Brandon Olbrys and the students at HCS in a fly casting unit.

In addition to volunteers the following community partners have committed to providing the following classroom presentations and resources for our students at no cost. The National Park Service and Friends of the Upper Delaware FUDR.

                       

Thank you to all of the volunteers and community partners who have committed in helping with this program and making it a reality.

 

Catskill Rodmakers, Joan Wulff and The Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum To build Major fly fishing Complex

In September 2011, plans began to build a two story 5,000 sq. ft. addition to the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum, Paul Dahlie Education Building. This major addition will house the Catskill Rodmakers Workshop and Heritage Craft Center on the lower level and on the upper, the Wulff Gallery. A ground breaking ceremony for the Workshop and Craft Center will be held on April 1, 2012 to coincide the opening day of the New York State trout season. Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther will be joined by rod makers and fly fishermen including celebrities Olek Krupa, Mark Ruffalo, and Laurence Hobgood for the ribbon cutting of the Agnes Van Put Kitchen and a shovel in the ground ceremony for the Workshop and Craft Center construction. 

The Catskill Rodmakers’ Workshop and Heritage Craft Center will be a fully operational bamboo rodmaking shop and include an area for historical rodmaking equipment and artifacts. Also planned will be a  dedicated area for the ‘arts of the angler’ with weekly scheduled programs to include: reel making, fly tying, net making, photography, carving, painting, writers workshops, etc. The Workshop will be a living and active component to the CFFCM campus with regular demonstrations of work in progress on and appreciation of bamboo fly rods. 

The Wulff Gallery will be on the upper level and is dedicated to exhibits of  Lee and Joan Wulff,  featuring both  permanent and temporary exhibits. Included in this area will be a library in a  multi purpose meeting room  for seminars, film festivals, classes, programs and lectures relating to fly fishing.

This major addition to the CFFCM campus is a joint project of the members of the Catskill Rodmakers Gathering and Southern Rod Gathering, Joan Wulff and The Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum.

Like no other place in the world, the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum is the center of the fly fishing community. It’s all about fly fishing.