NYC Department of Environmental Protection Encourages College Students to Apply for Watershed Internships

Fifteen Watershed Internships Available for Engineering and Sciences

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on Thursday encouraged college students to apply for one of 15 summer internships at offices throughout the watershed. These paid internships are in fields related to science and engineering. Those accepted into the summer internship program will have the chance to work alongside DEP scientists, engineers, planners and other professionals who operate, maintain and protect the largest municipal water supply in the United States.

“Our summer internships in the watershed offer unique opportunities to work alongside experts who oversee a marvel of modern engineering—the New York City water supply system,” DEP Acting Commissioner Vincent Sapienza said. “DEP hopes the internship program inspires young people to pursue a career that focuses on protecting public health and the environment. I encourage college students from the watershed and surrounding regions to apply for these excellent learning opportunities.”

The intern positions available include summer work associated with upstate water quality laboratories, water quality field operations, engineering, community water connections, water system modeling, natural resources, and science and research. The internships are located at DEP’s offices in Delaware, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties. In addition to the watershed opportunities, DEP also offers summer internships at its offices in New York City.

Information about these internships, including online applications, can be found on the DEP website.
Prospective interns are encouraged to carefully read the qualifications for each job to determine whether they meet the enrollment, GPA, coursework and other requirements. Candidates must submit applications by April 7.

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing more than 1 billion gallons of high-quality water each day to more than 9.5 million New Yorkers. This includes more than 70 upstate communities and institutions in Ulster, Orange, Putnam and Westchester counties who consume an average of 110 million total gallons of drinking water daily from New York City’s water supply system. 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 has nearly 6,000 employees, including almost 1,000 scientists, engineers, surveyors, watershed maintainers and other professionals in the watershed. In addition to its $70 million payroll and $166 million in annual taxes paid in upstate counties, DEP has invested more than $1.7 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 $20.7 billion in investments planned over the next 10 years that will create up to 3,000 construction-related jobs per year

Delaware River Basin Commission Lifts Drought Watch

 Commission Urges Water Efficiency and Compliance With State-Issued Drought Watches and Warnings

The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) today announced the termination of its drought management special permit in effect since Nov. 23, 2016, when the basin was placed in a drought watch.

“Due to recent precipitation and snow melt, combined storage in three large upper basin reservoirs has achieved and sustained a sufficient level for five consecutive days to result in automatic termination of the basinwide drought watch,” said DRBC Executive Director Steve Tambini.

“Although upper basin reservoir storage has rebounded in recent weeks automatically ending the drought watch operations, other indicators such as groundwater levels, stream flows, precipitation, soil moisture, and local reservoir storage have not all recovered,” said Tambini.  “As a result, various state-issued drought watches and warnings based on those indicators remain in effect across most of the basin.”

“DRBC continues to urge all water users to maximize water efficiency wherever possible and to fully cooperate with requests by the basin states to curb water use where drought watches and warnings have been issued based on local conditions,” added Tambini.  “The importance of a coordinated response by all water users cannot be overstated.”

The DRBC’s primary drought management objective, which complements the basin states’ drought response efforts, is to provide for conservation of regional reservoir storage for purposes of water supply and flow augmentation in the Delaware River and salinity control in the Delaware Estuary (i.e., the tidal river and bay). 

The upper basin reservoirs which determine DRBC drought stages are located in the Catskill Mountains at the headwaters of the Delaware River in New York State.  These three New York City reservoirs provide about half of the city’s water supply and support a minimum flow target in the Delaware River at Montague, N.J. established by the U.S. Supreme Court Decree of 1954.  Storage, releases, diversions, and flow targets in the DRBC drought management plan are determined in advance and must have the unanimous concurrence of the parties to the decree, which include the four basin states and New York City.

Combined storage in the three upper basin reservoirs had been as low as 39.3% of capacity in late November 2016.  The reservoirs are currently at about 58% of capacity, which is approximately 70 billion gallons below normal for this time of the year.

By transitioning out of the drought watch stage, out-of-basin diversions to New York City and portions of New Jersey established by the decree will return to normal levels.  In addition, the Delaware River flow objective at Montague and a second flow objective at Trenton, N.J. will also return to the normal targets of 1,750 cubic feet per second (cfs) and 3,000 cfs, respectively.

The purpose of the Trenton flow objective is to control the movement of the “salt line” or “salt front” in the tidal Delaware River.  Adequate freshwater flowing downstream is needed to repel the upstream migration of “salty” or “brackish” water from the Delaware Bay to keep it away from drinking water intakes serving residents in Philadelphia and New Jersey, as well as industrial intakes along the river.

As of Jan. 16, thanks to increased downstream flows, the salt front was located at river mile 73, which is four miles upstream of the normal January location.  The salt front reached river mile 90 in late November-early December, which was well above the normal location but still 20 miles downstream of water supply intakes in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

“Cooperation from the states, from New York City, and from water users and managers has been effective during the basinwide drought watch period,” said Tambini.  “Although recent trends in storage volume and the location of the salt front have been positive and DRBC is required to move from ‘drought watch’ status back to ‘normal’ status, the volume of water in the reservoirs and other indicators suggest additional cooperation and water efficiency are still needed.”

The DRBC is a federal/interstate government agency responsible for managing the water resources within the 13,539 square-mile Delaware River Basin without regard to political boundaries.  The five commission members are the governors of the basin states (Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania) and the commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' North Atlantic Division, who represents the federal government.

More information, including links to basin state drought pages, updates about water resource conditions, and water savings tips, can be found at www.drbc.net.

Your Help is Needed to Protect Delaware County Waterways

The Upper Delaware River Tailwaters Coalition and Friends of the Upper Delaware River are working on an exciting new project to protect, manage, and restore waterways in Delaware County, New York.

They are working on a first of its kind Stream Corridor Management Plan in Delaware County downstream of the NYC reservoirs. This plan will serve as a blueprint for the future management and protection of important water resources. 

 

A series of public workshops will highlight the values and functions of waterways in Delaware County and the important social, economic, and cultural benefits they provide. If you want to play a personal role in their protection and management, plan on attending one of these workshops  
 
A second series of meetings - The Basics of Stream Dynamics - will address the basic components of stream protection and how they impact people and wildlife.

Meeting Locations:

Monday, October 24 - Deposit State Theater

148 Front St., Deposit, NY

 

Tuesday, October 25 - Colchester American Legion Hall

6644 River Rd, Downsville, NY

 

Wednesday, October 26 - Hancock Town Hall

661 W. Main St., Hancock, NY 

 

Times of all meeting:  6:00 - 7:30 PM

Presenters:
Graydon Dutcher, Delaware County Soil & Water Conservation District
Mark Gutshall, Landstudies Inc.

Light Refreshments will be Served

Upper Delaware tributary on list of streams recommended for High Quality Status

The Pennsylvania Department of  Environmental Protection (PA DEP) recommended a rulemaking to the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) to upgrade 50 Class A Trout Streams to High Quality status.

Included is Sherman Creek, a tributary to the West Branch of the Delaware.

You can submit an online comment supporting this change at http://www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/eComment/ or via email at RegComments@pa.gov with “Proposed Rulemaking: Water Quality Standards; Class A Stream Redesignations” in the subject line. A return name and address must be included in your email.

You can read the proposal here: http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol46/46-10/367.html

The Upper Delaware Council Seeks Awards Nominations by March 14

The Upper Delaware Council, Inc. (UDC) is accepting public nominations through March 14 for its 28th Annual Awards Ceremony to be held on April 24 at Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club in the Town of Fremont.

“These awards are intended to honor the contributions that individuals, organizations, communities, and government agencies have made to enhancing the quality of life or protecting the resources in the Upper Delaware River region,” said UDC Executive Director Laurie Ramie. “We would like the entire river community to be involved in the nomination process.”

Nine award categories are available, in addition to the Oaken Gavel Award traditionally given by the Council to the past year’s chairperson. Nomination forms and a list of past award recipients are available on-line at www.upperdelawarecouncil.org or upon request.

The Sunday, April 24, ceremony will take place at Wolff’s 1910 Banquet Hall at Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club, 178 County Route 96, Roscoe, NY.

Festivities will begin at 3 p.m. with an hors d’oeuvres and cash bar reception. A buffet dinner will be served at 4 p.m. A keynote address and the presentation of awards will follow.

The public is welcome. Tickets are $28. Reservations with advance payment are required by April 15.
Nominations are sought for the following award categories:

Distinguished Service Award – Given to an individual who has acted with distinction in support of the goals and objectives of the River Management Plan for the Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River. This is the UDC’s highest honor.

Robin M. Daniels Memorial Lifesaving Award – Given to individual(s) who, through an act of selfless heroism, saved the life of a person or persons in imminent peril in 2015.

Community Service Award – Given to the individual, community, sportsmen’s or conservation group, or other entity that took action in 2015 to protect the river corridor, or one or more of its valuable resources.

Cultural Achievement Award – Given to the organization or individual whose work promoted, enhanced, or interpreted the cultural resources of the Upper Delaware River Valley.

Recreation Achievement Award – Given to an organization or individual that made an outstanding effort to educate river users about such subjects as water safety, conservation, litter control, river etiquette, and property rights.

Outstanding Community Achievement Award – Given to a municipality to recognize significant action in 2015 to protect the river corridor.

Partnership Award – Given to a government agency or regional entity instituting new programs or policies, or engaging in cooperative ventures, in support of the River Management Plan.

Volunteer Award – Given to the individual or organization who contributed significant time and energy in 2015 in service of the Upper Delaware River Valley.

Award(s) of Recognition – Given to those who have made substantial efforts in the past year to improve the Upper Delaware’s quality of life and resources.

Nominations will be evaluated by a UDC subcommittee. The list of this year’s honorees will be announced in late March
.
For more information on nominations and reservations, please contact the UDC at P.O. Box 192, 211 Bridge St., Narrowsburg, NY 12764, phone (845) 252-3022, fax (845) 252-3359, or e-mail laurie@upperdelawarecouncil.org.

2015 American Shad Run on the Delaware River

The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission published their 2015 American shad run  findings on the Delaware River. It can be summed up as a ho-hum average run comprised of primarily younger age fish.

Young of the year surveys were decent, not great, but as it's called in the fisheries world, "sustainable".

I have a problem when using averages to determine the sustainability or heath of a fishery, and that's because averages change. Lower returns over the years will reduce the average leaving us to continually settle for fewer and fewer returning fish. They need to get the average out of the picture and replace it with available habitat and utilization of that habitat.

In the case of American shad, how much habitat is available for spawning and how that habitat is utilized is a far more important piece of data than counting heads at predetermined points. I do understand that's how it's always been done and that's the benchmark of comparison. But, if we continue to try and measure fishery health the same way as before while continuing to see diminished returns we can expect to continue to experience the same results of diminished fish returns.


More detailed info on the 2015 Delaware River Shad Monitoring can be found here: http://fishandboat.com/images/reports/2016bio/delaware-shad.pdf

Regulated Flow Advisory Committee Moves Meeting to the Upper Delaware

The Delaware River Basin Commission Regulated Flow Advisory Committee (DRBC RFAC) is hosting a meeting in Hawley, PA on December 3, 2015. This meeting is of utmost importance to all river users, both recreationally and commercially. Decree Party members from New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and New York City will be there.

For more information visit the Friends of the Upper Delaware River or contact Jeff Skelding, FUDR Executive Director skelding@fudr.org

Public Invited to Long Eddy Visioning Session

On September 28, 2015 the public is invited to the Long Eddy Hotel in Sullivan County, Long Eddy, New York to participate in a visioning session for the hamlet and the river access. Three opportunities are available to drop in and share your ideas on September 28^th: 8am-10am, 12pm-2pm, and 6pm-8pm.

Buck Moorhead, architect and founding partner of Building Consensus for Sustainability, as well as representatives from the Delaware Highlands Conservancy, the Sullivan County Planning Department, and the New York DEC will be on hand to answer questions and guide the discussion.

Participants will be asked to consider what they would like to see in the hamlet of Long Eddy and in the river access; envision various possibilities to resolve current issues of parking and access to the river; and to share any concerns. Compilations of the discussions will be shared with the NYS DEC as they work on the design for the river access.

Nearly 100 people contributed more than $8,000 to help the Delaware Highlands Conservancy purchase the river access and turn it over to the NYS DEC to make improvements. Now, these organizations are seeking your input to help envision an economically productive and sustainable future for Long Eddy that is based on the shared goals of the residents that live there.

Advance registration is not required for the visioning sessions. If you are unable to attend and would like to share your ideas, please contact Heather Jacksy at the Sullivan County Planning Department at 845-807-0527 or by email at Heather.Jacksy@co.sullivan.ny.us, or, drop your drawings and/or narrative descriptions off at the Long Eddy Hotel at 7 Depot Street, Long Eddy, NY.

Normal Operations Resume at Cannonsville Reservoir on the West Branch of the Delaware River

As per the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the turbid discharge has been successfully halted and the Cannonsville Dam remains safe and uncompromised

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced that drinking water diversions and downstream releases from Cannonsville Reservoir will be reduced to normal levels beginning Sunday due to repair work that has successfully halted the turbid discharge below Cannonsville Dam. The decision to resume normal operations at the reservoir – made in consultation with engineers at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) – also comes after weeks of testing and around-the-clock monitoring that proved the dam is safe, stable and uncompromised by the cloudy seepage that began three weeks ago.

Intensive monitoring at the site will continue as DEP resumes normal operations at Cannonsville Reservoir. These efforts will include 24-hour observations by on-site staff and surveillance cameras, daily engineering inspections, and near real-time monitoring of turbidity and safety instruments inside Cannonsville Dam. Although DEP is resuming normal drinking water and release operations, reservoir storage will likely continue to decline because the amount of water naturally flowing into the reservoir is generally less than the amount of water released to the river during summer.

On Saturday engineers began pumping two additional relief wells, for a total of four, downstream of Cannonsville Dam. These relief wells have successfully tapped into the pressurized groundwater that was carrying sediment into the West Branch Delaware River. By giving water from that aquifer a new path to flow, the relief wells have ended the mobilization of sediment and the cloudy, or turbid, water. Geotechnical engineers will turn their attention next week to the original boreholes that entered the pressurized groundwater and caused the condition below the dam. The process of permanently sealing shut those boreholes with grout is expected to take approximately one week.

After receiving approval from FERC on Saturday afternoon, DEP began to shift toward normal operations early Sunday morning. The drinking water diversion from Cannonsville Reservoir will be reduced to zero, in favor of diverting more drinking water from Pepacton and Neversink reservoirs. This will begin to balance the storage in the Delaware Water Supply System, in accordance with normal water supply operations. DEP will also begin to slowly reduce the amount of water released into the West Branch Delaware River from 1,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 500 cfs, the normal rate outlined in the Flexible Flow Management Program. (Water is currently flowing into the reservoir at a rate of approximately 300 cfs.) DEP has consulted with fisheries biologists at the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to develop the following schedule for reducing the release over the next four days:

Aug. 2 – 1,125 cfs

Aug. 3 – 844 cfs

Aug. 4 – 633 cfs

Aug. 5 – 500 cfs

Reducing the rate of release will also significantly extend the life of the cold water inside Cannonsville Reservoir, which is important for the fisheries downstream and inside the reservoir itself. There was approximately 25 billion gallons of cold water in the reservoir as of Sunday morning.

DEP will continue to provide updates on its Cannonsville Reservoir page and its watershed Facebook page. The department also intends to schedule public information meetings toward the end of August to discuss the repairs that were made downstream of the dam. Local press outlets, elected officials, emergency managers, and residents who attended DEP’s previous outreach meetings will be notified directly when times, dates and locations are set.

Background

On July 15, DEP increased drinking water diversions and downstream releases from Cannonsville Reservoir in response to an ongoing turbid discharge from a rock embankment below Cannonsville Dam. While DEP, its regulators, and consulting engineers did not believe the condition represented a threat to dam safety, DEP began drawing down the reservoir out of an abundance of caution to prioritize public safety while repairs proceeded. Reducing reservoir storage at Cannonsville has not posed a risk to the city’s water supply.

The turbid flow below the dam was discovered when workers were drilling borings in preparation for design and construction of a hydroelectric facility that is planned to be built there. All drilling work ceased when the workers noticed the flow of turbid water coming from a rock embankment near the release chamber.

An investigation indicated that the drilling released ground water under natural pressure, known as an artesian condition, several dozen feet below surface level. This caused an upward flow of water and sediment that was reaching the West Branch Delaware River. Since then, DEP has continued intensive monitoring at the dam. These include 24-hour monitoring by employees at the site, regular analysis of dam-safety instrumentation, and testing of the turbid sediment to identify and understand its origin. Federal, state, county and local officials – including officials from New Jersey and Pennsylvania – have been regularly updated since the condition at Cannonsville Dam was first discovered.

Placed into service in 1964, Cannonsville Reservoir was the last of New York City’s 19 reservoirs to be built. Water diverted from Cannonsville Reservoir for drinking water enters the West Delaware Tunnel and travels 44 miles to the upper end of Rondout Reservoir. From there, it is carried in the 85-mile-long Delaware Aqueduct. Water is released downstream from Cannonsville Reservoir under the terms of the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court Decree, and a flow program, known as the Flexible Flow Management Program, agreed upon by New York City and the states of Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. All other reservoirs in the city’s Delaware System have continued to meet their downstream release requirements under the Flexible Flow Management Program while the condition at Cannonsville is repaired.

NYC Increases Reservoir Releases to Facilitate Repairs After Their Screw Up

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today increased drinking water diversions and downstream releases from Cannonsville Reservoir to facilitate necessary repairs in response to an ongoing turbid discharge from a rock embankment below Cannonsville Dam.

DEP, its regulators, and consulting experts do not believe, but don't really know if the turbid flow represents any imminent threat to the safety of the dam. While repairs are made, DEP believes it is prudent to draw down the reservoir through increased releases out of an abundance of caution; reducing storage does not pose a risk to the city’s water supply. Except when the river's environmental health is concerned, the NYC believes they can't spare one drop.

The turbid flow below the dam was discovered when workers were drilling borings in preparation for design and construction of the future hydroelectric facility to be built there. During the drilling, workers noticed a flow of turbid water coming from a rock embankment near the release chamber. They immediately contacted DEP engineers and ceased all work.

A preliminary investigation indicated that the drilling released ground water under natural pressure several dozen feet below surface level, causing an upward flow of water and sediment that is reaching the West Branch Delaware River increasing turbidity to that already caused by a poorly managed reservoir.

Since then, DEP has met with its regulators, consulting engineers, and other experts to further investigate the condition, and to identify next steps for monitoring and repair. In addition to reducing storage at Cannonsville Reservoir, DEP is taking several steps to minimize any potential risks. These include 24-hour monitoring by employees at the site, regular analysis of dam-safety instrumentation, and testing of the turbid sediment to identify and understand its origin.

DEP is also working with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on the design and implementation of repairs to stop the flow of water and sediment below Cannonsville Dam.

Federal, state, county and local officials – including officials from New Jersey and Pennsylvania – have been made aware of the condition at Cannonsville Dam. These officials will be updated as DEP continues to examine and address the flow condition. DEP also plans to host a series of public meetings to further inform downstream residents in the days and weeks ahead.  Details on those meetings will follow soon.

Placed into service in 1964, Cannonsville Reservoir was the last of New York City’s 19 reservoirs to be built. Water drawn from Cannonsville enters the West Delaware Tunnel and travels 44 miles to the upper end of Rondout Reservoir. From there, it is carried in the 85-mile-long Delaware Aqueduct. Water is released from Cannonsville Reservoir under the terms of the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court Decree, and a flow program, known as the Flexible Flow Management Program and the NYC OST Program which doesn't work as proven by this seasons flow regime, agreed upon by New York City and the states of Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. All other reservoirs in the city’s Delaware System will continue to meet their downstream release requirements under the Flexible Flow Management Program while the condition at Cannonsville is investigated and repaired.

Statement of Department of Environmental Protection Deputy Commissioner Paul Rush on Extension of Flexible Flow Management Program

“New York City believes that adjustments to the current Flexible Flow Management Program (FFMP) could improve spill mitigation efforts, formalize a thermal relief protocol for fisheries, and support responsible water supply management for all the cities and towns that depend on the Delaware River and its headwaters. While there has been progress on some of these issues, an additional year under the current program will give the Decree Parties the time necessary to continue negotiating these complex and important issues, using sound science as our guide. DEP will also continue to use its Operations Support Tool to ensure we are releasing and diverting water responsibly from the city’s reservoirs. We hope that a more long-lasting program, accounting for the needs of water suppliers and downstream interests, can be developed and agreed upon by this time next year.”

For more information about the Flexible Flow Management Program, please see information from the Office of the Delaware River Master website by clicking here.

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing more than one billion gallons of high quality water each day to more than 9 million New Yorkers. This includes more than 70 upstate communities and institutions in Ulster, Orange, Putnam and Westchester counties who consume an average of 110 million total gallons of drinking water daily from New York City’s water supply system. 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 has nearly 6,000 employees, including almost 1,000 scientists, engineers, surveyors, watershed maintainers and other professionals in the upstate watershed. In addition to its $68 million payroll and $157 million in annual taxes paid in upstate counties, DEP has invested more than $1.7 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 over $14 billion in investments planned over the next 10 years that will create up to 3,000 construction-related jobs per year. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

Upper Delaware River is Taking Heat

The Upper Delaware River is Taking Heat Again-Please Take Action!

The Upper Delaware River is heating up again this week with warming air temperatures and low river flows that are likely to threaten the cold water ecosystem and the regional businesses that rely on a healthy river. It's time to let key decision makers in NY State, NYC, PA, NJ, and DE know that a little more water goes a long way in these situations and that's what we need immediately in the Upper Delaware River watershed.

Please contact the following people and urge them to tap into reserve water supplies from the Delaware reservoirs to take the heat off the river and protect the economic and environmental health of a very special place that offers premiere recreational opportunities to visitors from all over the world.

Paul Rush (NYCDEP) prush@dep.nyc.gov ph:845-334-7107
Thom Murphy (NYCDEP) tmurphy@dep.nyc.gov ph: 914-742-2006
Mark Klotz (NYSDEC) maklotz@gw.dec.state.ny.us ph:518-402-8233
Fred Hensen (NYSDEC) fghenson@gw.dec.state.ny.us ph: 518-402-8901
Mark Hartle (PAFBC) mhartle@pa.gov ph: 814-359-5133
Kelly Heffner (PADEP) kheffner@pa.gov ph: (717) 783-2300
Hoss Liaghat (PADEP) aliaghat@pa.gov ph: (717) 783-2300
Dan Kennedy (NJDEP) Dan.Kennedy@dep.nj.gov ph: 609-292-4543
David Wunsch (UDEL) dwunsch@udel.edu ph: 302-831-8258

Upper Delaware Region Economy Suffers from Record Breaking Low River Flows

In 2014, a groundbreaking study revealed that the Upper Delaware River has the potential to generate significant economic value to the region when river flows and water temperatures are at levels that optimize recreational opportunities such as fishing and boating. The report also demonstrated how improved water releases from the Delaware River basin reservoirs could substantially increase economic revenues for the region. 

This week, the findings of that report came into crystal clear resolution as record- breaking low flows throughout the upper river system have chased away visitors in droves because they cannot enjoy river related recreational activities under current conditions.

“The low water has  negatively affected my business in an enormous way, and the season has only just started. Over the past few days my customer base virtually disappeared. The people are not coming.  My revenues are down and based on conversations I’m having with other business owners in the area, they are suffering in the same way. Something needs to be done,” said Theresa Allen, owner and operator of the Hancock Liquor Store based in the village of Hancock, NY

.

Low water inflows into the Delaware River basin reservoirs have resulted in severely limited amounts of water being released from the reservoirs, and record-breaking low water levels in the rivers. Low water makes it difficult and often impossible to float a boat of any kind down the river, and causes water temperatures to rise rapidly, posing grave threats to the habitat of the unique cold water ecosystem.

“Improved water releases can soften the blow when these kinds of weather patterns challenge the Upper Delaware River watershed, and this should be a resource management goal.  Low inflow conditions, coupled with long range forecasts of continued dry weather over the next 12 months, are going to present a real challenge for everyone this season,” said Garth Pettinger of NY Trout Unlimited.

“Our ability to mitigate the effects of these conditions, and adapt to them, will be critical.   To this end we have initiated calls for improved water releases, and a reduction in the disproportional reliance on the Delaware system for drinking water diversions. We’ve also requested that a formal thermal relief program be included in the next water management plan, and for directed releases to be distributed between the three rivers,” said Jeff Skelding, Executive Director of Friends of the Upper Delaware River.

Friends of the Upper Delaware River and NY Trout Unlimited are members of the Delaware Watershed Conservation Coalition. 

DRBC RELEASES UPDATED WATER RESOURCE PLANNING MODEL

The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) today announced the release of an updated modeling tool that will allow the public to test water management scenarios and compare their outcomes.

The tool, known as the Delaware River Basin-Planning Support Tool (DRB-PST), provides interested stakeholders with the ability to test flow management scenarios against a set of existing targets, regulations, and laws that govern the use of water within the Delaware River Basin. The tool will show users how those scenarios would change an array of outcomes, including the amount of water available for drinking supplies, downstream releases, habitat protection, flood mitigation, and more.

“The availability of the DRB-PST modeling tool is a positive development intended to support a more comprehensive understanding about how reservoir and flow management operating plans affect river flows and related aquatic habitats,” said DRBC Executive Director Steve Tambini. “It will allow interested stakeholders to use a science-based tool to compare the impacts of ‘what-if’ scenarios on multiple and complex water resource goals, targets and objectives.”

DRBC also announced that the DRB-PST model will be on the agenda of the Regulated Flow Advisory Committee meeting to be held at 10 a.m. on April 17 at the commission’s West Trenton, N.J. office. The public is invited to attend.

River flows, diversions out of the basin, and water uses within the basin are managed, operated and regulated through a series of complex and interdependent rules and targets. The DRB-PST model uses hydrologic inputs (like runoff and snowmelt), operating conditions, and management rules to help evaluate the impacts of reservoir operating plans on the multipurpose water resource objectives identified in the Delaware River Basin Compact, which created the DRBC in 1961.

Three reservoirs located in headwaters of the Delaware River that are owned and operated by the City of New York (NYC) provide about half of the city’s water supply. Downstream releases of water from these reservoirs and diversions out of the basin for NYC and New Jersey were established and continue to be negotiated by Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and NYC (commonly known as “the Decree Parties”) under the terms of a 1954 U.S. Supreme Court Decree and the subsequent Good Faith Agreement Recommendations.

The DRBC and the Decree Parties have some overlapping membership and a long history of collaboration on planning and modeling issues within the Delaware River Basin. The DRBC signatory members include the four basin states and the federal government. NYC is not a DRBC member. The Compact prohibits the DRBC from adversely affecting the releases or diversions provided in the 1954 Decree without the unanimous consent of the five Decree Parties.

The Flexible Flow Management Program (FFMP), which has been unanimously approved by the Decree Parties, is intended to meet water supply demands, protect fisheries habitat downstream of the NYC-Delaware Basin reservoirs, enhance flood mitigation, and repel the upstream movement of salt water in the Delaware Estuary. The FFMP’s target numbers and goals are included in the PST-DRB model and any changes to the FFMP in the future can be reflected in the model as well.

The DRBC’s original water supply planning model was developed in 1981. That model was revised several times to include additional data, facilities, and flow management policies, and was moved into OASIS software in the early 2000s. The original OASIS model known as DRB-OASIS can simulate the current FFMP, including the Combined Seasonal Storage Objective (CSSO) for flood mitigation, but not the revised Habitat Protection Program (HPP) which has evolved since the first FFMP. The Habitat Protection Program uses simulated forecasts of reservoir inflows to determine the amount of water available for fisheries releases from the three NYC reservoirs. In doing so, modeling can be performed to evaluate scenarios that use water more efficiently for fisheries habitat objectives while maintaining the reliability of critical water supply objectives and flood mitigation components of the FFMP.

The DRB-PST incorporates aspects of NYC’s Operations Support Tool (OST), a sophisticated monitoring and modeling system that allows for better predictions than previous tools of reservoir-specific water storage levels, quality, and inflows. OST uses forecasts to determine the amount of available water to release for habitat protection and assesses the risks of reservoir operations to public water supply needs across the entire NYC reservoir system, not only its three Delaware River Basin reservoirs. DRB-PST incorporates the OST simulated forecasts for long-term water supply planning based on reservoir operations. A technical working group from DRBC, the Decree Parties (four states and NYC), and the City of Philadelphia have worked together to ensure that the model is useful for those with an interest in Delaware River operations. This group will continue to evaluate and verify model inputs and results and release revised PST versions as necessary.

“Scientists and engineers from DRBC and New York City collaborated to ensure this new public modeling tool produced accurate results that are comparable to those generated by the OST modeling tool that the City uses to make decisions about reservoir operations every day,” said Tambini.

Persons who did not previously use the DRB-OASIS model who wish to obtain the DRB-PST model for the first time will need to purchase required software. Additional information about DRB-PST and the upcoming Regulated Flow Advisory Committee meeting can be found on the commission’s web site at www.drbc.net.

DRBC is a federal/interstate government agency responsible for managing the water resources within the 13,539 square-mile Delaware River Basin without regard to political boundaries. The five commission members are the governors of the basin states and the commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ North Atlantic Division, who represents the federal government. More information concerning the 1954 Decree, the Decree Parties, and related water management activities can be found on the web site for the USGS Office of the Delaware River Master at http://water.usgs.gov/osw/odrm/.

Working to Improve Access on the Upper Delaware River

Delaware Highlands Conservancy Launches Fundraising
Campaign for River Access in Long Eddy, NY

Hawley, PA and Bethel, NY— Hours of community input are coming to
fruition as the next phase of the Sullivan County River Access Plan, an initiative
which has engaged and activated the community, is now being initiated.

As Sue Currier, Executive Director for the Delaware Highlands Conservancy,
explains, “The Conservancy is honored to be helping to implement a plan that
Sullivan County and the community developed to revitalize river communities,
enhance our economic vitality, and develop a coordinated, cohesive approach to
branding the county’s river accesses. As a result, we’re coordinating a
fundraising campaign to make this next phase happen, beginning with the Long
Eddy river access.”

The purpose of the fundraising campaign is to purchase, protect, and improve
the fishing and boat access site to the Delaware River located in Long Eddy,
Sullivan County, NY.

At present, the Long Eddy access is popular with river guides and recreational
users, but does not have a ramp or sufficient parking. The resulting crowded
conditions reduce use by all but the most determined, and create conflicts over
inappropriate parking with the nearby residents and businesses. The recently
completed Sullivan County River Access Plan has identified the need to enhance
access to the Delaware River for recreational enthusiasts and provide additional
economic lift to our river towns, such as Long Eddy.

The Delaware Highlands Conservancy has signed a contract to acquire a piece
of private property located along the Delaware River, adjacent to the existing
road used as the boat launch. It will be conveyed to the NYS DEC, who will in
turn improve the boat launch for all river users.

The purchase, holding, and subsequent transfer of the property will cost
approximately $20,000, and the Conservancy is hosting a fundraising campaign
to cover these costs. The campaign may be accessed via Indiegogo at
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/improve-the-long-eddy-river-access or more information is available on the Conservancy’s website at http://www.DelawareHighlands.org. Every dollar donated goes
directly to the project and, in turn, benefits the local community, its businesses,
and all river users.

As Jeff Graff, an avid fly fisherman, explains, "The Delaware River is a truly
amazing natural resource and a fly fisherman’s dream. It’s clear, clean waters
flow over cobble bottom long eddies and riffles that meander through the
ancient, dark hills and hardwood forests of southern New York and northeastern
Pennsylvania and hold abundant populations of healthy, wild rainbow and
brown trout. Its prolific aquatic insect hatches of mayflies, caddis flies and
stoneflies provide some of the best and most challenging fly fishing
opportunities for fishermen in the United States.”\

He continues, “Creating and maintaining access to the river is essential, not only
to fishermen interested in ensuring that the fishery remains vital and accessible
to drift boats and wade fishermen, but also to other recreational users of the river
such as canoeists and kayakers."

The Delaware Highlands Conservancy works with landowners and communities
to protect the healthy lands, clean waters, eagles and other wildlife, and
sustainable economies of the Upper Delaware River region. For more
information, send an email to info@delawarehighlands.org or call 845-583-1010

Future of the Upper Delaware River Conference

Water Water Everywhere – Future of the Upper Delaware River Conference

October 14-15, 2014, 10 am – 4 pm

Hosted by Friends of the Upper Delaware River

Register Now for the 5th Annual WWE Conference!

This year’s 2-day conference will be our largest ever with expert speakers who will comprehensively address all of the pressing issues facing the Upper Delaware River.  The event is also a time to reconnect with old friends, network with partners and allies, and socialize on the banks of the beautiful West Branch of the Upper Delaware River during peak foliage season.

Conference Fee:  $35/day $60/two days – includes meals (lodging not included)

Early Bird Special – Paid Registration by September 15 – $30/day $50/two day

To register go to: http://www.fudr.org/2014/09/03/1173/

Paddlers & Boaters Reminded to Obtain Launch Permits

As summer winds down, paddlers planning kayaking and canoeing trips are reminded that a launch permit or boat registration is required to use access areas owned by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) and at state park and state forest access areas operated by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).

 

“The popularity of unpowered boats, including canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, is growing in the Commonwealth and nationwide,” said Corey Britcher, Director of the PFBC Bureau of Law Enforcement. “This is great for the sport and we’re glad people are engaged in outdoor activities.”

 

“With more people using Commission access areas, we want to remind them that a launch permit or boat registration is required,” he added. “Boat registrations and permit sales generate funds for the continued maintenance of these facilities and for boating safety programs and services.”

 

PFBC launch permits cost $10 for one year or $18 for two years.

 

Users can also choose to register their unpowered boat for $18. Boat registrations are issued for 2-year periods and expire on March of the second year.

 

PFBC launch permits and boat registrations are also valid in state parks and state forests. Users can also purchase a DCNR launch or mooring permit, which is valid at PFBC properties. Visit the DCNR website for more information.

 

Paddlers using PFBC access areas without valid launch permits or boat registrations are subject to a $75 fine.

 

Launch permits are available online through the PFBC’s Outdoor Shop, at PFBC region offices, authorized issuing agents and many state park offices. More information is available by calling the PFBC’s toll-free registration hot-line 866-BOATREG (866-262-8734) or by visiting the PFBC website.

Upper Delaware BioBlitz

Second Annual Upper Delaware BioBlitz to Occur in Sullivan County

UPPER DELAWARE REGION – Families can take advantage of a special educational opportunity for all ages to experience the diversity of life on a unique parcel of private property. The second annual Upper Delaware BioBlitz will occur on Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29, 2014. This event is free to the public.

During this event, biologists and volunteers will gather to identify as many living things as possible within 24 hours on a demarcated parcel of about 200 acres within the Ten Mile River Scout Camp in the Town of Tusten, Sullivan County, NY. Collection will start at noon on Saturday and continue until noon on Sunday.

The public is invited to tour the site from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Sunday. For free, families can view the specimens, talk to experts, and enjoy a tour of the site to learn how different species live and thrive in the context of the overall property. Teams and sponsoring organizations will provide information and offer educational programs on their particular areas of expertise. The public should attend for an opportunity to meet scientists of different disciplines, see what they have collected and take a tour of the site.

“This exciting event highlights the richness of the environment in which we play, work and live and helps us see our lives in the context of all the other living things with which we co-exist,” says BioBlitz organizer, Steve Schwartz.

A BioBlitz is an event where teams of scientists gather on a demarcated property for 24 hours to collect, identify, and catalogue every single species they can find visible to the naked eye. The latter part of the event is open to the public for youth and their families to meet the scientists, see what they have collected, and learn more about biology in the context of the site.

Teams of researchers will focus on specific categories of life, including aquatic macro invertebrates, birds, botany, fish, fungi, reptiles and amphibians, invertebrates, mammals, mosses, and lichens. The scientists are asked to identify what they find down to the species level using specialized methods. Some of this will be done in the field either by photos or visual identification. Other items will be brought back to the collection tables for further identification through careful analysis through microscopes and reference material on site.

A portion of this property is within the National Park Service’s Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River corridor and borders the river at the Ten Mile River landing. The BioBlitz site will also include the Indian Cliffs, Rock Lake, Mauls Pond, and Grassy Swamp Pond, one of the only quaking bogs to be scientifically authenticated in the Catskills.

According to the University of Connecticut’s website, “BioBlitz is designed to increase the public's awareness of the variety of life in their immediate neighborhood and the services these various species provide to improve the quality of their lives. We usually hear the word "biodiversity" in regard to rainforests with their vast number of species. Yet the diversity of life in our own backyards is phenomenal. We take for granted clean water, fertile soil, and air to breathe. Yet these are all the result of working ecosystems filled with species that perform these tasks. From our morning shower to our late night snack, we are supported by biodiversity every minute of the day. What better way to address the topic than to invite people to share in our 24-hours of discovery and to experience the vast array of species that we can find in their neighborhood park in just one cycle of the day.”

All of the data will be compiled into an inventory of species collected during the event. This information will be publicly available and may help future scientists understand what was living on the site at this particular time, including rare or endangered species. Experts will travel from far distances to study this unique area of New York State.

“It’s an unusual opportunity for scientists and amateur naturalists to share information with the public about their research,” Schwartz adds. “The entire collection of species identified, along with vast biota of microscopic species, are interdependent and nourished by the mineral and organic composition of the soils and the air and water. People experienced in various disciplines working together at this event reflect the interdependence of life in the natural environment.”

Upper Delaware BioBlitz participating organizations include Delaware Highlands Mushroom Society, Upper Delaware Council, Catskill Mountainkeeper, Delaware Highlands Conservancy, Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County, National Park Service, Norcross Wildlife Foundation, Northeast Pennsylvania Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, Friends of the Upper Delaware, Sullivan Renaissance and Delaware Riverkeeper Network. The Delaware Highlands Conservancy is the Fiscal Sponsor for the event and all contributions to the event through the Conservancy are tax deductible.

Scientists are participating from Cornell, Penn State, East Stroudsburg University, Academy of Sciences Philadelphia, and other academic, nonprofit and governmental organizations.

In 2013 over 50 scientists and amateur naturalists gathered for the first Upper Delaware BioBlitz on the Norcross Wildlife Foundation’s “Gales Property” at the confluence of the East and West Branches and main stem of the Delaware River. In 24 hours they collected, identified, and catalogued 1,024 unique species of life. Some of the collected species identifications were later confirmed by experts at the New York Botanical Garden and Smithsonian Institution and the insects collected by the Invertebrate team are in the permanent collection of the Academy of Sciences in Philadelphia.