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

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

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

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

No fee or advanced registration required.  

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

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

May 28 & 29 for the CFFCM Annual Dinner Weekend.

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

NJ DEP Anounces Modification in Delaware River Water Management Plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 7, 2011 

Contact: Lawrence Ragonese (609) 292-2994 

Lawrence Hajna (609) 984-1795 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Under terms of the modifications: 

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

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

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

Catskill Fly Tyers Guild's Fly Tyers Rendezvous

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

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

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

Delaware River Designated as National Great Water

Designation highlights the river’s national significance

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

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

           

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

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

           

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

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

   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

           

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

Coalition Formed to Support Delaware River "White Paper"

The Delaware Watershed Conservation Coalition made up of the following members, Friends of the Upper Delaware River, Trout Unlimited National, New Jersey State Council of Trout Unlimited, New York State Council of Trout Unlimited, Pennsylvania State Council of Trout Unlimited, Theodore Gordon Flyfishers, the Federation of Fly Fishers and Wild Trout Flyrodders is expected to continue growing in it's support for the Joint Fisheries White Paper.

Read the letter below from Dan Plummer, Board Chairman of Friends of the Upper Delaware River:

March 23, 2011

Dear Friends: 

I’m writing to share some very exciting news and to, once again, ask for your help. 

For the first time ever, a coalition of key conservation groups has formed to speak with one voice on behalf of the Delaware Watershed. We are uniting behind a proposal that would replace the flawed plan that now governs water releases from New York City-owned reservoirs: the infamous Flexible Flow Management Program (FFMP), due to expire (finally and mercifully) on June 1. 

The Delaware Watershed Conservation Coalition (DWCC), which grew out of an historic meeting last November, was formally introduced in March. Coalition members have agreed to support the fundamentals of the Joint Fishery White Paper as a one-year alternative to the Flexible Flow plan. The White Paper was produced last year by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission as an alternative to the FFMP. 

The White Paper is not perfect. But it’s much better than the inadequate, irrational yo-yo releases our precious rivers have experienced under the FFMP. Here is what a few of our allies had to say about the White Paper plan: 

“Though it’s imperfect, the White Paper is a good starting point for improved resource management for the coming year,” said Stephen Lieb of Theodore Gordon Flyfishers, a New York City-based angling organization that is one of the coalition groups. 

Glenn Erikson of the Federation of Fly Fishers, another venerable coalition member, said the increased flow of 20 cubic feet per second recommended in the White Paper for fall and winter would have a positive impact. Speaking about the East Branch, he said the increase would diminish the likelihood of “anchor ice” during winter and would help keep the river cooler in the early fall, when limited flow can cause dangerous temperature spikes. 

Like Lieb, Erikson said the plan is not perfect – for example, flow levels could decrease in early September. “This is a real problem,” he said, adding that a proposal that resolves that glitch “should be closely considered.” 

“I believe that improving the other rivers is important, but the East Branch already took a hit when the current flow-management plan was implemented, and I would hate to see it take another,” Lieb said.

Before I delve into the background of the new coalition, let me get to the second part of the purpose of this letter: your help. 

Even though the White Paper is based on solid science and was created by two government agencies responsible for the health and well-being of the rivers, its approval as the official flow plan is far from assured. Those of us who have observed the mysterious methods of the Delaware River Basin Commission and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection over the years understand that nothing is certain when it comes to water issues. 

So we need public support, and we need it now. We are barely two months away from the expiration of the FFMP, so the timing is critical. 

We ask that individuals or groups join us in supporting the White Paper plan. It is by far the best choice currently available to replace the FFMP, and it would make a real difference in keeping our ecosystem, habitat and fishery alive. Please contact me at catskilldan@mac.com to join us or for information on how you can help. We are open to all suggestions, including petitions, chain emails, letters to the editor and DRBC commission members, and personal contacts with politicians. 

And now some background on the new Delaware Watershed Conservation Coalition. I’m pleased to say that the members now include Friends of the Upper Delaware River, Trout Unlimited National, New Jersey State Council of Trout Unlimited, New York State Council of Trout Unlimited, Pennsylvania State Council of Trout Unlimited, Theodore Gordon Flyfishers, the Federation of Fly Fishers and Wild Trout Flyrodders. Other groups are expected to join us, and a number of government entities that cannot publicly acknowledge their support are pulling for us behind the scenes. 

I asked leaders of some the coalition partners to share their thoughts about this effort. Here are a few responses: 

“The conservation community encompasses a diverse set of organizations, though we share common goals,” said Lieb of the Theodore Gordon Flyfishers. “It is important that decision-makers understand that we have come together on this issue.” 

“I feel there are two primary benefits,” said Erikson of the Federation of Fly Fishers. “First is the opportunity for increased discussion between all of us on how we can find the best route to our shared goal, while at the same time respecting the diversity of opinion among us. Second is the potential for added impact if we can truly learn to speak with one voice (without quarreling). I don’t believe I have to add how closely related these two are.” 

The power of the coalition is already clear. We were publicly credited with prompting the March 8 Regulated Flow Advisory Committee meeting. 

“We wouldn’t be here today discussing any of this if it wasn’t for all of you getting together to make this happen,” said Joe Miri of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and former chair of the committee. 

As many of you know, the various groups that advocate on behalf of the Delaware River system have not always agreed on everything. Advocates do not tend to be shy people, and perhaps we have spent too much time and energy focused on our differences rather than our common goals. 

At the encouragement of two of our friends, Pete Grannis, former commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and John Arway, executive director for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, we convened a meeting of more than 30 leaders of the various conservation groups last November, after most fly-rodders had put away their gear for the season. 

The meeting, called “Water, Water Everywhere: The Future of the Upper Delaware River System,” was held at the Delaware River Club in Starlight, Pa. We had one theme on the agenda: How do we get more cold, clean water in our local rivers? Friends of the Upper Delaware River, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting and preserving the ecosystem and cold water fishery of the Upper Delaware system, served as host. In addition to the coalition members named above, participants included representatives from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the National Park Service, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, New York DEC, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Fish and Wildlife Services, Upper Delaware Council, the U.S. Geological Service, Columbia University and a number of local river guides.

A meeting like this had never happened before, and it was long overdue. We wanted to get as many of the key conservation groups as we could in one room to flush out our differences, capitalize on where we agree, and try to create a single, unified voice that could be used to help save this world-class fishery and bring some much-deserved attention to the area. 

The meeting was costly, at $7,000, and complicated to organize. But it was money and time well spent. The session was led by a professional facilitator, Alicia Korten, of Washington, D.C., who was brought in to ensure an effective exchange with a neutral moderator. Korten pre-interviewed many of the players and researched the issues thoroughly, including a review of the 1954 Supreme Court Decree that defines the legal water rights and a careful look at the Flexible Flow Management Program. Participants were locked in the meeting room for 10 hours, even voting to work through lunch. Everyone wanted to take advantage of our precious time discussing a topic they are all very passionate about. 

Presentations outlined release plans and legal options. Many topics were discussed openly that had not been touched on in any prior public forum. I believe a new trust was established between certain groups that had been divided by old fissures. Momentum began to build for the united groups to finally achieve their common goal: more water. When the meeting was adjourned and doors unlocked, the group went outside for some much-welcomed fresh air. Outside the lodge in a maple tree, we had hung an 8′ x 10′ canvas painting of an American flag with a leaping trout painted where the stars would normally be. The bottom of the canvas bore the words, “Give Us Water or Give Us Death.” A group photo was taken in front of the flag. 

Five months after the “Water, Water” meeting, and after numerous conference calls, emails and many meetings (both private and public), we have a new coalition. We also have an opportunity to strike real change by supporting a common-sense alternative to the FFMP. 

Please join us in the fight and pledge your support for the Joint Fisheries White Paper. 

Thank you. Thank you very much. 

Dan Plummer 

FUDR Board Chairman 

catskilldan@mac.com 

Upper Delaware Council's 23rd Annual Awards Ceremony

NARROWSBURG – The Upper Delaware Council, Inc. (UDC) will honor individuals, organizations, and projects that have enhanced the quality of life or protected the resources of the Upper Delaware River Valley at its 23rd Annual Awards Ceremony on Sunday, April 17, in Beach Lake, PA.

Reservations at $24 per person are due by April 8 for the banquet that will take place at Central House Family Resort located at 81 Milanville Road in Beach Lake. A cash bar reception begins at 3 p.m., followed by a 4 p.m. buffet dinner featuring prime rib, baked salmon, and ham. Pennsylvania Representative Sandra J. Major (111th District), will deliver the keynote address prior to the presentation of awards.

The UDC will bestow awards in the following categories:

Distinguished Service Award – Peter E. Nye, who retired in September 2010 as leader of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Endangered Species Unit, for his successful bald eagle restoration efforts since 1976;

Robin M. Daniels Memorial Lifesaving Award – Lumberland Volunteer Fire Department (NY), Port Jervis Fire Dept. (NY), Port Jervis Volunteer Ambulance Corp. (NY), Sparrowbush Engine Co. (NY), Huguenot Fire Co (NY), Westfall Township Volunteer Fire Dept. (PA), Mill Rift Fire Dept (PA), Matamoras Fire Dept. (PA), and Regional EMS (NY & PA), for their July 31, 2010 night-time rescue of two rafters involving personal injury from an attempted cliff climb at the Hawk’s Nest in the Town of Deerpark, NY;

Partnership Award – Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources, for collaboration on the “Recommended Improvements to the Flexible Flow Management Program for Coldwater Ecosystem Protection in the Delaware River Tailwaters” White Paper report released on Feb. 17, 2010;

Volunteer Award – John and Yoke Bauer DiGiorgio of Narrowsburg, NY and Rockaway, NJ, for founding the 10th Annual Narrowsburg EagleFest, and their efforts through programs, publications, and photography to raise public awareness of wildlife conservation and the natural environment;

Recreation Achievement Award – Paul Weamer of Coburn, PA, for his book, “Fly Fishing Guide to the Upper Delaware River” that offers messages on water safety, river etiquette, and conservation, while attracting anglers to the waterways of the Upper Delaware region;

Cultural Achievement Award – Town of Lumberland Cultural Series of Glen Spey, NY, for celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2010 of offering diverse cultural programming for the public;

Community Service Award – Friends of the Upper Delaware River, Inc., for advocacy to protect the Upper Delaware River fishery and to support stream restoration work in the Town of Hancock, NY;

Special Recognition Awards (2) – Dorothy Moon, of the National Park Service Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, for overseeing all aspects of the Zane Grey Museum’s renovation from funding to exhibit development for its May 2010 re-opening in Lackawaxen, PA; and Kathleen Michell of Narrowsburg, NY, for her numerous contributions since 1985 to the Narrowsburg and greater river valley communities;

Oaken Gavel Award – Harold G. Roeder, Jr. of the Town of Delaware, NY, for his leadership as Upper Delaware Council chairperson in 2010

All are welcome to attend the UDC’s Awards Ceremony. A download-able reservation form is available at www.upperdelawarecouncil.org. For more information, please contact Public Relations Specialist Laurie Ramie 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.

Upper Delaware Council Responds to Natural Gas Drilling Regulations

Upper Delaware Council (UDC) approved a letter to the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) stating natural gas drilling should be considered as “heavy industrial uses” therefore not compatible with the river.

The letter refers to the 1986 River Management Plan for the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River. “We do not believe that [the Plan] ever envisioned horizontal drilling or high-volume, slick-water hydraulic fracturing,”  it says in the letter.

The entire seven page letter can be read at: http://www.upperdelawarecouncil.org/press/pdfs/UDC_03032011_DRBC_NGDR.pdf