Delaware River Basin Partners Announce Enhanced Protections For Wildlife And Water

Pennsylvania, New York City and other states in the Delaware River Basin have reached two agreements regarding the plan that safeguards the drinking water supply for 15 million people and supports the basin's diverse wildlife habitat, Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger announced this week.

 

Secretary Hanger credited the Fish and Boat Commission for recommending the changes to the Flexible Flow Management Program, which governs New York City and Delaware Basin reservoir diversions and releases under the terms of a 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decree.

 

"The Flexible Flow Management Program works because it takes an adaptable approach to reservoir operations," Secretary Hanger said. "The agreements we're announcing today demonstrate the plan's ability to protect a vibrant recreational fishing resource, while safeguarding the water supply so vital to the public and our economy."

 

The first agreement – in effect for this summer only - protects trout from the stresses of high temperatures in the West Branch of the Delaware River by increasing cold water releases this summer from New York City's Cannonsville Reservoir from June 1 through August 31.

 

The second agreement reduces the rapid increases or decreases in the reservoir conservation release rates (known as the yo-yo effect or bouncing) by allowing New York City the flexibility to more evenly adjust releases from the reservoirs over periods of up to seven consecutive days when reservoir storage levels rapidly fluctuate in the spring and fall. Fishery experts believe the bouncing effect is harmful to wildlife in the river habitat, Secretary Hanger said.

 

The Flexible Flow Management Program was originally adopted in September 2007 and amended in December 2008.

 

"As scientific understanding improves or as meteorological or hydrological conditions warrant, we will be able to adjust the agreement to keep the river basin healthy," Secretary Hanger said.

 

The Flexible Flow Management Program and its associated agreements are available online.