The House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee held a public hearing this week on flooding and flood mitigation efforts along the Delaware River.

Presenting testimony were Cathleen Curran Myers, Deputy Secretary for Water Management, Department of Environmental Protection, Diane Tharp, a private citizen, Walt Conway, Mayor of Delaware Water Gap, and John Comey, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, who submitted comments for the record.

Cathleen Myers noted Pennsylvania is one of the most flood-prone states as a result of over 83,000 miles of streams and rivers and hilly topography and said since 2004 alone Pennsylvania experienced three major flooding events in the Delaware River basin, a frequency not equaled since 1955.

Myers noted DEP’s 2007-08 budget includes $2.2 million in added support for technical assistance for stormwater and flood planning, including the creation of an I nteragency task force with a senior level Flood Mitigation Coordinator to work full time of flooding issues.

Myers said the recent flooding on the Delaware River was not caused by overflowing New York City reservoirs as some contend. In fact, Myers said, seven of the ten worst main river floods occurred when no reservoir overflows contributed water. Filling reservoirs tend to halve the peak rate of flooding out of a reservoir, according to Myers.

Myers said several steps were taken to deal with flooding in the Delaware over the last year-- a Delaware River Basin Commission task force is due to issue a final report shortly on flooding and flood mitigation in the basin, a flood analysis modeling tool is being developed to evaluate possible changes in the operating of all 13 major basin reservoirs to reduce flooding and a Flexible Flow Management Plan is being developed by the parties to the 1954 Consent Decree on the operation of New York City reservoirs that govern flows in the Delaware River.

Diane Tharp, private citizen, said flooding on the Delaware was caused by poor management and over-filling of New York City’s reservoirs and said future operational plans for the reservoirs must include providing sufficient capacity to mitigate flood impacts.

Tharp also recommended that flows be maintained to support fish habitats and recreational activities.

Walt Conway, Major of Delaware Water Gap, provided the Committee with a history of flooding and flood damages in that community since 2004.

John Comey, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, noted this month marked the 35^th anniversary of the 1972 Agnes Flood which claimed over 100 lives and did more than $3 billion damage to public and private property. Since 2003 eight major flood events occurred in Pennsylvania causing over $400 million in damage.

Comey provided an overview of the activities PEMA undertakes before and after flood events.

The hearing was cut short because members had to return to the House floor to do other legislative business.

6/29/2007