A broad coalition of Delaware River advocates is urging New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and the watershed region’s four governors to adopt a more “fair and equitable” water management plan.
The four states (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware) and New York City subject to the 1954 ruling on how much water from the Cannonsville, Pepacton, and Neversink reservoirs is delivered to New York City and how much goes into the river that flows through the Delaware River are expected to come to a new agreement by June 1. The existing agreement expires on May 31. The Delaware River Basin Commission is helping to facilitate this process with modeling and other services.
The Delaware Watershed Conservation Coalition, along with 40 organizations and businesses, have called on de Blasio and the governors of Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Delaware to adopt a water flow plan that meets the needs of all stakeholders in the watershed.
New York City and the four states that border the Delaware River must unanimously decide on the terms of the next water management plan.
“The Delaware River is an ecological jewel and an economic engine for the entire watershed,” said Jeff Skelding, executive director of Friends of the Upper Delaware River. “It must be managed in a sustainable manner to ensure that communities and people who rely on the river for drinking water, recreational use, commerce and habitat protection are equally served.”
In a letter to de Blasio and the governors, the DWCC made five “Fair Share” requests:
-- A management approach that provides “equitable apportionment” of the Delaware system’s water, based on proportionate use of NYC’s water supply system. This would ensure plenty of water for downstream states while meeting the needs of New York City.
-- A mechanism to automatically trigger emergency pulses of additional cold water releases from the reservoirs during hot, dry periods in the summer months to protect the cold water fishery and habitat in the Upper Delaware River watershed.
-- Elimination of erratic water releases from the reservoirs that create dramatic fluctuations in water levels, threatening habitat and wildlife.
-- A one-year only extension of the flow plan so it can be re-examined to address lingering uncertainties, including how the reactivation of the Croton Reservoir will impact management of the Delaware River basins.
-- Increased transparency in the decision-making process and addition of a 45-day public comment period on a plan that impacts millions of citizens from a broad swath of the eastern United States.
"Managing the flow of the Delaware River is a complex issue that is of great importance to many groups across the basin working to protect the clean water and other vital resources provided by the watershed," said Kim Beidler, coordinator of the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed. "It's time for the decision-makers from all four states and NYC to come together and ensure a science-based approach to the management of water for people, fish, and wildlife."
Other advocates and stakeholders weighed in, as well, including Trout Unlimited and the America’s Great Waters Coalition.
“The Upper Delaware River watershed supports a world-class cold-water fishery that rivals many western trout rivers,” said Ron Urban, chairman of New York Trout Unlimited. “The economic potential of this fishery is tremendous, but its future depends on consistent, sustainable releases of cold water from the NYC reservoirs at the right time of year.”
“The Delaware River is one of America’s ‘Great Waters’ and all efforts should be made to protect and restore this magnificent watershed,” said Malia Hale of the National Wildlife Federation and co-chair of America’s Great Waters Coalition. “The management of the NYC-operated reservoirs in the headwaters of the Delaware system is integral to the health of the overall watershed, and the next water management plan must ensure that the water resource needs of downstream States are met.”
For more information, visit the Friends of the Delaware River website.
