Basin panel prepares NYC Delaware River reservoir rule-making

To better balance of competing

uses and needs

WEST TRENTON, N.J. n Basin officials are preparing rules to help manage New York City’s three Delaware River reservoirs.

The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) at its Sept. 26 meeting directed staff to begin the public rulemaking process to implement an amended Flexible Flow Management Program for operation of the three New York City Delaware Basin reservoirs.

The flow program is intended to provide a more adaptive means for managing the Cannonsville, Pepacton, and Neversink reservoirs for multiple, competing uses, including water supply and drought mitigation, management of the reservoir tailwater fisheries along with other habitat needs, and spill mitigation. The 1954 decree, which resolved an interstate water dispute centering on the city reservoirs, made no provision for spill mitigation, conservation or ecological releases.

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