Sportsmen versus waste

It has become clear to most sportsmen who fish the New York City reservoirs and the Upper Delaware River downstream of those reservoirs that none are managed well from the perspective of the resource. Many have expressed discontent and even outrage with how both reservoirs and rivers have suffered during the past year. Momentum for changing the system is building.

I am writing to clear up any misunderstanding about the goals of Trout Unlimited and the Delaware River Foundation concerning water releases from Cannonsville, Pepacton and Neversink Reservoirs.

Trout Unlimited and the Delaware River Foundation are local fishermen, landowners, businesses and other groups who are fighting to protect the West and East Branches of the Delaware and Neversink River from unnecessary fish kills. We do not want the tremendous fisheries in the reservoirs to be sacrificed for the rivers. We do not want the rivers to have unnaturally high amounts of water. What we want is better management of the reservoirs, and rivers that are healthy. We want sportsmen to join us in demanding that New York City recognize the value of both the reservoirs and the rivers downstream, and not just of water that comes out of their taps.

The current operating procedure of New York City reservoirs shows little respect for the sportsmen and people that live here, enjoy outdoor recreation and depend on the water for jobs. Cannonsville should not have been drawn down to four percent capacity in December 2001 when Roundout Reservoir was over 85 percent full. What happened to the trophy trout and smallmouth in Cannonsville?

The gates on the dams on the East and West Branches of the Delaware and Neversink Rivers were basically closed in December. Releases now equal that of a small stream. When it gets hot in May and thousands of wild fish die in warm, shallow rivers as the reservoirs sit over 60 percent full, how will we justify such waste?

There is enough water to protect the reservoirs and the rivers downstream and provide New York City with drinking water. What we are facing is a management problem, not a problem with Mother Nature.

To avoid a disaster in the rivers this summer, New York City immediately has to arrange for some water to be made available to flow downstream before “the rules” allow. New York City has to work with the other agencies and states to develop a long-term flow plan that is based on science, not just water supply needs. Better conservation of water downstate has to begin now, and that starts with making people pay a price that reflects its true value. Would New York City residents use 160 gallons a person per day if they had to carry their own water everyday?

Guest editorial by Nat Gillespie

[Nat Gillespie is the Catskills Coordinator for Trout Unlimited. He lives in Roscoe. His work includes surveying, designing and overseeing stream restoration projects in the Delaware River system and working to improve releases from New York City’s reservoirs.]