Delaware River trout dodge bullet

HANCOCK — Today storage levels in New York City’s three reservoirs on upper Delaware River tributaries (the West and East Branches of the Delaware and the Neversink Rivers) met the criteria to fully move the system out of drought management conditions and to permit the water releases from those reservoirs to maintain fish habitat. The reservoir storage levels are the result of surprisingly high rains in May and June. “Normal” water releases should help avoid a fish kill this summer, despite the lack of a deal between New York City and Delaware basin states to solve chronic flow problems on the Delaware and its tributaries.

The three reservoirs (Cannonsville on the West Branch, Pepacton on the East Branch, and the Neversink Reservoir) provide roughly half of New York City’s water supply.

The Delaware River basin has been in “drought emergency” since December 2001 because of low reservoir levels caused by a prolonged dry period. Under a drought emergency, releases from the reservoirs are a tiny fraction of natural flows. These drought releases are insufficient to maintain aquatic health or to keep water cool for the Delaware’s wild trout fishery.

The reservoirs have filled to over 85 percent capacity due to spring rains and today is the 15th consecutive day that the Upper Delaware reservoirs have been at more than 25 billion gallons above the drought watch level. Under DRBC rules, a small amount of water in the reservoirs is once again available to be released to maintain flows on the three Delaware River tributaries.

If unusually heavy rains in May and June had not filled the reservoirs, the water releases allowed under drought status would have resulted in fish kills this summer. Despite urging from Trout Unlimited, the Delaware River Foundation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York City had declined to allow regular conservation releases, despite refilling reservoirs, until all the technical requirements of the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) rules had been met.

“We completely dodged a bullet this spring,” said Jim Serio, executive director of the Delaware River Foundation. “ A few months ago, the chances of the reservoirs filling up enough to get out of the drought declaration before summer looked bleak and we were very, very lucky to have gotten so much rain. Nature really saved us from human mismanagement.”

Trout Unlimited, the Delaware Foundation and other groups contend that, over the long term, even the normal flow regime has impaired the health of the Upper Delaware system.

“The drought is a classic example of how New York City’s drinking water system short changes the river,” said Nat Gillespie, Trout Unlimited’s Catskills Coordinator.

“The rules were created almost 50 years ago,” said Gillespie. “They need to be changed using all of the modern conservation and water management tools available to us today. We hope the river’s narrow escape this summer will inspire the City to finally sit down with the DRBC and fix the system.”

Trout Unlimited and the Delaware Foundation are calling for New York City and the DRBC to reform its water management policy to improve the health of the river under normal and drought conditions. The DRBC recently voted to spend the next 12 months working towards a long term solution to the flow problem. In an encouraging sign, New York City agreed to allow some water to be released to reduce water temperatures in the West Branch Delaware on June 11, one day before the rules allowed.

The Delaware River and its tributaries are critical to local economies. A 1998 study by Trout Unlimited and the American Sport fishing Association found that trout fishing in the East Branch, West Branch and main stem Delaware rivers generated almost $30 million in economic activity for Delaware County alone.

Lovers’ moon rendezvous

WURTSBORO — Stroll under the light of June’s full moon at the Basha Kill wetlands, on Sunday, June 23 at 8:00 p.m. Gary Keeton, the Basha Kill Area Association’s naturalist, will lead the walk.

Meet at the Haven Road parking area off Route 209 in the Town of Mamakating.

For more information call 845/888-4361 or 845/386-4892.

In pursuit of the deer, a nature walk

THOMPSON — It’s hard to believe that Pennsylvania’s state animal, the whitetail deer, was rarely seen in our area 100 years ago. Now, evidence of the deer is everywhere. Along the roads and highways, we see the bodies of animals that have been hit by cars. In the fall, the air rings with the sound of gunshots, as 225,000 does and bucks are taken by hunters. And homeowners in the countryside, small towns and city suburbs feel the impact of the deer when they discover that their flowers, shrubbery and garden vegetables have been devoured overnight.

“The white-tail deer is a big presence in this area,” said writer and amateur naturalist Trebbe Johnson. “Yet most people know very little about the life and habits of this animal that manages to survive—and thrive—so well under such diverse conditions.” Assembling a portrait of the deer will be the theme of a nature walk that Johnson will lead at Florence Shelly Preserve on Sunday, June 30 at 2:00 p.m.

Walking among the meadows, woodlands and pine plantations of the diverse 400-acre nature preserve, participants will search for deer and, more important, the subtle tracks and traces they leave behind. They will learn, for example, that newborn fawns have no scent and hence are protected from predators as they sleep, camouflaged, in dappled shade; that when a buck injures its antler, that antler will grow back skewed, year after year; that in the fall deer grow a special coat with hollow grayish-tan hairs, which provides such superb insulation that the animals can bed down in the snow without completely thawing it. Participants will complete the walk with a greater understanding of, and appreciation for, the white-tail deer that makes such an impact on their lives.

Trebbe Johnson’s nature writing has appeared widely, including Sierra, On Earth, The Los Angles Times and National Public Radio. She leads wilderness trips and vision quests in the U.S. and abroad and is a member of the Florence Shelly Stewardship Committee, which oversees the maintenance of the preserve.

The walk will last approximately two hours. Participants are advised to wear footwear appropriate for trekking in wetlands. The group will meet in the parking lot across from Stack Road, a mile north of Thompson on Route 171. For further information call 570/727-4272.

Harvest Market vendors sought

BETHEL — The Fall Harvest Festival begins its fourth season on Sunday, August 25 with the awards ceremony for Sullivan Renaissance 2002. The weekly farm and craft market will be open on each of the eight Sundays from the weekend before Labor Day to the weekend of Columbus Day, October 13.

The festival is located on Hurd Road at the site of the original Woodstock Festival, Day in the Garden concerts and the proposed Performing Arts Center. Hours are from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Weekly activities include music and entertainment, activities for children, hay wagon rides, scarecrows in the garden display and special events.

Agricultural, handmade craft and food vendors are being sought to expand the market this year.

The farm market section is coordinated by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Sullivan County. Regional producers of vegetables, cider, fall plants, meat and dairy goods are invited to sell their products. For farm information and an application, call 845/292-6180.

The craft area will be managed by Roosa Promotions of Wurtsboro. This is a juried weekly show open to artists and craftspeople. Work should be original by the exhibiting artist. For information and an application, contact online at www.roosapromotions.com or call 845/888-2425.

Food vendors and those interested in general information about the Fall Harvest Festival should call the Gerry Foundation at 845/295-2448.