Same old flow woes

Barring substantial rainfall, such as we experienced in late April and May, the Delaware is headed towards another environmental tragedy. You might ask, why is he writing such nonsense? Why, all you have to do is look at the river, flowing bank full, to see that there is plenty of water running downstream. Some even feel that there is too much water in the West Branch of the Delaware. The river temperature yesterday, way down towards Milanville, was only 68 degrees at two o’clock in the afternoon. That means that the trout are enjoying comfortable temperatures all the way down to Calkins Creek and beyond. The river is in great shape, so what is that fool Tangler worrying about?

Do the math gentle reader and you will see that as the refrain from an old rock song used to go, “we’re on the edge of destruction.” Two weeks ago Cannonsville reservoir was 60 percent full. In one week, it fell to 53 percent. That is a loss of seven percent in one week. At this rate of flow, how many more weeks before Cannonsville is a mere puddle as it was last year? Any fifth grade boy or girl should be able to figure that out. Last year the misguided water release program followed by the City of New York caused severe environmental degradation to the fish and aquatic insect life of the river. We are blindly galloping down that same road again. Any fool should be able to recognize that we desperately need a more balanced flow release from the dams. This should be implemented AT ONCE. The flow coming from Cannonsville should be reduced. The flow from Pepacton should be increased. At this writing, there is twice as much water behind the dam at Pepacton as there is at Cannonsville. Neverthe less, water is pouring out of Cannonsville, while a mere trickle is flowing from Pepacton. This is crazy. It should be as obvious as the schnozola on this scribbler’s face that lacking a more balanced flow release, the Delaware is faced with another flow disaster.

Unfortunately, at this time the rivermaster has no control over which reservoir the releases come from. Like Martin Luther King, I have a dream. Someone at the Delaware River Basin Commission finally has the cojones to stand up to New York City and directs the City as to which reservoir the flows are to come from. The City cries that the DRBC does not have the authority to do this. The DRBC then sues the City to obtain that authority. A judge decides to, “let the river flow,” and decides in favor of the DRBC. The Delaware is rescued from the villain’s clutches... then I wake up and Cannonsville is down another seven percent.

When will someone at the DRBC put on a white cowboy hat, saddle up and come riding, riding, to the rescue of our river?

If not the DRBC, maybe Dave Forney of the National Park Service will make some noise down in Washington in favor of the river he is charged with protecting. (Talk to Congressman Hinchey Mr. Forney. He stated at the August 13th Day on the Delaware proceedings, sponsored by the Delaware River Foundation, that he would seek to help the river).

Isn’t there anyone out there feeling enough outrage to finally say enough is enough? I have this dream...