Will new flow plan slight the fishery?

By CHARLIE BUTERBAUGH

REGION — Few drops of the Delaware River flow unaccounted for these days.

Shared by four states and the nation’s largest city, the river is a servant to some 15 million people, about five percent of the U.S. population.

A new experimental plan, the three-year Interim Fishery Management Plan, in effect since May 1, is availing the river of some extra water and thus extra flexibility when it comes to protecting the prized Upper Delaware tailwater fisheries, according to Clarke Rupert, public information officer at the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC).

In the past, whenever there was a drought watch, releases from the Cannonsville, Pepacton and Neversink Reservoirs, which feed the Upper Delaware, were cut back to the absolute minimum. During mid-summer months, as decree parties worked to satisfy water supply needs of New York City and the southern basin states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, protective measures significantly altered Upper Delaware flows.

But re-licensing negotiations between the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and DRBC will allot more water from Lake Wallenpaupack for DRBC’s drought protection in the southern basin states, thus unburdening supplies in Cannonsville, Pepacton and Neversink.

Originally proposed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the interim plan is also providing time to gather ecological data to support a long-term management plan that will emphasize fishery protection. It will be proposed following the interim period.

“Our [DRBC’s] role is to facilitate discussion among decree parties and to provide support and good science-related information,” Rupert said.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is currently mapping the tailwaters with sonar technology and gathering data concerning the precise conditions needed to support a thriving natural habitat for trout and other aquatic species.

However, the plan set into motion a controversy between masters of the Delaware water supply and a group of fishery advocates, Friends of the Upper Delaware.

Formed just over a year ago by former Delaware River Foundation members who opposed the directors’ decision to support the conditions of the interim plan, Friends of the Upper Delaware stepped deep into the mire of fighting the new management strategy at least a month before it went into effect.

“We want the optimum amount of water for the fishery, the bi-product of which is a good economy,” said Al Caucci, vice president of communications for Friends of the Upper Delaware and part owner of the Delaware River Club, a lodge and guide service on the West Branch River, just outside of Hancock, NY.

“The goal of this study is to provide the minimum amount of water without killing the fish. And if you’re going to look for something negative, you will get it,” Caucci said.

“The goal of the study is to slight the fishery.”

The Friends of the Upper Delaware is calling for an end to “yo-yo releases,” its derisive term for the erratic conditions caused by inconsistent releases from the Cannonsville Reservoir. When enough water from Cannonsville flows into the West Branch, the cool releases sustain conditions needed for trout to feed and thrive.

While the interim plan has enacted minimum flow targets of 225 cubic feet per second (cfs) at Hale Eddy on the West Branch, 175 cfs at Harvard on the East Branch and 115 cfs at Bridgeville on the Neversink River, all to be overseen by DEC, Friends of the Upper Delaware members are calling for decree parties to approve a guaranteed constant release of 600 cfs from Cannonsville between May 15 and September 15.

“We’re big on releases. Flow will only get you so far; it won’t protect temperature,” said Jeff White, a guide who has been fishing the Delaware tailwaters for four years. He manages the Delaware River Club, where assistants look at USGS conditions six to seven times per day.

“I highly doubt that you could find anyone who would attest that the 225 cfs flow is a good thing. And I will drive around with anyone who says it is with a thermometer and show them that it is no good for temperatures,” Smith said.

“Anything above 70 degrees is not good for the fish.”

Bruce Miller of Olive, Ulster County has been keeping track of data since early June. He said daily average temperatures between the Cannonsville Reservoir and Hancock have exceeded the targeted daily average of 72 degrees five times over the past 10 days.

The resolution that lays out conditions of the interim plan directs DEC monitors to draw from banks of water to bring temperatures and flows back on target.

Come May 1 every year, the interim plan provides a flow bank of about seven billion gallons, to be used to maintain minimum flow targets, and a thermal bank of about six billion gallons, to maintain temperatures in designated downstream areas, Rupert said.

But Friends of the Upper Delaware is convinced that the interim plan is detrimental to the fishery and the local economy.

Business dropped off significantly when water levels dropped off and temperatures rose a few weeks ago, Smith said.

Ruby Milk, owner of Ruby’s Bagels and Café in Hancock, NY, said her business “died right off three to four weeks ago.” She serves lunches to anglers, often 30 per day when the conditions are good.

“This is an awful tough area. But I didn’t think I’d get this far. The fishermen are such a boost to keep us going,” Milk said.

Lee Hartman, vice president of operations for Friends of the Upper Delaware and Delaware River chairman of the Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited, said Friends of the Upper Delaware plans to go to the state legislature and inform them of what’s happening on the river.

“Two-hundred-and-twenty-five is a negotiated number, not one that was derived from the fishery,” Hartman said.

This is, however, the first time flow targets have been used above the Montague, N.J. gage. A U.S. Supreme Court Decree only prescribed that a minimum of 1,750 cfs flow by Montague at all times to ensure adequate supply to lower basin states.

Colin Apse, chair of the DRBC Subcommittee on Ecological Flows, said, “We’re essentially asking for changes in timing and management of releases. New York City feels it can’t be done under the current decree rules. This does not mean it can’t be done.

“[The subcommittee’s] role is to do the science necessary to create a better and longer-lasting protocol [release program] three years from now,” Apse said.

“We are sympathetic to those concerned about the fishery. What’s important is that DEC’s management must be the best over next three years.”

Increasing releases from the reservoir may be possible, Apse said; it would just necessitate revision in the 1954 decree.

Click here for pdf of map showing locations of reservoirs, aqueducts and flow gages in the Upper Delaware Basin.