CP2: a comprehensive flow solution

By NAT GILLESPIE and RON URBAN

A coalition of conservation groups has spent many hours to develop a water release policy from New York City reservoirs that is a “win-win” for local communities, the river, and New York City and the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC). The CP2 Adaptive Release Policy provides a solution that meets water supply needs without additional drought risk, while protecting the Delaware River’s ecology, improving the recreational opportunities for local communities, and increasing the voids in the reservoirs compared to the Delaware River Basin Commission’s (DRBC) proposed Flexible Flow Management Plan (FFMP).

CP2 (see drarp.org ) accomplishes these goals in several ways. By adapting water releases to levels in the reservoir, CP2 provides more water when there is water to give, but protects water supply by reducing water releases when reservoirs are lower. CP2 ensures more consistent releases into the rivers, protecting the ecology of the rivers, including the main stem Delaware, and creates a more stable recreational environment. CP2 greatly increases habitat for trout and shad in the main stem Delaware River—fish that provide a multimillion-dollar industry to the region. By releasing more water when reservoirs are higher, CP2 reduces spill over the dams and creates larger late summer voids in the reservoirs during years when rainfall is above average—a benefit to downstream communities concerned about flooding.

The conservation coalition is about bringing people and different interests together, and developing a common-sense answer that meets the bottom line for local communities, the rivers, New York City and the DRBC. New York City and the DRBC have held steadfastly that any water-release policy must not exceed a defined limit of total “drought days.” The conservation coalition’s policy CP2 exceeds that limit by four percent, and we have demonstrated that a four percent increase in “drought days” presents no real risk to water supply.

The River Reporter’s readers may have read statements by Friends of the Upper Delaware (FUDR) claiming they have their own “solution” for the region. Unfortunately, their release proposal is misleading and unworkable, and could lead to deadlock on the needed changes in the works for the Upper Delaware basin. FUDR’s plan would create more than a 100 percent increase in the defined limit of total “drought days.” In fact, the FUDR plan would more than double the length of droughts in the Delaware River basin. This makes their plan reckless, not just for water supply, but for fish. When the reservoirs cross that drought threshold, the water releases drop substantially, and it is the rivers that pay the price. All of the benefits of higher releases will be lost when flows plummet during more frequent drought events. But FUDR’s message sounds great because it promises big water releases and large voids in the reservoirs all year—even though they must know their plan is not feasible.

The real issue here is whether New York City will realistically look at drought risk and whether the DRBC will continue to dictate the needs of the communities in the region. For years, progress on managing the Upper Delaware River reservoirs has been hindered because of the perception from the decision-makers that the fishermen are all unreasonable, and that there is no unified voice from upstate. FUDR’s irresponsible accusations serve only to divide and weaken our collective position.

The real solution is for residents and businesses of the Upper Delaware to get together and demand that New York City allow more water to be released sensibly, and that water releases be based on science as in CP2. New York City and DRBC know that the same amount of water will go down the river every year. They know that CP2 only shifts the pattern of water releases to benefit recreation, protect the health of the rivers and increase voids in the reservoirs during wet years. We urge readers to convert their frustration into action, and tell New York City and the DRBC that a slight increase in “drought days” is well worth the benefits to Catskills communities and their rivers.

(Nat Gillespie is a fisheries scientist with Trout Unlimited, and Ron Urban is the chairman of NY Trout Unlimited.)