River Management Plan discussed

Small crowd a contrast to the early days

By SANDY LONG

NARROWSBURG, NY — It took more than 10 years and considerable effort to finalize the River Management Plan (RMP) in 1986. Contentious meetings and, at one point, a crowd of more than 600 were cited in a retelling of its history recently when the Upper Delaware Council (UDC) hosted a workshop focused on river valley land-use practices as specified in the RMP.

The free workshop drew just over 20 members of the public, who listened to accounts of the RMP’s history. Local planner Thomas Shepstone described the lengthy and challenging process of developing the plan, including several memorable “battles,” which finally resulted in success on the third attempt to achieve a cooperative outcome.

“Local concerns and national issues came together in a plan that offers a great deal of flexibility,” said Shepstone. The RMP is intended to provide guidelines for local municipalities while honoring their home-rule authority.

Attendee Laurie Stuart, publisher of The River Reporter, raised concerns over the RMP’s ability to effectively protect the region’s natural resources. “I can not emphasize enough that the plan alone will not protect this area,” said Stuart. “It calls on us to be ever vigilant and remain civically involved.”

Another issue relates to the need for updating the plan, which has not occurred since its creation and does not address current practices related to stormwater and sewage regulations, nor technological developments such as cell towers and windmills. Ironically, according to the RMP, the citing of power lines and gas drilling are named as incompatible uses.Senior resource specialist Dave Soete acknowledged that the plan lacks enforcement powers and that the UDC can make comments but does not possess any regulatory authority. Shepstone remarked that ridgeline development guidelines were another area that could be addressed in an update. The effort is currently awaiting funding, and several presenters expressed their opinions that this would not occur in the near future.

The UDC marks its 20th year of operation in 2008, since its incorporation in 1988 as a not-for-profit organization comprised of some of the New York towns and Pennsylvania townships that border the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River (UDS&RR), as well as the State of New York, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Delaware River Basin Commission working in partnership with the National Park Service to cooperatively conserve the shared river resource.

The 30th anniversary of the Congression-al designation of the UDS&RR and the 40th anniversary of the enactment of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act will also be celebrated this year. For more information email the UDC at udcramie@hvc.rr.com or call 845/252-3022.