HAWLEY, PA — The last time there was a meeting of the Delaware River Basin Commission’s (DRBC) Regulated Flow Advisory Committee (RFAC), many of the attendees were disappointed that the people at the top of the hierarchy regarding control of the flow of the Upper Delaware River did not attend the meeting.

The flow of the river is determined by a Supreme Court Decree from 1954 under a scheme currently known as the Flexible Flow Management Plan, which dictates releases from three New York City Reservoirs that ultimately reach the Delaware River.

It is a complex set of arrangements that cannot be changed unless all five of the so-called decree-party principals agree to the terms. The five principals come from Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and New York City.

The last meeting, which took place in December 2015, brought a bit of scorn from some of the participants. The executive director of Friends of the Upper Delaware River (FUDR) Jeff Skelding said at the time, “Our inability to get an audience with the decree-party principals is frustrating. Our constituents feel left out, which engenders suspicion, frustration and occasional hostility.”

But this time around, the mood in advance of the meeting is decidedly more upbeat, with many members expecting the five principals to show up.

A statement from FUDR reads, “On April 5, 2016 the entire Delaware River conservation community expects that the five key decision makers from PA, NY, NJ, DE, and NYC who must unanimously approve this plan are coming to Hawley, PA to provide us with a progress update and to hear our concerns and ideas about the future of the river.”

It further says, “Let’s fill the room and make sure the decision makers know that the management of this river affects more than 15 million lives, and a transparent process with the full participation of all watershed stakeholders is critical. Tell them we need a plan that protects aquatic habitat, provides for multiple water resource needs from upstate NY to the Delaware Bay, ensures consistent water releases/flows for recreational enjoyment, and enhances tourism opportunities to help those who rely on the river for their economic livelihoods.”

The meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 5, at the Lake Wallenpaupack Environmental Learning Center in Hawley, from 1 to 4 p.m.

Fishing and recreation advocates have been meeting with various representatives regarding adjusting the flows in the Upper Delaware to meet the desires of trout fishing enthusiasts along with the desires of the other groups who have a stake in the flows of the river.