Letter from the UDC on release policies

[The following letter was sent to the governors of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, and the mayor of New York City, on September 7.]

The Upper Delaware Council urges the Decree Parties to take immediate action to finalize an agreement to manage flows from the Delaware River Basin reservoirs and avoid the devastating impacts on our ecosystem and economy that a reversion to the 1983 operating plan would wreak on the Upper Delaware River Valley.

We are genuinely appreciative that the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP) initiated voluntary releases of additional water three months ago after the Flexible Flow Management Program expired on May 31, 2017 due to failure to reach unanimous consent on its renewal. Their decision essentially saved the river from harm during the summer season.

With NYC DEP’s announcement that it will begin ramping down releases ahead of implementing extremely low 1983 “Revision 1” release rates, there is a renewed urgency for the Decree Parties to work out a longer-term solution. 

As leaders of the four Delaware River Basin states and New York City, you are responsible for setting the tone in prioritizing the protection of the river system over hardball negotiating tactics that threaten to harm our vital ecology and tourism-based economy, including a world-class trout fishery and the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River unit of the National Park System.

Releases from Cannonsville Reservoir would decrease from 500 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 45 cfs on October 10, and 33 cfs on November 1. In flood situations, there are no spill mitigation provisions to help safeguard downstream people and property.

We implore the Decree Parties to break through the impasse in light of the serious and dire consequences that await otherwise. 

James A. Greier, Chairperson

Upper Delaware Council

Narrowsburg, NY

Open letter to Faso on DACA

Re: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

If we’re honest, fervor over immigration took a turn after the towers fell on 9/11/01. Terrorism and lawlessness became a prop for a bigotry never directed at the likes of McVeigh when he bombed the Murrah Building, or of Kaczynski after his [Unabomber] bombing spree.

We speak of ourselves as a nation of laws. Where does our bigotry and hypocrisy figure?

For generations, U.S. consumers and businesses welcomed illegal labor because it was cheap—to pick our food and build our homes, to scrub our toilets and wash our floors. We didn’t question who provided it or how it was being provided.

Where is our accountability for what we’ve cultivated? Now that Donald Trump has rescinded DACA, who will speak for the children—raised as Americans, by parents doing what we’ve asked them to do? If this is American exceptionalism, I’ll have none of it—not in my name.

It’s my understanding you [Faso] support legislation for young people previously protected under DACA to remain here permanently. If you do, this would be a good time to lead.

Dave Colavito

Rock Hill, NY

Who’s the real culprit?

A fascinating political statement was made by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) on their denial of the pipeline permits. In essence, they said that the present and future carbon footprint of every project should be considered as part of their impact statement. To carry their logic forward, every development, house, transportation plan, school improvement, business plan, or highway project should also be vetted in the same manner—which, for reasons of expense and expertise, would render any New York project dead before it got started.

One would wonder [about] the environmental impact of the NYSDEC public hearings, with 250 cars with one or two riders from around the state descending to input their two cents on other people’s environmental damages. I’m sure The River Reporter could also dramatically reduce its carbon footprint by eliminating its print newspaper and stick with the online version.

While it’s nice to attack the big oil/gas boogie man, it’s really us driving the problem (forgive the pun). Over 20% of the world’s climate-damaging CO2 has been produced by the roughly 4% of the global population who live here in America.

There has yet to be a strident editorial from The River Reporter in the 15 years I have been reading it asking for real sacrifice from the real culprits of earth destruction. Of course, that would alienate some readers who are sure that finger-pointing is the solution.

Charles Petersheim

Eldred, NY