DRBC Agrees to Protect Our Trout

A cool fog rises over the West Branch of the Delaware river near Deposit, NY following a cold water release from the Cannonsville Reservoir.
Today, July 22, 2008 – High summer temps. have led to Main Stem water temps. in the low 80’s at least twice already in 2008. NY, PA, DE, NJ and New York City all agreed to allow NYDEC to release up to a billion gallons of water under the FFMP.
This effort may help protect trout in the upper Delaware River from high temps. that result during hot weather and low water levels.
If water temps. rise, the NYDEC is permitted to release water from Cannonsville Reservoir between now and September 15, but not to exceed one billion gallons in total.
Experts predict that this volume of water should address the needs of the upper main stem of the Delaware River under extreme heat conditions.
Water can be released when the three day average of forecast high temperatures in Hancock, NY exceeds 90 deg. and the minimum exceeds 65 deg.
Air temperature forecasts will come from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation's meteorological staff working with the National Weather Service. The new plan temporarily modifies the flexible flow management plan already in place to control reservoir releases.