4/06/2009 issue of Wayne Independent

UDC concerned over river gauge funds.

By Peter Becker
Wayne Independent
Mon Apr 06, 2009, 05:21 PM EDT
 
NARROWSBURG, NY -
A letter of concern is being dispatched to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), urging that alternate funding be found to maintain stream gauges in the Upper Delaware, now that the City of New York plans to partially stop funding.

The letter, composed by the Upper Delaware Council (UDC), highlights the importance of the gauges. “...They provide critically invaluable information for flood protection, recreational use, and biological needs for aquatic habitat,” says the letter, to be signed by UDC Chairman George J. Fluhr. “We hope the USGS will pursue other sources of funding and keep all of the stream gauges operating.”

A statement by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP) on March 16 indicated their proposed reduction of funding for USGS stream gauges in New York State, including some in the Delaware River watershed.

Don Hamilton, natural resource specialist with the National Park Service, said at a recent UDC committee session that each gauge costs about $18,000 to operate. The USGS pays for 60 percent of the expenditure, and the NYC DEP has been paying the rest. Hamilton said that the list of which gauges to drop had not been finalized. The City may decide to prioritize which ones to eliminate, but the UDC committee felt that all of them were necessary to monitor flooding potential.

The City of New York is involved because they own the reservoirs that link to the Delaware River at its source.  The Cannonsville Reservoir, on the West Branch, and the Pepacton, on the East Branch, are used to supply water for the City. Al Bowers, the UDC delegate for Westfall Township, said that the letter should be copied to the NYC DEP as well.

“We should tell DEP that we understand their budget crunch but they are their reservoirs, and any problems on the Delaware are due to their reservoirs,” Bowers remarked.

Commented Charles Weiland, UDC delegate for the Town of Tusten, “New York [DEP] doesn’t care what happens below the reservoirs.” Weiland added this may be a good thing if other funding partners can be found, since he would rather NYC DEP wasn’t involved in paying for the gauges.

They determined to have the committee develop a second letter and send it to the City water authorities.
A press release from NYC DEP states that an analysis done to see how expenses may be cut showed that not all of the gauges were serving their original, intended purpose. The plan is to discontinue funding for 22 gauges this year, and continue funding 74 gauges into 2010.

“Any reductions in funding will not impact our ability to operate the water supply or to meet our reservoir release obligations,” said the DEP statement. Only two of the gauges that would not be funded by DEP are used by the National Weather Service for stream flow and flood forecasting data, according to DEP.

Most of the affected gauges are not directly on the Upper Delaware. The gauge on the Delaware at Callicoon, NY would have funding cut in 2010. Funds would be slashed this year for gauges on the Delaware at Barryville and Pond Eddy, NY. Another at Port Jervis would have funding cut in 2010
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Funds would be cut next year for the gauge on the East Branch at Roxbury, NY, and the one on the West Branch at Hobart, NY.

The entire list of affected gauges, and a map, may be found at the NYC DEP web site, www.nyc.gov/html/DEP.