See below comments from ACU President, Elaine Reichart regarding the "Temporary IERQ Extraordinary Needs Bank Releases Program for Summer 2009. "

Hi Everyone,

A few "back of the envelope" facts about the "Temporary IERQ Extraordinary Needs Bank Releases Program for Summer 2009 "  This plan is JUST for one Reservoir - Cannonsville.  They have completely ignored the other two - Pepacton and Neversink.

The "new" summer schedule lowers the Montague flow by  64 million gallons a day (100 cfs) -  every day.  The RiverMaster, by law, would have to direct NYC to let out water to maintain the River now at 1750 cfs instead of 1850 cfs.  The extra 64 million gallons of water a day will now get stored in the Reservoir . (Cannonsville)
A full third of what is being given up will be "banked."

"...A quantity of 3,255 cfs-days of water shall be retained in the Interim Excess Release Quantity Extraordinary Needs Bank for such purposes as may be approved in accordance with Section 4.d of the Flexible Flow Management Program."

Unfortunately the track record of "banked waters" is not good.  Historically, fully 50% of the "banked water" (in the past called ERQ) was never released by NY because of fears that NYC might need to release the banked water if a drought hit.  (In other words, they hoarded the conservation releases and never let 50 % of this "banked water" out of the Reservoirs.)

So, give up 64 mgd and the aquatic life in the West branch this summer get marginally a bit more water - 25 mgd to 40 mgd EXTRA(maybe):

From now until July 1st ONLY IF Cannonsville is between 70% and 90%.

From July 1st until September 1st, Cannonsville will release between approximately 25 mgd to 40 mgds additional water ONLY IF Cannonsville capacity is between 50% and 83%

If the Cannonsville Reservoir never gets below 90% this summer, then NYC gets to keep the banked water in Cannonsville, and never release it.

Seems like a sure bet to me... And the "HOUSE" (NYC) wins again......

This I can tell you  -

The PA Fish and Boat Commission and their Counterparts in NY State had nothing to do with the formulation of this plan - because it does NOT adequately protect the Dwarf Wedge Mussel or the Rainbow Trout and it's life cycle requirements.  They have been asking for more water than what was given....(It was their letter to the DRBC that stopped the vote on the FFMP because of conservation concerns.)

So one needs to ask -

Are the DRBC a bunch of incompetent fools - or are they fully cognizant of what they have put together and are complicit in purposely mismanaging the Reservoirs and the River.....
More to come on this as we analyze it further......
Elaine
 
Elaine Reichart
President, ACU