By Linda Seida
Groups that advocate for better management of New York’s reservoirs in the wake of major flooding in recent years in the Lambertville-New Hope region have urged an immediate lowering of reservoir levels to prevent another flood.
”All three reservoirs will soon start spilling,” Drowning on the Delaware President Chuck Schroeder said in a statement.
Conservancy groups including Drowning on the Delaware, the Delaware Riverside Conservancy and Residents Against Flood Trends have sent letters to the governors of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and New York as well as the mayor of New York City, asking them to call for the release of water at three New York reservoirs “to the maximum extent feasible for a period of at least 30 days.” They also asked for an evaluation of hydrologic conditions.
”For once, let’s put aside the ‘gamesmanship’ and make an honest effort to provide real and unconditional benefits to the watershed,” the letter said.
Signatories included the North Delaware River Watershed Conservancy, Friends of the Upper Delaware River, Aquatic Conservation Unlimited and Trout Unlimited Inc.
According to Aquatic Conservation Unlimited, the Pepacton reservoir was at 96.3 percent capacity on Dec. 19. The Cannonsville was at 94.3 percent and the Rondout was at 93.7 percent. Collectively they were at 91.7 percent, while “normal” capacity is 74.9 percent, according to the organization.
Communities on the Delaware River, including Lambertville, Stockton and New Hope, experienced three major floods in recent years, in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
”How many floods will we need to endure before the governors and Mayor (Michael) Bloomberg do the right thing and use these reservoirs to prevent flooding?” said Delaware Riverside Conservancy Director Gail Pedrick. Ms. Pedrick’s New Hope house flooded three times.
In their letter to the governors and the mayor, the groups said another flood could be expected if the reservoirs are full at the beginning of the year and winter storms and snow pack runoff contribute to the reservoirs’ fill.
