WEST TRENTON, N.J. (January 23, 1997) -- The Delaware River Basin Commission has taken action to reduce the potential impact of flood damage downstream of a major water supply reservoir at the headwaters of the Delaware River.

By a unanimous vote, the Commission passed a resolution yesterday calling for levels in New York City's Pepacton Reservoir to be lowered to create capacity for flood water storage. New York City officials, who attended the Commission's regular monthly meeting here, concurred with the decision.

The reservoir is located on the East Branch of the Delaware River just upstream of Downsville, N.Y. The impoundment currently is over 99 percent full, holding 139 billion gallons of water -- an unprecedently high volume for this time of year. Early last month, with Pepacton spilling, a storm triggered flooding downstream of the reservoir.

The Commission's action creates a temporary management structure under which the rate of lowering releases from Pepacton shall be established by the Commission's executive director in consultation with New York City and the Delaware River Master.

The river master, a position created in 1954 by the U.S. Supreme Court, is a U.S. Geological Survey employee who determines the amount of water to be released from Pepacton and two other New York City water supply reservoirs to meet downstream flow targets on the Delaware.

According to the agreement reached yesterday, "when the storage level in Pepacton is five billion gallons below full, the releases shall be operated as necessary to maintain that level as practically as possible during the month of February 1997. During March 1997, if conditions allow, the Pepacton Reservoir shall be allowed to refill by April 1, 1997."

The Commission and New York City agreed to offset or replace any loss of available water supply that is attributed to lowered storage levels in Pepacton for potential flood protection by an equal reduction in the quantity of water available for releases to the river this summer. Normal rainfall and possible snowpack runoff this spring, however, could easily replace the water evacuated for flood protection, thus negating this offset provision.

The Commission is responsible for managing the water resources in the 13,539 square-mile Delaware River Basin. Its members are the governors of the four basin states (Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and New York) and the U.S. Secretary of the Interior.

Following the vote, William N. Stasiuk, a deputy commissioner in New York City's Department of Environmental Protection, thanked the three lower basin states for their cooperation which made the action possible.

Contact: Christopher Roberts 609-883-9500 ext. 205
croberts@drbc.state.nj.us

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