Normal Operations

Combined storage is in the normal zone of the rule curve.
 

Allowable Diversion by New York City	800 million gallons per day
Allowable Diversion by New Jersey	100 million gallons per day
Trenton flow target	3,000 cubic feet per second
Montague flow target	1,750 cubic feet per second

 
Drought Watch*

Entered when combined storage drops into the drought watch zone on the rule curve and remains there for five consecutive days.
 

Allowable Diversion by New York City	680 million gallons per day
Allowable Diversion by New Jersey	100 million gallons per day
Trenton flow target	2,700 cubic feet per second
Montague flow target	1,655 cubic feet per second

* Based on the two-year New York State Experimental Fisheries Program, Docket D-77-20 (Rev. 4).

Drought Warning*

Entered on the day when combined storage drops into the drought warning zone.
 

Allowable Diversion by New York City	560 million gallons per day
Allowable Diversion by New Jersey	70 million gallons per day
Trenton flow target	2,700 cubic feet per second
Montague flow target	1,550 cubic feet per second

 
 * Based on the two-year New York State Experimental Fisheries Program, Docket D-77-20 (Rev. 4). 

Drought

Entered when combined storage drops into the drought zone and remains there for five consecutive days.
 

Allowable Diversion by New York City	520 million gallons per day
Allowable Diversion by New Jersey	65 million gallons per day
Trenton flow target**	2,500-2,900 cubic feet per second
Montague flow target**	1,100-1,650 cubic feet per second

 
** The target is dependant on the location of the 7-day 250 mg/l chloride concentration in the Delaware estuary.

Section 2.5 of the DRBC Water Code contains detailed information regarding drought operations. Due to the relatively large storage capacity of the New York City reservoirs, dry soil conditions, reduced streamflows and lowered ground water levels often occur well before the DRBC's drought warning trigger is reached. These related drought conditions are addressed in drought managment plans of the four basin states - New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.