Some stream gauges spared

[Joe D]

Partnership between multiple government agencies saves stream gauges

By Stephen Sacco
April 08, 2009 6:09 PM
PORT JERVIS — The stream gauge on the Delaware River between Port Jervis and Matamoras, Pa. has been saved from disconnection along with at least seven other gauges.



The stream gauges, important tools in predicting local floods, were slated to be disconnected by Department of Environmental Protection due to New York City’s budget crisis. On Wednesday Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, along with Assemblyman Kevin Cahill and U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey, announced that meetings involving multiple government agencies produced a plan to save at least eight of the roughly 50 stream gages slated to be disconnected. This included the Port Jervis gauge, which has been in operation for 105 years.



The eight gauges will be funded by U.S. Geological Survey with federal money, said Willie Rodriguez, director of the USGS New York Water Science Center. There is no expiration date on this funding, says Rodriguez.
Further, nine additional stream gauges will be funded through a partnership of federal and state agencies for at least the next year.



In response to outrage voiced by public officials, DEP had earlier agreed to keep two gauges in Delaware County and Rondout Creek in Ulster County.
“This is good news,” said Gary Babb, emergency management director for the Borough of Matamoras, Pa. “We depend on those gages and check them when we there is a storm.”



The gauges are also used to monitor water flow for recreation.
Every gauge used by the National Weather Service will remain open, with the exception of the stream gauge on the Delaware River at Callicoon, said Gary Firda, a USGS hydrologist. “We’re working on keeping Callicoon open too,” he added.



Callicoon, along with Barryville, still scheduled to be closed, and the gauge in the Town of Thompson, which so far isn’t in danger of closing, are the most important for Sullivan County, says Dick Martinkovic, emergency management director for Sullivan. “That’s New York City’s water (in the river) and those gauges were put there in the 1940 to help the towns,” he said.
ssacco@th-record.com