Delaware flow decision today 4pm

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Answer may come today on reservoirs’ water release

By Diane Mastrull
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

New York City could indicate as early as today whether it intends to honor Gov. Rendell's request to release more water from its three overflowing reservoirs in the Catskills as a hedge against flooding along the Delaware River.

Officials from the four basin states - Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Delaware - along with representatives from New York City, are scheduled to participate in a conference call beginning at 4 p.m.

The participants are parties to a 1954 Supreme Court decree that has provided the framework for water-flow management in the basin. Under that agreement, any changes to flow rules must be unanimously approved by the five decree parties.

In an April 2 letter, Rendell urged them to approve a temporary change through the month to allow for increased releases from the reservoirs "in order to provide for improved flood mitigation." It was the first time Rendell has acknowledged a possible link between the Catskill reservoirs - which provide drinking water to New York residents - and Delaware River flooding.

It is a link currently without scientific proof. But it is one that flood victims downriver in Pennsylvania and New Jersey have been trying for years to get Rendell and New Jersey Gov. Corzine to recognize.

They have been lobbying for permanent storage space - or voids - of up to 20 percent in the New York reservoirs. Their theory is that voids would enable the reservoirs to catch rainfall for a more-controlled release to the river.

Their crusade was triggered by three floods in less than two years. Those events - in September 2004, April 2005 and June 2006 - caused nine deaths and more than $70 million in property damage in the 13,539-square-mile basin.

But it's the river's more historically predominant problem - drought - that has driven New York City to keep its reservoirs full in these rainy season months leading to summer. Nine million residents from Ulster County, N.Y., to Queens are served by the reservoirs.

Before the most recent floods, the river had stayed within its banks since August 1955, when crests as high as 28.6 feet were reported. That remains the Delaware's flood of record.

Since then, the other decree parties have shared New York City's drought-oriented perspective. They have supported keeping the reservoirs full not only to meet the water needs of New York residents, but those of 2.5 million people in Philadelphia, Bucks County and South Jersey. Maintaining adequate flows for the river's renowned trout fisheries was also a priority.

Together, the reservoirs hold 270 billion gallons of water - enough to cover Philadelphia in 10 feet of water.