FRIENDS OF THE UPPER DELAWARE RIVER
February, 28, 2007
DRBC’S “FLEXIBLE FLOW MANAGEMENT PLAN” (FFMP) AN OUTRAGE TO FAMOUS WILD TROUT FISHERY & ECO-TOURISM INDUSTRY
FUDR finds the new DRBC proposal, called the Flexible Flow Management Plan (FFMP), to be extremely disturbing. To be blunt – we think it’s an outrage.
It is beyond comprehension that the DRBC would contemplate a water release plan that would be so damaging to the angler, the fishery, the eco-tour boating industry, the aquatic insects and the local economies.
Simply put the FFMP plan means the following releases will be in effect for the West Branch and Main Stem Delaware Rivers from the Cannonsville Reservoir:
4/1 – 4/30: 80 cfs
5/1 – 5/31: 180 cfs
6/1 – 8/31: 250 cfs
The virtual certainty of mandated voids in the Cannonsville Reservoir for flood protection (per the up coming Revision IX, also scheduled for 2007) means that there will be no “spilling” from Cannonsville in April or May, thus, you could expect a ridiculously low 80 cfs release throughout the month of April and the similarly low 180 cfs release throughout May (it takes a min. of 325cfs release just to cover the riverbed).
With this release regime, and no spillage, you can expect that when air temperatures reach into the high seventies and above, the water temperatures in the West Branch and the Main Stem will hit 70-80 degrees from above Hale Eddy on the West Branch, all the way to Callicoon on the Main Stem. Only the first 6 miles of the West Branch would be cool enough for fishing, reducing the entire 50 mile West Branch/Main Stem fishery to 6 miles. Absolutely incredible!
If implemented as currently designed, the FFMP will be even worse than the existing failed Revision VII plan because FFMP provides no relief when water temperatures reach or exceed 72 degrees at Long Eddy which is included in Rev.VII.
Throughout the period June 1 – August 31, the max. release will only be 250 cfs. Again air temps at 80 degrees F. and higher will produce water temperatures in the 75-80 degree range, severely damaging the wild trout and insect populations throughout the West Branch and Main Stem. Some relief may be afforded if incremental releases are required to satisfy the Montague flow target, usually in late June or July. In recent years, however, these releases have been curtailed because of heavy PPL releases from Lake Wallenpaupack down the Lackawaxen which have greatly reduced the need for water releases from Cannonsville.
With releases from Cannonsville at only 80-250 cfs during the spring and summer and air temperatures in the upper 70’s to 90’s, you can expect water temperatures in the West Branch, and down the Main Stem, to reach levels that are lethal to trout and devastating to daytime hatching of aquatic insects throughout 80% of the existing fishery. Obviously, there will be little or no fishing, as should be well known by anyone with experience on the River. Moreover, the low water levels resulting from the 80-250 cfs release regime will leave much of the riverbed exposed to a “bone yard “ status (even in the middle of the River) with no place for the trout to escape from wading fishermen.
Again, as stated earlier, an 80-250 cfs release regime will shrink a 50- mile fishery to only 6 miles. Imagine thousands of fishermen crowded into such a small area. The inevitable consequence will be a drastic reduction in fishing and much less business for the local economies. Along with the fishermen, “the plan” will devastate the entire fishing, eco-tourism industries and the economy of the area; guides, lodges, hotels/motels, restaurants, canoe and kayak rentals and many other businesses and individuals that rely on fishing, eco-tourism related spending.
Incredibly, this “plan” all but eliminates floating the river with drift boats, canoes, kayaks and individual floating devices on the West Branch even in April, May and most of June, as it is all but impossible to float with an 80-250 cfs release, unless the tributaries were swollen with rain water. Floating the West Branch requires a flow of at least 400 cfs, which means there would be no floating until the triggered releases begin in the summer, well after the prime fishing season. The upper Main Stem needs a 1,000 – 1200cfs flow for floating unless the boater is willing and able to do a great deal of dragging over shallow spots. This would practically eliminate the fishing for elderly and handicapped fishermen and for families with young children who can’t wade or can’t readily get in and out of boats that must be pushed over gravel bars.
As is widely known, FUDR put forth a proposal more than 3 years ago calling for a minimum constant release of 600 cfs from Cannonsville from mid May through mid September and practically begged all concerned parties to support this plan. The 600 would be sufficient for both waders and floaters, would keep the entire West Branch and Main Stem to Lordville (even in the summer) under 70 degrees and would maintain and increase the insect and wild trout population. The need for FUDR’s plan has never been more obvious. The advent of the DRBC’s FFMP scheme and the most certain probability of mandated voids make the FUDR plan (or something close thereto) an absolute necessity.
The FUDR plan is predicated on historic releases and data recorded on USGS gauges showing that releases from Cannonsville from mid May through mid September exceeded 640 cfs on average over a 25 year period. Moreover, an impressive study conducted by Dr. Peter Kolesar and Columbia University for FUDR shows that a constant release of 600 cfs from Cannonsville during the months of June through September would have little or no ill effect on NYC or other downstream users. Kolesar’s conclusion on page 37 of his report states “A constant release policy on all three branches of the Delaware can work to improve conditions for the fish without imperiling either NYC or the downstream users – except in the most dire of circumstances.” – it goes on to also state “100% FUDR (600 cfs) creates some small user risk – 50% FUDR (300 cfs) is essentially risk free.” The study was conducted without including the almost 50 billion gallons of water in the Rondout Reservoir. Moreover, the work was done using the existing, overly conservative, drought curves. Importantly, the constant 600 cfs release does not affect, nor require adjustments, for the mandated release from Montague target. Dr. Kolesar also showed that there is no statistically significant relationship between reservoir levels on September 30th and the following June 1st, thereby undermining NYC’s long employed excuse for restricting releases on the grounds that the “drought of the century is starting today”.
Another study commissioned a number of years go by Trout Unlimited by Dr. Piotr Parasiewicz, then at Cornell University, titled “Strategy for Sustainable Management of the Upper Delaware River Basin,” concluded that 600 cfs were available. In fact, Dr. Parasiewicz recommended adoption of a constant minimum release regime of 600 cfs from early Spring to early fall, and a 300 cfs release regime for the remainder of the year. When the study was completed, it was widely distributed. Moreover, TU summarized the study – advocating that a 600 cfs release regime be adopted – in articles they published in leading fly fishing magazines. FUDR has a complete, un-redacted, copy of the study on our website (Friends of the Upper Delaware River Home Page) as well as the Kolesar/Columbia study.
In conclusion, we ask that the Delaware River advocacy agencies and groups partner with FUDR in support of our release proposal of approximately 600 cfs from mid May through mid September. Simply put, the FUDR plan would not only protect the fishery and the local economies, it would also improve the fishery and extend productive fishing into a 7- month season instead of a few months. FUDR also needs your support in seeking scientifically based drought curves instead of the existing arbitrary/overly conservative ones that block all recommendations to improve the fishery. The inclusion of Rondout reservoir storage must also be taken into account in flow and release calculations involving the destiny of the fishery.
We recognize that in low water years, all River users will have to make equal sacrifices which FUDR is willing to accept. However, in the vast majority of years, there is more than enough water in the system to provide for the fishery without affecting NYC or other down stream users as can be seen from the science already in hand.
Craig Findley
President
Friends of the Upper Delaware River
February, 28, 2007
DRBC’S “FLEXIBLE FLOW MANAGEMENT PLAN” (FFMP) AN OUTRAGE TO FAMOUS WILD TROUT FISHERY & ECO-TOURISM INDUSTRY
FUDR finds the new DRBC proposal, called the Flexible Flow Management Plan (FFMP), to be extremely disturbing. To be blunt – we think it’s an outrage.
It is beyond comprehension that the DRBC would contemplate a water release plan that would be so damaging to the angler, the fishery, the eco-tour boating industry, the aquatic insects and the local economies.
Simply put the FFMP plan means the following releases will be in effect for the West Branch and Main Stem Delaware Rivers from the Cannonsville Reservoir:
4/1 – 4/30: 80 cfs
5/1 – 5/31: 180 cfs
6/1 – 8/31: 250 cfs
The virtual certainty of mandated voids in the Cannonsville Reservoir for flood protection (per the up coming Revision IX, also scheduled for 2007) means that there will be no “spilling” from Cannonsville in April or May, thus, you could expect a ridiculously low 80 cfs release throughout the month of April and the similarly low 180 cfs release throughout May (it takes a min. of 325cfs release just to cover the riverbed).
With this release regime, and no spillage, you can expect that when air temperatures reach into the high seventies and above, the water temperatures in the West Branch and the Main Stem will hit 70-80 degrees from above Hale Eddy on the West Branch, all the way to Callicoon on the Main Stem. Only the first 6 miles of the West Branch would be cool enough for fishing, reducing the entire 50 mile West Branch/Main Stem fishery to 6 miles. Absolutely incredible!
If implemented as currently designed, the FFMP will be even worse than the existing failed Revision VII plan because FFMP provides no relief when water temperatures reach or exceed 72 degrees at Long Eddy which is included in Rev.VII.
Throughout the period June 1 – August 31, the max. release will only be 250 cfs. Again air temps at 80 degrees F. and higher will produce water temperatures in the 75-80 degree range, severely damaging the wild trout and insect populations throughout the West Branch and Main Stem. Some relief may be afforded if incremental releases are required to satisfy the Montague flow target, usually in late June or July. In recent years, however, these releases have been curtailed because of heavy PPL releases from Lake Wallenpaupack down the Lackawaxen which have greatly reduced the need for water releases from Cannonsville.
With releases from Cannonsville at only 80-250 cfs during the spring and summer and air temperatures in the upper 70’s to 90’s, you can expect water temperatures in the West Branch, and down the Main Stem, to reach levels that are lethal to trout and devastating to daytime hatching of aquatic insects throughout 80% of the existing fishery. Obviously, there will be little or no fishing, as should be well known by anyone with experience on the River. Moreover, the low water levels resulting from the 80-250 cfs release regime will leave much of the riverbed exposed to a “bone yard “ status (even in the middle of the River) with no place for the trout to escape from wading fishermen.
Again, as stated earlier, an 80-250 cfs release regime will shrink a 50- mile fishery to only 6 miles. Imagine thousands of fishermen crowded into such a small area. The inevitable consequence will be a drastic reduction in fishing and much less business for the local economies. Along with the fishermen, “the plan” will devastate the entire fishing, eco-tourism industries and the economy of the area; guides, lodges, hotels/motels, restaurants, canoe and kayak rentals and many other businesses and individuals that rely on fishing, eco-tourism related spending.
Incredibly, this “plan” all but eliminates floating the river with drift boats, canoes, kayaks and individual floating devices on the West Branch even in April, May and most of June, as it is all but impossible to float with an 80-250 cfs release, unless the tributaries were swollen with rain water. Floating the West Branch requires a flow of at least 400 cfs, which means there would be no floating until the triggered releases begin in the summer, well after the prime fishing season. The upper Main Stem needs a 1,000 – 1200cfs flow for floating unless the boater is willing and able to do a great deal of dragging over shallow spots. This would practically eliminate the fishing for elderly and handicapped fishermen and for families with young children who can’t wade or can’t readily get in and out of boats that must be pushed over gravel bars.
As is widely known, FUDR put forth a proposal more than 3 years ago calling for a minimum constant release of 600 cfs from Cannonsville from mid May through mid September and practically begged all concerned parties to support this plan. The 600 would be sufficient for both waders and floaters, would keep the entire West Branch and Main Stem to Lordville (even in the summer) under 70 degrees and would maintain and increase the insect and wild trout population. The need for FUDR’s plan has never been more obvious. The advent of the DRBC’s FFMP scheme and the most certain probability of mandated voids make the FUDR plan (or something close thereto) an absolute necessity.
The FUDR plan is predicated on historic releases and data recorded on USGS gauges showing that releases from Cannonsville from mid May through mid September exceeded 640 cfs on average over a 25 year period. Moreover, an impressive study conducted by Dr. Peter Kolesar and Columbia University for FUDR shows that a constant release of 600 cfs from Cannonsville during the months of June through September would have little or no ill effect on NYC or other downstream users. Kolesar’s conclusion on page 37 of his report states “A constant release policy on all three branches of the Delaware can work to improve conditions for the fish without imperiling either NYC or the downstream users – except in the most dire of circumstances.” – it goes on to also state “100% FUDR (600 cfs) creates some small user risk – 50% FUDR (300 cfs) is essentially risk free.” The study was conducted without including the almost 50 billion gallons of water in the Rondout Reservoir. Moreover, the work was done using the existing, overly conservative, drought curves. Importantly, the constant 600 cfs release does not affect, nor require adjustments, for the mandated release from Montague target. Dr. Kolesar also showed that there is no statistically significant relationship between reservoir levels on September 30th and the following June 1st, thereby undermining NYC’s long employed excuse for restricting releases on the grounds that the “drought of the century is starting today”.
Another study commissioned a number of years go by Trout Unlimited by Dr. Piotr Parasiewicz, then at Cornell University, titled “Strategy for Sustainable Management of the Upper Delaware River Basin,” concluded that 600 cfs were available. In fact, Dr. Parasiewicz recommended adoption of a constant minimum release regime of 600 cfs from early Spring to early fall, and a 300 cfs release regime for the remainder of the year. When the study was completed, it was widely distributed. Moreover, TU summarized the study – advocating that a 600 cfs release regime be adopted – in articles they published in leading fly fishing magazines. FUDR has a complete, un-redacted, copy of the study on our website (Friends of the Upper Delaware River Home Page) as well as the Kolesar/Columbia study.
In conclusion, we ask that the Delaware River advocacy agencies and groups partner with FUDR in support of our release proposal of approximately 600 cfs from mid May through mid September. Simply put, the FUDR plan would not only protect the fishery and the local economies, it would also improve the fishery and extend productive fishing into a 7- month season instead of a few months. FUDR also needs your support in seeking scientifically based drought curves instead of the existing arbitrary/overly conservative ones that block all recommendations to improve the fishery. The inclusion of Rondout reservoir storage must also be taken into account in flow and release calculations involving the destiny of the fishery.
We recognize that in low water years, all River users will have to make equal sacrifices which FUDR is willing to accept. However, in the vast majority of years, there is more than enough water in the system to provide for the fishery without affecting NYC or other down stream users as can be seen from the science already in hand.
Craig Findley
President
Friends of the Upper Delaware River
