Flows

[JOE.T]

I just wanted to clear up an isuue that was brought up back in the spring.

Back in the spring Brachycentrus asked if ppl was going to impact the Delaware in a negative way.


PPL-is a power company.

My response than was no.

Based on the information I had and what some thought,it should not have affected the flows in a negative way.

Well since then some of us have come to find out this was not the case.

This past sumer I am sure most of you who have fished the DelAware for some time now where wondering why the avg flows where 225 cfs?(west branch)

Its because ppl was releasing water daily and because of that the Montaque line of 1750 was met by ppl and the water from the cannonsville was not needed any more to do this.

Back in 1954 a federal decree was set forth that 1750 cfs was needed to insure that the salt water frm the chesapeeke bay would not make it past a ceratin point on the Delaware.

In years past the Cannonsville resevoir via the West branch kept the Montaque level at 1750 cfs and that why we had much higher flows during the summer.

225 cfs just does not cut it and will not protect the upper main stem at all.

This is a serious issue.

Flows this past summer on the main stem and west branch where the worst seen by everyone IN OVER THIRTY YEARS.

I will update as things progress.

 

[Dave B.]

Joe, thanks for the update. I recall this discussion back in the spring. Many including myself were concerned this might happen. I also understood your point that the additional water available from Wallenpaupack would mean less water would be needed to be drawn from the flow reserve at Cannonsville thereby allowing for a greater reserve on hand for when it was needed. I guess it just shows again that nothing comes without a price. Seems the extra water from PPL was a real double-edged sword. Please keep us posted as the situation develops, thanx!

 

[NJFred]

Dave... I'm a big advocate of using downstream water to offset the water needed from Cannonsville for Montague. You are dead right that if... that is if... the water could be banked for the fishery it would be great. This, in my perspective, is a very important part of the flow solution.

However with regard to the PPL situation this has not happened. However, I believe the real culprit this year was the weather... Paradoxically too much water entered the system downstream from summer rains resulting in less need for substantial relseases from Cannonsville. I will point out it was the Montague minimum 3 years ago? which drained the already low Cannonsville with relesase rates in excess of 1000 CFS for 3 months.

What we really need is a minimum release rate over the season which is set at reasonable level. Then PPL will seem like a blessing as more water will be available for NYC and the fishery.

 

[JOE.T]

Fred you are right we do need down stream water.I am a big advocate of this as well.I also beleive that PPL is a blessing in disquise if everyone would get on the same page with it!

Fred it is PPL.

Jeff at the DRC Demosrated this to me via flows and guages..THEY released water all summer long.Right now ppl is a very hot topic among the different advocacy groups.Its heated to say the least.Ill forward you some emails later that are flying around.

Read the letters than let me know what you think.

Talk to you soon.