NEW YORK – The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced a temporary increase in downstream releases from Cannonsville and Pepacton reservoirs Friday through Monday, April 29 – May 1. The release of additional water will help support a fishing event along the main stem and tributaries of the Delaware River. The “One Bug” event, hosted by the nonprofit Friends of the Upper Delaware, attracts hundreds of anglers to the region and injects thousands of dollars into the local economy. The event runs from.
“We hope the release of additional water from Cannonsville Reservoir and Pepacton Reservoir will provide beneficial fishing conditions for the anglers participating in the One Bug event, and provide a considerable boost for the local economy,” DEP Commissioner Emily Lloyd said.
Because of dry weather and gradually declining reservoir storage, releases
from Cannonsville and Pepacton reservoir were due to decrease this week
to 150 and 75 cubic feet per second (cfs), respectively. However, the
temporary program will keep releases at a higher level from April 28 to
May 1. Cannonsville Reservoir will be maintained at a release rate of
400 cfs and Pepacton Reservoir will release 85 cfs. Beginning at 8 a.m.
on May 1, DEP will begin to slowly ramp down its release to normal levels.
The Flexible Flow Management Program (FFMP) – an agreement by the City and four states that sets reservoir releases based on storage and season – includes a virtual bank of water, known as the Interim Excess Release Quantity (IERQ), that may be used in support of research, health of aquatic life, or other water-use activities. The IERQ is a defined quantity of water that is set aside annually. The additional water released to support the One Bug event will come from that IERQ.
