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| Dec. 12, 2007
Dan Plummer Chairman of the Board Friends of the Upper Delaware River Dear Friends: The deadline is approaching for public comment on a government proposal that would severely limit cold-water releases in the upper Delaware River during the heat of summer, imperiling the trout in our beloved fishery. The Delaware River Basin Commission, which oversees water flows from the reservoirs in the river system that supply water to New York City, has set a March 3 deadline for input on its controversial Flexible Flow Management Program. The Flexible Flow proposal is fatally flawed, and we are encouraging those who cherish our rivers to let the commission know how you feel. As most of you know, FUDR is a not-for-profit organization formed in 2003 to monitor this secretive commission and advocate a common-sense approach that protects the trout population while heeding the needs of the human population. Water-release policy is set by the commission, which includes members from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and New York City. The commission has been considering new water-flow protocols for some time now, and we were stunned to learn that its new proposal would allow cold-water flows from the Cannonsville Reservoir to be cut to a trickle during the summer. This would kill wild trout on the Main Stem of the Delaware River and cause long-term damage to trout in the lower West Branch of the river. The commission proposes that under normal summer conditions--when the fish most urgently need cold water--just 260 cubic feet per second would be released from Cannonsville. That flow rate would be less than half the minimum rate suggested by FUDR and many fishery experts. The persistent deadly flooding in the upper Delaware over the past decade also points out flaws in the commission's management of Cannonsville, Pepacton and other reservoirs. Some blame the agency's "yo-yo" water management, releasing water in torrents one week and in trickles the next. FUDR supports consistent water releases throughout the year to benefit both the fishery and the human population, including the tourism industry built around fishing, boating and river recreation. It is imperative that everyone who loves this river, whether you fish or not, take advantage of your right to comment on this defective proposal. Citizens can express their opinions to the commission in several ways: Submit written comments by email to paula.schmitt@drbc.state.nj.us Submit written comments by mail to Commission Secretary, DRBC, PO Box 7360, West Trenton, NJ 08628-0360 FAX written comments to 609-883-9522 Any comments must be accompanied by the citizen's name, affiliation (if any) and address. In order to assure proper routing, include "FFMP" in the email subject line or as a reference line in a letter or FAX. Visit the FUDR website, www.fudr.org, to see several examples of public comments on the commission's Flexible Flow Management Program proposal. We also want you to know that the Delaware River Basin Commission plans a number of meetings on its proposal. Informational meetings will be held: Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007, from 3 to 5 p.m. and 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Best Western Inn at Hunt's Landing, Matamoras, PA. Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008, from 3 to 5 p.m. and 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the law offices of Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen, 1650 Arch St., 26th Floor, Philadelphia. In addition, a public hearing will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. and 7 to 10 p.m. at West Trenton Volunteer Fire Company, 40 West Upper Ferry Road, West Trenton, NJ. Those wishing to testify are asked to register in advance by calling the commission secretary at (609) 883-9500, extension 224. We invite anyone who cares about the river to join FUDR and other advocates as we speak out on behalf of our mutual interests. If you have any questions, please call me at 607-363-2001 or email at catskilldan@mac.com. Thanks for your consideration. Yours, Dan Plummer, Written comments will be accepted through the close of business on Monday, March 3, 2008. All testimony and written comments submitted to the Commission during its previous hearings or comment period on the FFMP, including comments on the form of the FFMP that was published on the Commission's website in February 2007, will be included in the administrative record for this action and need not be re-submitted. Written comments may be submitted by email to paula.schmitt@drbc.state.nj.us; by U.S. Mail to Commission Secretary, DRBC, P.O. Box 7360 , West Trenton , NJ 08628-0360 ; or by fax to 609-883-9522. In all cases, the commenter's name, affiliation and address should be provided in the comment document, and "FFMP" should appear in the subject line. |
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| FUDR :: 1148 5th St., New York, NY 10128:: email: catskilldan@mac.com :: 607-363-2001 | ||||||||||||