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The
lower section of the Upper Delaware Wild Trout Fishery is part of
the federally designated “Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational
River”.
Our mission
is to improve the flows and protect the habitat of the famous Upper
Delaware wild trout fishery through consistent cold water releases
from the Cannonsville Dam.
To
accomplish this Mission, the following are deemed
critical:
1- Provide 600 cfs minimum
release from Cannonsville from May 15 through September 15 to
cool the West Branch and main stem Delaware from Hancock to
Lordville (about 10 miles) to acceptable temperatures (below 70
degrees F.) for the trout and food supply.
Note: An investigation
of the release records at the Cannonsville Dam over the past 25
years show average daily release of over 600 cfs through late June,
July, August and September. So, it’s not a question of enough
water – it’s about managing the releases properly. Erratic
releases of 1500 cfs one day, followed by 225 cfs the next day
create unstable and lethal conditions for the trout and habitat.
High water temperatures during this summer period and low winter
flows result in fish kills and damage to habitat. This is why the
fishery has never approached its potential.
2- Provide a 300 cfs minimum
flow from Cannonsville the rest of the year to keep the West
Branch streambed ‘wetted’ year round. This would increase insect,
spawn and fry survival and avoid major winter fish
kills.
3- The West Branch and main stem,
downstream to Lordville, NY should not exceed 70 degrees at any
time.
NOTE: Water
temperatures over 70 degrees F. for sustained periods severely
damage the wild trout population. These temperatures also have a
disastrous effect on insect hatches and the fishing, and are
devastating to the economy of the entire area.
4- The mandated (1954 Supreme
Court Decree) flow measure of 1750 cfs at Montague, NJ should not
include the Lackawaxen flow generated by the new PP&L
proposal.
NOTE: Crediting of the
proposed PPL releases at Montague, NJ will reduce Cannonsville
releases severely during the hot summer, creating a major threat to
the Upper Delaware tailwater fishery and its related
economy.
5- Releases from the reservoirs
should be ramped (changed gradually) over an acceptable period of
time, rather than abrupt changes, which damage trout habitat,
leaving insects high and dry.
NOTE: The policy of
yo-yo releases is common practice with the current management
because the system is not being managed with the fishery in
mind. Large releases of 1,000-1,500 cfs one day, followed by a drop
to 225 cfs, and sometimes as low as 45 cfs the next, pose major
problems to habitat, trout, anglers and the economy of the
area.
6- Augment the flow requirement
releases from the Cannonsville Reservoir with releases from Pepacton
Reservoir when Cannonsville is at the 30% level or lower. This
will reduce silt in the West Branch and main stem Delaware, as well
as unacceptably low oxygen levels.
NOTE: In 2001, the
Rivermaster reduced the Cannonsville Reservoir to an unprecedented
3% level while the Pepacton reservoir on the East Branch was around
70%. This emptied an incredible amount of silt into the West Branch
and main stem waters, causing untold damage to the insect
population. It is unconscionable that this could be allowed to
happen to a nationally famous wild fishery.
7- Establish a plan for
proportional water release reduction during official drought and
drought warning conditions - one that will not harm the trout or
habitat.
8- When water is spilling over
the Cannonsville Dam during periods of high water temperatures,
water should be released from the bottom of the dam to compensate
for the warm surface overflow water. Failure to do so is in
violation of part 671 New York State REC
regulations.
Bottom releases must be regulated to keep the water
temperature at Lordville below 70 degrees F. No meaningful amount of
water would be wasted by this, but the bottom release would protect
and improve the habitat, the fishery and the economy of the
area.
NOTE: During the
disastrous 2003 fishing season, when all 3 reservoirs were
continuously full, and the Cannonsville Reservoir was spilling from
May through October, at least 90% of the time, the fishery and local
economies needlessly suffered through one of its worse seasons due
to warm water temperatures caused by the failure of the Rivermaster
to release enough water during this long spillage
period.
9- Cold Spring Brook in
Stilesville, NY and Butler Brook in Deposit, NY are still major
sources of silt on the West Branch after heavy rains. The
problems must be located and corrected, since silt destroys insect
populations.
10- A thermal bank, similar to
the one currently in use, is needed to draw on in severe heat waves
to insure a 70 degree F. maximum water temperature at Lordville,
which is approximately the mid point of the main stem fishery .
11- Although the East
Branch (Pepacton) and the Neversink reservoir releases have no
effect on reducing the summer water temperatures on the Upper
Delaware main stem, provisions must be made to protect both of these
fisheries with consistent releases. A study should be conducted to
determine minimum releases on both reservoirs.
NOTE: The Pepacton
reservoir on the East Branch is over thirty miles from the main stem
and is also influenced by warm water from the Beaverkill. The
Neversink is approximately 60 miles below the primary main
stem.
12- Eliminate the stocking of
hatchery trout in the East Branch wild trout
fishery.
NOTE: Numerous studies
have documented the adverse impact that adult hatchery trout have on
wild trout populations. The introduction of adult hatchery trout
disrupts the established social hierarchy of the resident wild trout
causing harmful fighting among and between resident and
stocked fish. Survival of adult stocked trout has been determined to
be very low, and even in the absence of any fishing, the population
of resident wild trout has been shown to decline significantly when
adult hatchery trout are stocked on top of a well established wild
trout population.
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