Posted on August 01 2018
UDR Joint Fisheries Investigation Plan
In response to the advocacy efforts of the UDR conservation community calling for increased protections for the Upper Delaware River wild trout fishery, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the PA Fish and Boat Commission agreed to launch a 2-year “joint investigation” of the coldwater fishery. This unprecedented partnership means that the river will receive a significant amount of scientific attention from the agencies which hasn’t happened for almost 30 years. The study began this spring and over the next two years the agencies will conduct extensive angler creel surveys, Redd (spawning beds) counts in the spring and fall, PIT Tagging of fish to detect movement patterns, and electrofishing to better understand species composition. This information will form the basis for the direction the agencies will take in establishing future protections for the UDR coldwater fishery.
2017 Flexible Flow Management Program
Low summer water releases in the height of the 2018 UDR recreational season frustrated and angered river paddlers/anglers, local businesses, and government officials in the UDR region. This is not a new story and is not an outcome of the “new” 2017FFMP adopted last year. It’s the same old story that involves a complicated modelling system that attempts, among other things, to predict long term weather conditions from which estimations are made about how much water will flow into the NYC reservoirs and how much water is available for the river below the dams. Early assurances from reservoir managers indicated the FFMP would result in higher water releases for longer periods of time but that doesn’t seem to be panning out and this summer is a good example.
What is new in the 2017FFMP is the creation of a “Thermal Mitigation Bank” (TMB) set aside for the purpose of cooling the river during summer heat waves. The TMB has already been used three times this summer, once in mid- June and twice in July. The TMB started with 2500 cfs in reserve and, at the moment, there is approximately 850 cfs remaining in the bank. It’s difficult to know if there will be enough TMB water to address thermal issues through the remainder of the summer. We are asking the Decree Parties to identify additional sources of thermal relief water should the bank be depleted and to ensure NYSDEC retains unilateral authority over thermal releases to avoid bureaucratic delays in decision making. We are told this discussion has begun among the parties.
Click here for a link to NYSDEC ‘Angling Tips to Help Trout Beat the Heat’
These and other critical FFMP issues need to be examined and rectified by the newly re-established DRBC Subcommittee on Ecological Flows (SEF). An announcement about appointments to the SEF is imminent and we anticipate that one or more members of the UDR conservation community will secure a seat at the table to make sure these issues are at the forefront of SEF discussions.
UDR Stream Corridor Management Plan
Phase 1 of the UDR Stream Corridor Management Plan (SCMP) is almost complete. The SCMP will serve as a blueprint for future waterway management, protection, and restoration efforts below the NYC dams. The SCMP will also help unify the multiple government jurisdictions under a single watershed management game plan which is critically important since rivers and streams don’t respect political boundaries. The SCMP will also help generate desperately needed funding below the dams to protect and restore the coldwater ecosystem, create jobs, and boost local economies.
“4 the Delaware” Campaign Launched
FUDR is partnering with the National Wildlife Federation on a basinwide campaign, 4 the Delaware, to elevate the profile of the Delaware River by urging the four Governors of the states (NY, NJ, PA, DE) that border the river to come together and agree upon a voluntary framework that ensures the future protection and restoration of the river. We’re working on multiple advocacy fronts to encourage Governor Cuomo and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation to recognize the economic, cultural, historic, and ecological importance of the river and to participate with the other Governors in a cooperative and collaborative effort to ensure the long term health and sustainability of one of America’s most important river systems.
Delaware River Basin Restoration Program
Speaking of funding, a “request for proposals” under the new national Delaware River Basin Restoration Program (DRBRP) will soon be issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeking grant proposals for waterway projects that protect fish and wildlife, improve water quality, boost recreational opportunities, and address ecological flows. FUDR, the UDR Tailwaters Coalition and our partners and allies will be submitting a DRBRP grant proposal seeking funding for multiple projects in the UDR watershed below the NYC dams. Decisions on applications will be made in November. Please give us a call if you are interested in learning more about this program.
FUDR is Hiring!
FUDR is seeking qualified applicants for an exciting new position – Watershed Program Policy Director. The role of this individual will be to work with our coalition members and partners to identify funding and policy opportunities at the federal, state, and local level that will help protect and restore the Upper Delaware River, revitalize the regional economy, and create local jobs. Interested applicants click here for full job description.
Events – Mark Your Calendars!
- Spey Dayz August 11 & 12: Spey casting event at Hancock Fireman’s Park. Click here for more info.
- Get Trashed River Cleanup Battle, August 17-18
- Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed Forum in Cape May, NJ on September 25 & 26. Click here for more info. and to register.
- FUDR 9th annual Water, Water, Everywhere Conference October 16-17 at West Branch Angler in Hancock. For more info. and to register, click here.
- For an opportunity to help support a Veteran Couples Retreat, click here.
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