Update on Drilling Accident at Cannonsville Dam

This week we learned that drilling activities undertaken by NYCDEP associated with the proposed hydroelectric facility at the base of the Cannonsville Dam in Stilesville, NY accidentally resulted in the seepage of turbid water into the West Branch of the Upper Delaware River.

At this time, the regulatory agencies in charge of response actions do not believe there are any public safety concerns or issues of dam safety related to the accident.

FUDR fully supports the initial response activities that have been set into motion and the cautionary approach exercised by authorities that places paramount importance on public safety.

Once the initial response actions to the accident ensure that all public safety concerns are addressed, there are important corollary issues regarding downstream impacts on the regional economy and the riverine environment that need to be addressed including:

1. The potential for short and long term water quality impacts as a result of the turbid seepage and the actions that need to be taken to ensure the protection of the downstream river environment and the people and communities that rely on a healthy river system.
2. Apparent inconsistencies in how perceived drinking water supply needs affected water release decisions in the spring of 2015 versus water release decisions made in response to the accident.
3. The downstream impacts of the high volume water releases from Cannonsville reservoir that may occur until the projected completion of the repair work (September 2015).  These include: a) The potential for rapid depletion of the cold water inventory in the reservoir and how thermal stress conditions in the river will be addressed and b) The potential for severely low water levels in the reservoir and how that will impact water releases through the fall and winter.
4. The need for a “water credit” system to ensure the recovery of the amount of additional water released in response to the accident that exceeds the normal release schedules of the current water management plan.

The NYCDEP has scheduled three public meetings to inform the public about the situation:

Saturday, July 18 at 10am

Hancock Central School Auditorium

67 Education Lane

Hancock, NY 13783

Monday, July 20 at 6pm

Upper Delaware Council Office

211 Bridge St, Narrowsburg

Tuesday, July 21 at 6pm

Best Western Hotel

120 US-6 Matamoras, PA

For more information on the drilling accident:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/watershed_protection/cannonsville.shtml

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