The Catskill Chronicle

WATERSHED AREA (May 5, 2014) – In an effort to safeguard against future flooding events in the Catskills, Congressman Chris Gibson (NY-19) is calling  on the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to make adjustments to the water levels in the city’s West-of-Hudson Watershed reservoirs.

Congressman Gibson sent a letter (attached) May 1 to DEP Commissioner Emily Lloyd detailing his concerns that DEP reservoir levels are at certain times of the year too high, increasing the threat of flooding during severe storms like Hurricane Irene.

“I have received numerous communications from my constituents regarding their apprehension and fear over the fact that the reservoir levels are near capacity, which significantly reduces the reservoir’s ability to help attenuate flooding if a major weather event were to unexpectedly impact the region,”wrote Congressman Gibson.

New York City’s existing reservoir management plan, which has been in place for many years, keeps water levels at or near capacity in the spring. Water levels are then lowered slowly during the summer months.

“I believe it is incumbent on DEP and all stakeholders involved to formulate a new reservoir management plan that will provide some level of safety voids year round to help protect residents from these flooding impacts, given our increasingly unpredictable and severe weather events,” wrote Congressman Gibson.

He also asked the agency to consider downstream flood mitigation as a factor when making operational decisions affecting reservoirs.

Congressman Gibson serves as the New York State Co-Chairman of the Delaware River Basin Congressional Task Force, and is currently working with DEP and other stakeholders to include improvements for the upcoming Decree Party Agreement renewal that provides guidance for management of the entire Delaware River Basin water system.