Temperature has direct impact on the quality of fishing in the upper Delaware

CANNONSVILLE – The flexible flow management program that is now being used to manage the water releases from the three New York City reservoirs on the upper Delaware River must be changed immediately to release more water into the river, according to three organizations that say the high water temperatures could kill off fish.

Trout Unlimited, Theodore Gordon Flyfishers and The Delaware River Foundation say with the current amount of water being released from the Cannonsville reservoir into the West Branch of the Delaware, water temperatures get too high and could be lethal to some trout.

Ron Urban of Port Ewen, chairman of New York State Trout Unlimited, said more water can be released.

“Our modeling shows there is plenty of water still available if we can release up to 350 cubic feet per second or even 450 CFS under a new proposal we are working with,” he said. “This would greatly improve the habitat and protect it, even in the hot weather. There’s plenty of water and as we know, the reservoirs right now are around 93 percent capacity with the Rondout about 96-97 percent.”

Resistance to increased water releases come principally from New York City, say the environmental and sporting groups.