The City of New York, which owns the reservoirs feeding the Delaware River north of Hancock, has proposed opening the Cannonsville Reservoir to recreational uses.
Bill Rudge, New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), mentioned this in his report Thursday at the Upper Delaware Council (UDC) in Narrowsburg. He said a task force has been set up to explore the idea, which would be a major policy change. He stated the City appears committed to the proposal, barring any insurmountable water quality issues.
Put in service in 1964, the Cannonsville was built on the West Branch of the Delaware in Delaware County, NY to store water for the City’s water supply. The village of Cannonsville was removed to create the reservoir. It has a capacity of 95.7 billion gallons of water and is about 15 miles long. Not far away is the City’s Pepacton Reservoir, on the East Branch.
Also discussed at the UDC meeting or at recent committee sessions:
 • The UDC and National Park Service (NPS) continue to monitor the gas drilling issue and are preparing a “comprehensive” public seminar in the Honesdale area, possibly in May.
• As of April 25, the Cannonsville was 98.9% full, and the Pepacton, 98.7% full. The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) graph shows that storage has dipped just below the long term median, having been above it since last October. There remains 79.4 billion gallons more than where the DRBC would declare a drought watch. The level is 8.7 billion gallons below where it was a year ago. The rush of the Delaware as gauged at Montague, NJ, was just below average in April, or 11.179 cubic feet per second which was 98.2% of the norm.
• Vidal Martinez, NPS Superintendent for the Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River, said that structural issues at the Zane Grey Museum in Lackawaxen are being addressed. New exhibits are planned about Zane Grey’s early life. The famed western novelist lived in the home, 1905-1918.
• At the recent canoe safety committee meeting, the problems of river users encroaching on private property was discussed. UDC Director William Douglass said the problems is not as bad as in the 1970’s but is worse than would be expected in 2008. Also discussed was the need for more rest room stops on the river. Martinez commented that the mixture of alcohol use and river boating needs to be controlled.
• UDC has been invited by the Berlin Township Supervisors to provide information on the UDC at the next Supervisors’ meeting, May 20. River-front Wayne County townships are eligible for UDC membership but have been absent from the table.
• Equinunk Historical Society sent a letter to various government officials opposing the proposed New York Regional Interconnect (NYRI) high voltage transmission line.
• The first two days of the annual Delaware River Sojourn, which begins in the Upper Delaware, are June 22-23. The theme this year will be “Conserving our Wild & Scenic River. Commemorating the 40th anniversary of the National Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, under which the Delaware River is protected. The canoe adventure runs through June 28.
• The Millennium Pipeline crew has temporarily pulled out because of adverse weather after five months of unsuccessfully trying to drill under the East Branch of the Delaware River and NYS Route 17 east of Hancock. At least 11 attempts were made to bore under the river. The crew is expected to try again when weather conditions are right.
The UDC meets on the first Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the UDC offices, 211 Bridge St., Narrowsburg. The office may be reached at (845)252-3022.