Posted on July 15 2021
Someone please tell me why NYC did not, (and still has not) maximized the releases from both reservoirs a week ago. The water flowing into the reservoirs currently far exceeds the amount by which they can be drawn down even with maximum releases. It's my understanding that after June the city is required to maintain a void in both reservoirs for flood protection. No effort has been made to maintain the void. I will try to get information tomorrow as to what is required vs. what has been done.
Consequences of a major spill? It depends. If the current releases are continued there will be a significant spill from both reservoirs of hot surface water. It will raise the temps in both the WB and UEB dramatically. Cold water hatches will be lost, the BR thermal refuge will be destroyed leaving all trout residing there in danger of potentially lethal temperatures. If NYC maximizes the releases the temperature in both branches and the BR down to Lordville will not be dangerous to trout. The fate of the summer sulfur hatch will be determined by how much water is released and how much spills. It didn't have to be that way.
The fishing - If you have other things to do until say, 7:00 pm, then it's not bad. Sulfurs hatch in enough numbers to get fish up and feeding, accurate casts with flies that are pleasing to the trout's eye will get some takes (and some refusals). The big problem is what to do with the rest of the day.
Please let us know what you find out on the discharge. I will help however I can.
I’m sure we’ll all be very interested in whatever you can find out. Is there anything the rest of us can do to prompt the NYC DEP to act responsibly in a situation like this?