Flooding along the Delaware
From September 2004 to June 2006, the Delaware River overflowed its banks three times, causing nine deaths and more than $70 million in damage to 2,000 properties.
Yet in such devastated communities as New Hope, Yardley, Lambertville and Trenton, it’s not Mother Nature people curse. It’s New York.
There, at the Delaware’s headwaters, lie three massive reservoirs that, on most days in late winter and early spring, are full to the brim.
Read the reports
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware and New York City reached a consensus in September on a new program to operate the city’s three Delaware River reservoirs to not only ensure water supply to nine million customers, but also to maintain adequate downstream flows. The Delaware River Basin Commission now must adopt a number of rule changes so that the program can be implemented. This main document contains an overview of the proposal,
The document includes a Water Code (.pdf) and a Comprehensive Plan (.pdf) for the changes that the Basin Commission expects to vote on this summer. The Flexible Flow Management Program (.pdf) explains the new operating plans for the New York reservoirs.
Portions of the program are temporarily in effect pending the Basin Commission’s vote.
Videos
Maya van Rossum, Delaware riverkeeper: "Flooding is a natural, normal, needed part of any river's life cycle." Maintaining flood plains, she says, are key preventing damage. Watch the video
Longtime resident Gail Pedrick has seen three floods in 21 months. The damage to her riverfront house in New Hope: More than $200,000. Watch the video
Diane Tharp, who has gotten involved in the effort to exert controls on the water levels, saw floodwaters reach the second floor of her house near the Delaware Water Gap. Watch the video
David Jones, who has a water-sports business north of Stroudsburg, has been washed out three times since 2004. He fears for the future of tourism there. Watch the video
Yet in such devastated communities as New Hope, Yardley, Lambertville and Trenton, it’s not Mother Nature people curse. It’s New York.
There, at the Delaware’s headwaters, lie three massive reservoirs that, on most days in late winter and early spring, are full to the brim.
Read the reports
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware and New York City reached a consensus in September on a new program to operate the city’s three Delaware River reservoirs to not only ensure water supply to nine million customers, but also to maintain adequate downstream flows. The Delaware River Basin Commission now must adopt a number of rule changes so that the program can be implemented. This main document contains an overview of the proposal,
The document includes a Water Code (.pdf) and a Comprehensive Plan (.pdf) for the changes that the Basin Commission expects to vote on this summer. The Flexible Flow Management Program (.pdf) explains the new operating plans for the New York reservoirs.
Portions of the program are temporarily in effect pending the Basin Commission’s vote.
Videos
Maya van Rossum, Delaware riverkeeper: "Flooding is a natural, normal, needed part of any river's life cycle." Maintaining flood plains, she says, are key preventing damage. Watch the video
Longtime resident Gail Pedrick has seen three floods in 21 months. The damage to her riverfront house in New Hope: More than $200,000. Watch the video
Diane Tharp, who has gotten involved in the effort to exert controls on the water levels, saw floodwaters reach the second floor of her house near the Delaware Water Gap. Watch the video
David Jones, who has a water-sports business north of Stroudsburg, has been washed out three times since 2004. He fears for the future of tourism there. Watch the video
