Delaware River Report / Conditions July 16, 2015

NYS DEP has increased the release from Cannonsville to 1500 cfs.  The increased release was explained in a press release in part:

“The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today increased drinking water diversions and downstream releases from Cannonsville Reservoir to facilitate necessary repairs in response to an ongoing turbid discharge from a rock embankment below Cannonsville Dam. DEP, its regulators, and consulting experts do not believe the turbid flow represents any imminent threat to the safety of the dam. While repairs are made, DEP believes it is prudent to draw down the reservoir through increased releases out of an abundance of caution; reducing storage does not pose a risk to the city’s water supply. The turbid flow below the dam was discovered when workers were drilling borings in preparation for design and construction of the future hydroelectric facility to be built there. During the drilling, workers noticed a flow of turbid water coming from a rock embankment near the release chamber. They immediately contacted DEP engineers and ceased all work. A preliminary investigation indicated that the drilling released ground water under natural pressure several dozen feet below surface level, causing an upward flow of water and sediment that is reaching the West Branch Delaware River.”

It sounds like there is no immediate need for concern.  There is a public meeting this morning to discuss the issue.  We’ll post any official updates we receive.

Fishing started off slow yesterday but picked up nicely as the day went on.  By late afternoon we had a mix of a few sulphurs, a few cahills, decent isonychias, and a lot of olives.  The overcast sky and increased flows had the fish feeling comfortable.  Most of our fish ate isonychias and cahills despite the large number of olives on the water.  Today looks sunny with warmer air temps approaching 80 degrees.  The bugs may hatch a little later in the day under these conditions.  Winds shouldn’t be an issue today with gusts only pushing 5 mph.

The Lordville Gauge appears to be down this morning.

Michael with a nice brown during a brief sunny period yesterday

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl  – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur #18-20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Golden Drake #12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
PED / Pink Lady #14 – E. vitreus
Large Blue Winged Olive #14 – D. cornuta
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Dark Chimarra sp.

Flows and Temps as of 8:00 AM:
Click on the gauge below to view the latest update