Press Release - Congressman Fitzpatrick Call for Management of All Delaware River Basin Reservoirs for Flood Control

Congressman Fitzpatrick Call for Management of All Delaware River Basin Reservoirs for Flood Control
Posted on 28-09-2006

WEST TRENTON NJ--Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick called for a comprehensive management plan of the entire Delaware River basin - with significant solutions to limit damage to homes and businesses.

The Congressman's testimony was presented Wednesday at a hearing of the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) in the commission's West Trenton offices. "I want to thank the Delaware River Basin Commission for holding this important hearing to address the flooding problem that has adversely affected many communities along the Delaware River. . . and for addressing this issue in a timely manner."

Fitzpatrick has been calling for a multi-state approach to the problem. "A new comprehensive plan must take also into account how land development affects not only local communities, but also the basin as a whole," the Congressman said in a statement read into the record by his district director during a hearing before the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) in West Trenton.

The focus of the public hearing was the recent increase in flooding and damage along the Delaware River, specifically between Bucks County, PA and New Jersey. Areas such as Riegelsville, New Hope, Upper Makefield and Yardley Borough have been hard hit by repeated flooding in less than a year. The impact of upstream development and reservoirs in New York also were discussed.

In August 2006, Congressman Fitzpatrick urged a multi-state and federal effort to find a solution to repeated flooding occurring on Bucks County's riverfront. "As we have seen many communities are exceptionally susceptible to flooding. In the 8 th Congressional District, devastating flooding in the last three years has displaced hundreds of families and businesses, caused severe damage to the environment, and financial loss," Fitzpatrick said.

The Congressman noted that one of several possible interim measures would be controlling water levels in three of New York's major reservoirs in the Catskill Mountains, namely the three that supply half of New York City's water. But limiting water storage levels in all 15 major reservoirs also should be considered as a flood control measure, he said.

On Aug. 30, 2006, Fitzpatrick sent a letter to Gov. Ed Rendell urging him to push for a new reservoir agreement with New York City and the governors of New York, New Jersey and Delaware. The Congressman also had proposed a plan that would require New York reservoirs not to exceed an 85 percent water level, which would, he said, "provide great benefits to the downstream Pennsylvania residents". . .whose homes and businesses are being damaged by river flooding.

"This would be one solution to our county's multi-million dollar battles with the Delaware River's floodwaters," Fitzpatrick said.

Following the hearing, the DRBC approved a temporary plan to reduce water levels in the three New York (Catskill Mountains) reservoirs and a to establish a Flood Mitigation Task Force, comprised of federal and state officials. The task force will take a year to study various flood control measures, including storm water management. The commission also received $500,000 from the four Delaware River Basin states to study the potential use of all 15 of the basin reservoirs for flood control management.

"Fear consumes residents along the river each time extreme rainfall is predicted in the area. Although we cannot stop rain. . . .mitigation plans can reduce the impact on the river Basin," Fitzpatrick said. "The Delaware River has not just flooded one time in every 100 years, it has flooded repeatedly," he added.

The Congressman thanked the DRBC for conducting a public hearing on a matter of tremendous importance within the river basin, and focusing on a multi-state approach to flood mitigation. "I applaud the leadership of the DRBC in addressing this issue in a timely manner with an emphasis on comprehensive long term solutions to mitigate flood damage," he said.

Because recent Delaware River flooding in the 8 th District required immediate action from Congress, Congressman Fitzpatrick was instrumental in securing President Bush's Federal Disaster Declaration for Bucks County, as well as providing current information on FEMA relief efforts to those impacted by flooding; the damages were too much for local and state governments to handle alone.

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