The Upper Delaware River
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The quarterly newsletter about the environment and people of the Upper Delaware River Volume 19 Number 3 Published by the Upper Delaware Council, Inc. Fall 2006 In This Issue... Flooding Takes a Toll... Again Pages 1,5 and 8 Upper Delaware Profile: Robert Burrow, Town of Highland Page 2 Sparks Fly Over Power Line Page 3 DELUGED: As viewed from the Skinners Faiis, NY-Miianviiie, PA Bridge, Lander's Skinners Work Plans Revealed for Faiis Campground was surrounded by water when the Delaware River overflowed its banks Upper Delaware Bridges on June 27-28. Record crests were documented at several gaging stations during this third Page 4 major flood to hit the Deiaware River Basin in less than two years. (Photos courtesy of the National Park Service Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River) PPL Generates Hydropower Page 5 Solutions Sought to Lessen Dredging Concerns Raised; UDC Awards Technical Grants Page 6 Fiood Vulnerability & Impacts Even when natural conditions conspire to low-pressure storm system stalled over the NY Towns Complete Projects; cause fioods, human solutions are avail East Coast from June 24-28, dumping 6-15 Sojourn Looks Ahead to 2007 able to help mitigate the severity of future inches of rain in the Schuylkill, Lehigh and Page 7 flooding impacts. upper Delaware River watersheds. The intense rainfall saturated the ground, River Heritage Trail Guide Out Three major Delaware River floods in September 2004, April 2005, and June raised the bank levels, triggered flash flood Page 8 2006 shattered the calm of a nearly 50- warnings, and set the stage for high runoff year period without any widespread main potential with any further precipitation. |~ The Upper Delaware stem flooding, causing millions of dollars in When another 2-6 inches of rain came on • welcomes submissions and . damages and taking a psychological toll on June 27-28, major flood crests resulted in j new subscribers (free)l j those affected by the repeat emergencies. local emergency declarations, evacua , Send items to Newsletter. Weather events in the form of Hurricane tions, and closures of roads and bridges. > Editor Laurie Ramie at the • Ivan, snow melt runoff, and a prolonged, The Delaware River at Callicoon crested I Upper Delaware Council,! well above its 12-foot flood stage to 20.37 I 211 Bridge St., PO. Box 192, • heavy rainfall bore the brunt of responsibil {Narrowsburg, N.Y. 12764.! ity in each respective case. feet at 5:15 p.m. on June 28, 2.57 feet i Piease update our mailing i While these natural causes can't be pre above the previous record set during the I list by fliling out the coupon | April 2005 flood. The flow rate at Callicoon 1 on Page 7. Thank you. vented, an exploration of ways to minimize the Delaware River Basin's vulnerability to measured 141,000 cubic feet per second floods is underway. (cfs), compared to the historic daily median The most recent flood occurred when a Please see FLOODS on Page 5 Most land along the Upper Delaware River is privately owned. Please be considerate and don't litter or trespass. Thanksl Upper Delaware Profile: Robert Burrow Upper Delaware Council, Inc. From joining the Peace Corps in the P.O. Box 192, 211 Bridge St. 1960s to serving his community on both the town board and school board today, Narrowsburg, NY 12764-0192 Robert Burrow commits to his convictions. Telephone: (845) 252-3022 The retired teacher has been a member FAX: (845) 252-3359 of the Eldred Central School Board since 1998, a Town of Highland councilman The Upper Delaware is a free quarterly since 2001, and the town's second alter publication of the Upper Delaware nate representative to the Upper Delaware Council, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organiza Council and alternate to the Upper tion comprised of member governments Delaware Scenic Byway, Inc. since 2005. from New York and Pennsylvania directly The 62-year-old Barryville resident also affected by the River Management Plan spearheaded a number of successful for the Upper Delaware Scenic and beautification projects throughout the town Recreational River as president for the first five years of Highland Renaissance, a committee of 2006 Officers which he remains an active member. Chairperson Chartes Wieland All of that community involvement pays Vice-Chairperson Alan Bowers Robert Burrow, Town of Highland, NY off for Burrow. Secretary/Treasurer. John B. Niflot "After having been here almost 40 years a 28-year career for Burrow in which he now, I know a great majority of the people earned college credits during nights, week New York Town Representatives in the Town of Highland and it's good to be ends, and summers while variously teach Hancock F. Gerald Mackin able to say that," he refiects. ing 5th and 6th grades, high school biolo Fremont John B. Niflot Jim Rodgers, Alternate Burrow grew up in the Orange County gy, and science disciplines full-time. Delaware Harold G. Roeder, Jr Village of Highland Mills. After graduating He had also found his home in the Upper Eric J. Nystrom, Alternate from Monroe-Woodbury High School in Delaware River Valley. Cochecton....? Larry H. Richardson 1962, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts "1 remember the first time 1 drove up John A. Reggero, Alternate degree in Industrial Design from Alfred Route 97 for my teaching job. 1 was Tusten Charies Wieland University in 1966. astounded by the beauty of it and still am. Ben Johnson, Alternate Inspired by the legacy of President John 1 like the smallness of the communities. 1 Highland Lewis J. Schmalzle F. Kennedy, Burrow decided to enter the hope we can control that somewhat to Stephen Barnes, IstAlternate Peace Corps. It was a move that two of his keep that rural aspect. If not, we lose the Robert Burrow, 2nd Alternate three brothers also opted to make. value of the river valley," Burrow says. Lumberiand Nadia Rajsz After an intensive training program in "At the same time, you have to respect John LiGreci, Alternate Ohio and Mexico, Burrow was assigned to individual rights and there is a place for Deerpark Philip D. Chase serve in Ecuador. He lived with a local fam proper growth and development," he adds. Melvin Decker, Alternate ily for ttwo years, fully immersing himself in Burrow believes that the UDC has great Pennsyivania Township Representatives the Spanish language that he learned for ly assisted local governments on that front. Lackawaxen John S. McKay his post and in the Latin American culture. "It helps us to stay organized and keep Brian Stuart, Alternate Shohola Nelia Wall Burrow initially focused on helping arti up-to-date on issues. We need everyone's George J. Fluhr, Alternate sans to market their hand-crafted goods help and input, from the federal govern Westfall Alan Bowers but found his true calling in an orphanage ment to the local landowners," he says. George R. Jerus, Alternate teaching children before his tour of duty When he's not doing research or attend State & Regional Members ended in February of 1969. ing meetings on behalf of the town, school New York William J. Rudge, DEC While he faced times of danger and frus district and Highland Renaissance, or get Pennsylvania Dennis DeMara, DCNR tration in Ecuador, Burrow is forever grate ting together with family, the unmarried Del. River Basin Commission Carol Collier ful for the experience. Burrow enjoys woodworking and carpentry. Partner "It changed my life. It's the best thing that He has restored a 1956 vintage, wooden National Park Service Vacant ever happened to me because it kicked me cabin cruiser that he moors in Clayton, NY. David C. Forney UDS& RR, Alternate into public service and education," he says. Burrow makes as many one-week trips Burrow returned to the States to accept a upstate as possible in season to take it out Staff job at Eldred Central School. It turned into on the St. Lawrence River and relax.*:* Executive Director William E. Douglass udcdouQlass(5)hvc.rr.com Senior Resource Specialist David B. Soete President Nominates Bomar to Direct NPS udcsoete(S)hvc.rr.com Public Relations/Newsletter. Laurie Ramie President Bush has nominated Maty A. Bomar of Philadelphia to replace Fran udcramie(5)hvc.rr.com Mainella as director ofthe National Park Service (NPS). Office Manager Carol Coney Bomar had been serving as regional director ofthe Park Service's 13-state Northeast udcconey(S)hvc. rr.com Region since July 21, 2005. In that capacity, she also served as NPS Representative to the Upper Delaware Council (UDC). Printing Services: Courier Printing Corp., 24 Mainella resigned in July of 2006 from the U.S. Department of the Interior post that Laurel Bank Ave., Deposit, New York 13754 she held since 2001. Her official visit to the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational Printed in the USA on recycled paper. River on July 23-24, 2005 was featured in the UDC's Fall 2005 newsletter. Copyright 2006, Upper Delaware Council At press time, Bomar's presidential appointment awaited Senate confirmation.*:* ® Fan 2006 The Upper Delaware Power Line Battle Continues It's back to the drawing board for New motion with PSC to waive six statutory York Regional Interconnect, Inc. (NYRI) requirements to provide certain specific after the New York State Public Service information either entirely or until after a Commission rejected the company's origi Certificate is issued also raised objections. nal power line application as "deficient." Communities Against Regional Intercon NYRI proposes to construct a High nect (CARI) - an association representing Voltage Direct Current electric transmis eight New York counties and four non-prof sion line approximately 190 miles bettween it organizations including the Upper Marcy and Rock Tavern.