Continued Widespread Channelizing Destroys Environment, Trout Habitat, Endangers Local Economy, Threatens Spawning in town of Hancock, NY along the Uperr Delaware River

In the wake of the recent flooding, the initial reaction of many communities along the Delaware River was to dredge or channelize the nearby tributaries and streams. So far, with one exception, none of these communities has undertaken such a massive course of action. We sincerely hope that's because, as anxieties have somewhat relaxed, there is a growing realization that the destruction caused by channelizing tributaries would serve only to increase water velocity and soil erosion - worsening future flooding - while simultaneously and needlessly destroying the environment. And we hope, there is a growing awareness that there is a viable alternative – the scientifically based floodplain/tributary restoration plan FUDR has put forth (editors note: but doesn't have the money for as of this writing)

The exception to restraining the urge to channelize, was the Town of Hancock. Adopting a "damn the torpedoes" attitude and without the benefit of sound environmental engineering, the Hancock Town Supervisor stated in local newspapers that he would begin dredging "with or without" the approval of, or the required permits from, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. He had little to worry about; the DEC readily issued over 400 permits (far too many for the Regional Enforcement unit to even monitor) to both the Town of Hancock and to individuals, allowing them to bring in the bulldozers, backhoes and steam shovels. Even with this absurd number of permits, NY State Senator John Bonacic, perhaps reflecting election year politics, provided covering fire for this destructive course of action by publicly chiding the DEC for not issuing enough "dredging permits."

Compounding the increased velocity during future flood events, the increased soil erosion and the damage to the environment caused by channelizing, the Town is, in effect, also shooting itself in its own economic foot. In just the past three weeks, the contractor hired by the Town has already destroyed, some perhaps permanently, eight tributaries that are critical to trout habitat and spawning (fewer trout = fewer fishermen coming to the area = fewer fishermen dollars) and he continues his destruction. Broadening this economic picture, and as we noted sometime back, in just the past two years, million in new land acquisition/home construction has been invested in the upper Delaware – all from fly fishermen. Certainly channelizing is not an inducement for that continued kind of investment – and that increased property tax base.

A number photos (taken by FUDR members Lee Hartman and Paul Weamer at different locations) can be viewed on our webpage and provide just a glimpse of the carnage that has already taken place on just three of these eight tributaries. And eight, unfortunately, is not the final number - the process of destroying one stream and moving on to another is continuing with no final number ever having been suggested; seemingly, the goal is to violate all of the tributaries. Underscoring that there are many facets to this kind of destruction, yesterday FUDR discovered a small pool in Humphries Creek (just channelized) with several wild rainbow trout trapped by the bulldozer. Unable to move either upstream or down, these fish would have died. Tomorrow, we'll collect these fish and move them to the Delaware's mainstem. The question, however, is how many other pools with trapped wild trout have the bulldozers left behind in their haste – that have not been discovered? And how many new pools, with trapped wild trout, will be created as the heavy machinery continues to move from one stream to the next?

The situation is urgent, the Delaware's wild brown trout will begin moving into the tributaries in October to spawn; any, if any, of these wild trout that can somehow bypass the end on end, bank to bank boulders, will find the traditional spawning redds (beds) destroyed, the aquatic insect populations obliterated and will likely be unable to return to the river.

THIS SITUATION IS CRITICAL. We ask that each of you lend your support to help protect this fishery by calling for (a) an immediate end to this wide scale ecological destruction; (b) the immediate repair of trout habitat and spawning tributaries before October; and (c) the implementation of the scientifically based, properly engineered floodplain/restoration plan FUDR has put forth (the entire proposed plan is on our website). We urge each of you to please write, email or phone the following and to vigorously express your opinion:

Hancock Town Supervisor Sam Rowe, Town Hall, Hancock, NY 607.637.3651, town@hancock.net
Hon. John Bonacic, NY State Senator, LOB 815, Albany, NY 12247, 518.455.2800, bonacic@senate.state.ny.us
Hon. Cliff Crouch, NY State Assemblyman, LOB 450, Albany, NY, 12248, 518.455.5741, crouchc@assembly.state.ny.us
NYSDEC Commissioner Denise Sheehan, Albany, 14th Floor., 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-1010, 518.402.8540, Fax 518.402-9016; to email, you must go to the DEC website

Craig Findley
President
Friends of the Upper Delaware River
www.fudr.org