N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 6 §§ 672-3.3

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 53, December 31, 2024

Section 672-3.3 - Operation of reservoirs

(a)Bog Brook, East Branch, Boyds Corner, Croton Falls, Cross River and Titicus reservoirs.

(1) The agency shall make such water releases from the reservoirs listed in this section as are necessary and sufficient to maintain the required constant minimum flows in the respective rivers or streams during all times of year as indicated in Table A of this section except when New Croton reservoir spills, the required constant minimum flow shall be no less than 5,000,000 gallons per day. Such constant minimum flows shall be maintained and measured for the purposes of compliance with this Part at the specified measuring locations in the release works of each reservoir.

(2) When the reservoirs listed in this section are physically incapable of providing sufficient water to maintain such constant minimum flows, the agency shall make the maximum releases which the reservoirs are physically capable of providing.

Table A - Required Constant Minimum Flows

Reservoir	Constant Minimum Flow	River Or Brook In Which Constant Minimum Flow Is To Be Maintained	Location at which Constant Minimum Flow Is To Be Measured
Bog Brook	5 mgd (7.7 cfs)*	Bog Brook	Flow over weir at fountain in reservoir release works.
East Branch	25 mgd (38.7 cfs)*	East Branch Croton River	Flow over weir at fountain in reservoir release works.
Boyds Corner	10 mgd (15.5 cfs)	West Branch Croton River	Flow through gate in reservoir release works.
Croton Falls	20 mgd (30.9 cfs)	West Branch Croton River	Flow over weir at fountain in reservoir release works.
Cross River	5 mgd (7.7 cfs)	Cross River	Flow through gate in reservoir release works.
Titicus	5 mgd (7.7 cfs)	Titicus River	Flow through gate in reservoir release works.

* Total constant minimum flow of 30 mgd released from Bog Brook and East Branch reservoirs shall be released to the East Branch Croton River through Diverting reservoir.

(b)Middle Branch and Muscoot reservoirs.

The Middle Branch reservoir is immediately upstream of and discharges directly into the Croton Falls reservoir, and there is no river or stream connecting the two reservoirs. Similarly, the Muscoot reservoir is immediately upstream of and discharges directly into the New Croton reservoir, and there is no river or stream connecting them. Therefore, releases from the Middle Branch and Muscoot reservoirs are not required to fulfill the purposes of this Subpart. While said reservoirs are not subject to any release requirements, they are subject to all other applicable provisions of this Part.

(c)West Branch reservoir.

(1) With respect to the West Branch reservoir, the agency shall make such water releases from said reservoir as are necessary and sufficient to maintain the following required constant minimum flows in the West Branch Croton River during the conditions indicated in the table on the following page. Such constant minimum flows shall be maintained and measured for the purposes of compliance with this Part at the gate in the reservoir release works.

Required Minimum Flows-West Branch Reservoir

Reservoir storage condition	Stream flow condition
Above normal	Normal	Below normal
Above normal	20 mgd	20 mgd	10 mgd
(30.9 cfs)	(30.9 cfs)	(15.5 cfs)
Normal	20 mgd	20 mgd	10 mgd
(30.9 cfs)	(30.9 cfs)	(15.5 cfs)
Below normal	10 mgd	5 mgd	5 mgd
(15.5 cfs)	(7.7 cfs)	(7.7 cfs)

(2) When the New Croton and Croton Falls reservoirs spill, the required minimum flow from the West Branch reservoir shall be five mgd.

(3) When the West Branch reservoir is physically incapable of providing the required minimum flow of five mgd, the agency shall make the maximum releases which the reservoir is physically capabel of providing.

(d)Amawalk reservoir.

(1) With respect to the Amawalk reservoir, the agency shall make such water releases from said reservoir as are necessary and sufficient to maintain the following required constant minimum flows in the Muscoot River during the conditions indicated in the table in this paragraph; except when the New Croton reservoir spills, or when the water elevation in the Amawalk reservoir is below 379.60 feet mean sea level, the required constant minimum releases shall be five mgd. Such constant minimum flows shall be maintained and measured for the purposes of compliance with this Part at the gate in the reservoir release works.

Required Minimum Flows-Amawalk Reservoir

Reservoir storage condition	Stream flow condition
Above normal	Normal	Below normal
Above normal	10 mgd	10 mgd	10 mgd
(15.5 cfs)	(15.5 cfs)	(15.5 cfs)
Normal	10 mgd	10 mgd	5 mgd
(15.5 cfs)	(15.5 cfs)	(7.7 cfs)
Below normal	5 mgd	5 mgd	5 mgd
(7.7 cfs)	(7.7 cfs)	(7.7 cfs)

(2) When the Amawalk reservoir is physically incapable of providing the required minimum flow of five mgd, the agency shall make the maximum releases which the reservoir is physically capable of providing.

(e)New Croton reservoir.

With respect to the New Croton reservoir, the agency shall make such water releases from said reservoir as are necessary and sufficient to maintain the following required constant minimum flows in the Croton River during the conditions and dates indicated in the table in this subdivision. Such constant minimum flows shall be maintained and measured for the purposes of compliance with this Part at the New Croton gaging station.

Release Schedule- Required Minimum Flows- New Croton Reservoir

Reservoir storage condition	Stream flow condition
Above normal
April 1	July 1	April 1	July 1	April 1	July 1
to	to	to	to	to	to
June 30	March 31	June 30	March 31	June 30	March 31
75 mgd	5.5 mgd	75 mgd	5.5 mgd	16.5 mgd	5.5 mgd
Above normal	(116 cfs)	(8.5 cfs)	(116 cfs)	(8.5 cfs)	(25.5 cfs)	(8.5 cfs)
75 mgd	5.5 mgd	75 mgd*	5.5 mgd	11.0 mgd	5.5 mgd
Normal	(116 cfs)	(8.5 cfs)	(116 cfs)	(8.5 cfs)	(17.0 cfs)	(8.5 cfs)
16.5 mgd	5.5 mgd	11.0 mgd	5.5 mgd	11.0 mgd	5.5 mgd
Below normal	(25.5 cfs)	(8.5 cfs)	(17.0 cfs)	(8.5 cfs)	(17.0 cfs)	(8.5 cfs)

* 16.5 mgd (25.5 cfs) from June 1 to June 30.

(f)Modifications of stream flow condition and reservoir storage condition curves.

To the degree herein specified, this subdivision shall supersede the provisions of section 672-1.10 of this Part. The stream flow conditions and reservoir storage conditions set forth in subdivisions (c)-(e) of this section are defined respectively in Appendix 11 and Appendix 12 of this Title. Technical modifications of curves A and B set forth in Appendices 11 and 12 may be necessary, based on additional studies or data. The department reservoir releases manager may make minor technical modifications of such curves without public hearing, after consultation with the agency reservoir releases manager. Provided, no such modification that alters any point on any such curves by more than 10 percent, either individually or in combination with other modifications under this subdivision made without public hearings, shall be made except in compliance with section 672-1.10 of this Part.

(g) The agency is not required to provide any notice to the department prior to the commencement of any action that is consistent with the provisions of subdivisions (a) (c), (d) and (e) of this section.

(h) The agency shall comply with a request by the department pursuant to subdivision (g) of section 672-1.3 of this Part.

Footnotes

* Total constant minimum flow of 30 mgd released from Bog Brook and East Branch reservoirs shall be released to the East Branch Croton River through Diverting reservoir.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 6 §§ 672-3.3