UPDATE: PA will operate three local Delaware River gauges

PA to assume operational costs to protect against flooding, protect water quality HARRISBURG — Governor Edward G. Rendell announced Wednesday that Pennsylvania is taking steps to ensure three important river gauges on the upper Delaware River continue to operate and provide critical information that protects residents by monitoring flood conditions and water quality. The Governor said funding shortfalls by New York City had threatened to cease operation of the gauges — located at Callicoon, Pond Eddy and Barryville — which would have jeopardized Pennsylvania’s ability to provide real-time information to residents, businesses and officials at all levels of government. “The difficult budget situation faced by New York City threatened to shut down these gauges that are so critical to Pennsylvania,” said Governor Rendell. “We could not let that happen, because so many of our citizens, businesses, emergency responders and government officials rely on the valuable information they provide on stream flows, water levels, and water quality. These gauges let us know if there’s a potential for flooding, if pollution is entering the watershed, or if we’re facing drought conditions. We have a responsibility to ensure that they continue to operate and fulfill their intended purpose. “At the same time, we’re continuing to work with our other partners in the basin to ensure that the cost of operating and maintaining the remaining gauges is picked up so communities along the length of the Delaware have the information they need and we have a complete, working system in place,” said the Governor. Beginning Oct. 1, Pennsylvania will provide funding to operate gauges at Barryville / Shohola and Pond Eddy in Pike County. The state will begin funding operation of the gauge at Callicoon in Wayne County, on Oct. 1, 2010. The annual cost to the commonwealth will be $25,410, which includes telemetry costs for converting Barryville / Shohola to a real-time data collection gauge. Funding will come from the state’s Clean Water Fund. The commonwealth operates a network of approximately 250 stream gauges and groundwater level gauges in the Delaware, Ohio, Potomac, Great Lakes and Susquehanna river basins at an annual cost of $1.6 million. Information from this network is used by federal, state and local officials, citizens, communities, businesses, and emergency response officials to: • Make decisions to issue evacuation orders for homes or businesses before or during floods and provide advance warning of flooding to residents in flood-prone areas; • Monitor stream flows and groundwater levels as part of Pennsylvania’s drought monitoring program; • Plan for construction of water supply or wastewater treatment facilities; • Manage water-quality or habitat conditions; • Design infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and culverts; • Map floodplains for zoning or insurance purposes; • Assess sources of pollution in a watershed; • Determine flood hazard zones when making building and development decisions; • Accurately estimate streamflow across the whole state for better designed water management systems; and • Make decisions on the safety of recreational activities such as boating and fishing. For more information, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: Water Management.