Courtesy of Michael Nelson, here is an aerial view of the lower Esopus Creek from mid-January during turbid releases from the Ashokan Reservoir: https://vimeo.com/514737554
Category Archives: Ashokan Release Channel Operations
Public review and comment period for ashokan releases
Available for Public Review and Comment: Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Modification of the CATALUM SPDES Permit, and Draft Permit. This includes Proposed Action in Lower Esopus Creek as part of the revised Ashokan Reservoir Release Protocol. Written public comments will be accepted on the Draft EIS until March 16, 2021. A virtual public comment hearing on the permit application and the Draft EIS will be held before at 4:00 P.M. on Thursday, February 4, 2021, through the Webex Events electronic webinar platform. Information on how to provide public comment and participate in the Virtual Public comment hearing can be found here.
Ashokan Operations
For the latest data on Ashokan release channel, please refer to NYCDEP Current Releases.
For data on reservoir levels, please refer to NYCDEP Current Reservoir Levels.
Weekend reservoir release related to recreational whitewater event
NYC DEP increased the Ashokan Release Channel flow rate from 15MGD to 150 MGD to mitigate the impact of a NYS DEC requested whitewater release from Shandaken Tunnel Portal this weekend for an event on the upper Esopus Creek sponsored by the Kayak and Canoe Club of New York. Releasing water from the reservoir in advance and during the whitewater release from the tunnel will mitigate any potential spills from the reservoir since reservoir level is close to 100% capacity.
Ashokan release increased to 150 MGD for the weekend
The Ashokan Release Channel was increased from 95 to approximately 150 MGD. The increases were executed in two 15 to 30 MGD steps with the final step at 8:30AM. Releases are expected to return to the minimum on Monday.
The current release channel turbidity is 4.00 ntu.
Ashokan release increased to 95 MGD
The Ashokan Release Channel was increased from 15 to approximately 95 MGD. The increases were executed in 10 to 20 MGD increments hourly starting at 5PM with the final increase at 8PM.
The current release channel turbidity is 4.7 ntu.
Ashokan release decreased to seasonal minimum
The Ashokan Release Channel will be decreased from 600 to approximately 10 MGD. The decreases will be executed incrementally in 20 to 40 MGD steps scheduled from 8AM to 7:30PM today. The current release channel turbidity is 11.60 ntu.
Ashokan release increased to 600 MGD
The Ashokan Release Channel will be increased from 10 to approximately 600 MGD. The increases will be executed incrementally in 20 to 40 MGD steps over the course of this afternoon and tomorrow morning. The current release channel turbidity is 12.70 ntu.
Ashokan release decreased to 10 MGD
The Ashokan Release Channel was decreased from 200 to approximately 10 MGD, which is the seasonal minimum. The decrease was made incrementally and completed at 1:30PM.
The current release channel turbidity is 16.60 ntu.
Ashokan releases decreased to 200 MGD
The Ashokan Release Channel was decreased from 480 to approximately 200 MGD. The decreases were executed in 20 to 40 MDG increments and completed at 4:30PM today.
The current release channel turbidity is 19.20 ntu.