The Ashokan Release Channel was decreased 240 to 0 MGD. The decrease was made in one step at 1930hrs. This decrease was required as per measurements at Mt. Marion Stream Gauge. The current Ashokan Release Channel turbidity is 28.00 NTU.

According to the Interim Release Protocol, the release channel must be shutdown when the USGS gage on the Esopus Creek at Mount Marion (Lower Esopus) is within 1 foot of the “Action Stage” (18′) and is forecasted to reach “Action Stage”, as predicted on the NWS’s Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service web page.

New York City DEP announced that it will begin ramping up releases today in anticipation of increased rainfall runoff. The DEP notified local officials via email with the following statement:

NYCDEP Bureau of Water Supply will begin releasing water from the Ashokan Reservoir through the Release Channel starting today. The release will be ramped up to a rate not to exceed 600 million gallons per day. Activation of the release channel is made to create more room in the reservoir to capture projected runoff and will help to minimize impacts to the water supply. Such releases have the added benefit of further enhancing the flood protection the reservoir already provides downstream. We will continuously monitor the release rates and adjust as necessary. Additional notifications will be made as required. Thank you for your cooperation.

Under the Interim Release Protocol, the DEP is allowed to make “Operational Releases” to prevent overspill of poor quality water from the West Basin into the East Basin of the Ashokan Reservoir.

The Ashokan Release increased this morning to 15 mgd from 10 mgd in accordance with the Interim Protocol. The turbidity has been between 7 and 10 NTU, which is relatively low.

The Ashokan Release Channel was increased today from 0 to approximately 10 MGD. The increase was made at 2:30PM.

The Ashokan Release Channel was decreased today from 10 to approximately 0 MGD. The decrease was made in approximately one 10 MG increment started at 7:00AM and completed at 7:20AM.

The Ashokan Release Channel was decreased today from 10 to 0 MGD at 8:47AM.

In accordance with Ashokan Release Interim Protocol Section 7.c. Exceptions, DEP is temporarily stopping the Ashokan Release in order to install flow-monitoring equipment in the release channel and perform engineering inspection of release channel walls. This work is expected to take 3 successive workdays. The release will be resumed at night provided it will not damage work in progress.

The installation of the flow metering equipment will improve the ability to measure future release rates. The engineering inspection will be used to develop designs for repairs to the 100 year old walls which DEP wants to perform in the near future.

The Ashokan Release Channel was decreased today from 120 to approximately 10 MGD.

The decreases were made as follows:

120 to 80 MGD at 0950hrs

80 to 60 MGD at 1050hrs

60 to 40 MGD at 1150hrs

40 to 20 MGD at 1250hrs

20 to 10 MGD at 1350hrs

The Ashokan Release Channel was decreased today from 200 to approximately 120 MGD. The decreases were made in approximately two 40 MGD increments starting at 11:30AM and completed at 12:30PM.