The Ashokan Release Channel was shut down over the weekend in response to the rising Esopus Creek water level at the Mt Marion gauge. With the Mt Marion dropping below Action Stage, the Ashokan Release Channel was reactivated on Monday, March 11th, increasing from 0 MGD to 420 MGD in a series of steps. NYSDEP will continue to monitor conditions and make additional adjustments pursuant to the Interim Release Protocol.
As of March 11, the current release turbidity is 5.3 NTU, Ashokan Reservoir storage is 97.7%, and the Catskill Aqueduct is online diverting 310 MGD for water supply.
Map of Saugerties Harbor Federal Navigation Channel (SHFNC) shown in white.
According to the U.S. Army Corps Fact Sheet for Saugerties Harbor, maintenance dredging is planned for fiscal year 2024 in the tidal Esopus Creek. Existing environmental restrictions require all in-water work to be completed between August 15th and October 31th. More information is available here: Fact Sheet – Saugerties Harbor, New York
A survey of the channel from last year shows areas less than the controlled depth of 12′ in the mouth of the creek near the lighthouse and within the inside bend of the creek on north side along Lighthouse Drive. See yellow-shaded areas within the channel boundary on the Saugerties Harbor Condition Survey 2022.
Dredging will not reduce flood risk along in the tidal zone. The level of water in the tidal portion of the Esopus Creek is minimally affected by the shape or depth of the channel bottom at high tide. No matter how deep the channel is, the tide reaches an elevation established by the water surface elevation in the Hudson River.
This morning the Ashokan Release Channel flow was increased from 300 MGD (464 cfs) to 450 MGD (696 cfs) to help reach the seasonal storage objective and to maintain a combined spill and release flow less than 1000MGD. The turbidity of water in the release channel is 14.9 NTU.
Ashokan Reservoir storage is 101% today. The reservoir started spilling on Sunday and is forecast to continue spilling through Saturday. The Catskill Aqueduct is online diverting 175 MGD for water supply.
Winter Storm Gerri is forecasted to generate 3 to 4 feet of tidal surge on Saturday afternoon, January 13th, similar to recent flooding caused by Winter Storm Finn on Wednesday. The Stevens Flood Advisory System predicts water levels at least 7 feet above Mean Low Low Water (MLLW) at high tide on Saturday afternoon, which is 3PM at Saugerties. Flooding may cover the pavement of Lighthouse Drive at high tide.
Stevens Flood Advisory System forecast for Tivoli/Saugerties showing predicted surge of 3 or greater coinciding with high tide on Saturday with water levels likely 7.5′ MLLW or greater.
The level of water in the tidal portion of Esopus Creek is minimally affected by the shape or depth of the channel bottom at high tide. No matter how deep the channel is, the tide reaches an elevation established by the water surface elevation in the Hudson River as indicated by the Turkey Point tide station.
Storm tide from Winter Storm Finn covered Lighthouse Drive at noon on January 10, 2024.
Winter Storm Finn delivered tidal flooding to the Saugerties waterfront midday on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, and Winter Storm Gerri is forecasted to deliver similar flooding on Saturday. On Wednesday morning, the Battery tide gauge in Manhattan registered a surge over 4 feet at low tide and nearly 3 feet at high tide. This surge continued up the Hudson River, and runoff from over 2″ of rainfall on snow overnight added to the tidal surge. According to the Turkey Point tide gauge, the water level crested above 8 feet, which was over 3.5 feet above normal high tide and slightly higher than flood levels on December 18, 2023. At high tide today at 12:15PM in Saugerties, the pavement of Lighthouse Drive was covered in water.
Turkey Point tide gauge showed the water level crested at 8.09 feet at high tide, nearly 3.7 feet above normal.
Tracking Winter Storm Gerri, the Stevens Flood Advisory System at Davidson Laboratory is forecasting 3 to 4 feet of surge on Saturday afternoon at high tide, bringing the water back up to similar levels as Finn. High tide is at 3PM on Saturday, January 13 at Saugerties.
The level of water in the tidal portion of Esopus Creek is minimally affected by the shape or depth of the channel bottom at high tide. No matter how deep the channel is, the tide reaches an elevation established by the water surface elevation in the Hudson River as indicated by the Turkey Point tide station.
Screenshot of Stevens flood forecast for Tivoli/Saugerties showing surge predictions for Winter Storms Finn and Gerri. For the latest forecast, visit the Stevens Flood Advisory website.
Let your voice be heard for the future of the Lower Esopus Creek!
Join Ulster County and the Lower Esopus Creek Advisory Council for a community workshop, hosted both in-person and virtually, on Tuesday, December 5 to learn more about the current conditions of the Lower Esopus Creek and hear updates about the Stream Management Plan, which is currently under development.
The workshop will be held from 6:00-8:00 PM both in-person at the Ulster County Restorative Justice Center, 733 Broadway, Kingston, NY, 12401, as well as on Zoom.
Please indicate which workshop format you plan to attend (in-person or virtual) when registering.
Join Ulster County for a community walkshop—a walking workshop—at the Marbletown Town Park to discuss the Stream Management Plan for the Lower Esopus Creek. Share your thoughts and input to help shape the Plan, which will be a guide to protect and enhance the creek.
WHERE: MARBLETOWN TOWN PARK 350 Tongore Road, Kingston, NY 12401
WHEN: THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 10:30-11:30 AM Rain or shine (in case of severe inclement weather the event will be held on Thursday, September 7)
Please register in advance (recommended but not required)
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.
Water Keeps Time, a documentary about the Esopus Creek directed by Katie Cokinos and Guy Reed, with Alex Rappoport, videographer and editor. The history and community of Saugerties, New York, interpreted through its relationship to the Esopus Creek and Hudson River. (2020, 32min)
