Bill > ACR21

Introduced Session

This resolution urges the parties to the 1954 United States Supreme Court Decree to address the ongoing risk of Delaware River Basin flooding. The Delaware River is the longest, undammed river in the United States east of the Mississippi. Nearly two million New Jersey residents live in the Delaware River Basin, and rely on the river for drinking water. The river has historically flooded, endangering human life and property. Much of the flooding has occurred in areas of the State located downstream from the New York City reservoirs, which were at or near capacity when the flooding occurred. When New York's reservoirs are completely filled, the state can no longer provide flood controls downstream, presenting a dangerous and unnecessary threat to the lives and properties of New Jersey residents. Reports issued by the Delaware River Flood Task Force and the Delaware River Basin Interstate Flood Mitigation Task Force support this view. Requiring New York City to maintain adequate, year-round voids in its reservoirs serves the public interest by minimizing the loss of life and property caused by floods. Management of the flows and levels of New York City reservoirs is subject to a 1954 Supreme Court decree, to which New Jersey, New York, New York City, Pennsylvania, and Delaware are parties. Under that decree, and subsequent agreements between the parties, New York may fill its reservoirs to 105 percent capacity during the period of May 1 to June 15 of each year, a period when flooding has historically occurred. This resolution would urge the parties to call upon the Supreme Court to amend the decree, and demand that New York City maintain year-round voids in its reservoirs in order to mitigate the devastating effects of floods on people living downstream.

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Dawn Fantasia (R)*,  Michael Inganamort (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document