Bill > A05082

This bill authorizes the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to establish the Lake DeForest Flood Control Pilot Program, which would give the department authority to regulate water volume and releases from the Lake DeForest reservoir, which is currently operated by a privately owned waterworks corporation. The program's primary goal is to mitigate downstream flooding while still maintaining the reservoir's primary purpose of providing high-quality drinking water. The DEC will develop specific rules and regulations that outline when flood control measures can be implemented, including scenarios such as anticipated major weather events, significant water inflows, dam safety concerns, seasonal precipitation patterns, and other conditions that might cause unnecessary flooding in surrounding areas. The pilot program will be in effect from December 31, 2026, and will automatically expire and be repealed on December 31, 2036, allowing for a ten-year period to assess and implement flood control strategies at the Lake DeForest reservoir.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A5082