Hinckley 9/29/07
By now people are starting to realize that even with abundant water resources around us, we will come up short if they are improperly managed. While plenty of blame for our current crisis may be heaped on the Canal Corporation, we must remember that the Mohawk Valley Water Authority is ultimately responsible for ensuring abundant water supplies to Greater Utica.
MVWA has abdicated its responsibility.
MVWA abdicated its responsibility when it destroyed Gray Dam in 2002 without having a back up plan. When water flows in the West Canada Creek are low -- such as now -- the MVWA is obliged, by several agreements with the state and private landowners, to replace, gallon for gallon, all the water it removes from Hinckley with water from its own reserve reservoir further upstream on the Black Creek at Gray. If the MVWA had properly maintained and operated its Gray Reservoir, there would be no water crisis, because Greater Utica's needs would have been met by releases from its own reservoir at Gray.
MVWA abdicated its responsibility when it agreed to supply water to Western Oneida County -- to areas that have easier access to supplies from Rome and from the Onondaga County Water Authority. While not part of our immediate crisis, think of how many MORE people would be on restrictions, and think of how much worse it would be if MVWA goes through with its plans. When Greater Utica's population was increasing 40 years ago, a water shortage was forecast without any water redistribution to the western part of the county. If Greater Utica ever resumes population growth (for example, from an additional 9,000 dwelling units forecast for New Hartford at 'build out' in its Comprehensive Plan Update) there will not be enough water.
We need long term planning from our water supplier, not short-term scrambling to solve a financial crunch -- or to meet the desires of some developer.
MVWA has shown itself not up to the task it has been given.
8 comments:
Pat Becher and the entire MVWA should be FIRED!
Also, the people should DEMAND reduced water rates by 75% of their present bill.
Water is abundant in this area. However, when we have incompetent people as Becher and his cohorts; GREED becomes evident!
My parents live in Clinton. Clinton has its own water supply. I don't, actually, care for the taste of Clinton water...too minerally, but they certainly have enough of it! Just 10 minutes away, though, in Utica, my in-laws are dealing with the water restrictions.
you say this with conviction what proof do you have. Prove to us that there are other sources that can supply water to to western OC other than MVWA. I think you are all wet.
See the Barton & Loguidice report from the Town of Verona application to the DEC, which is on file at the Utica DEC office, and you will know yourself. (The page I posted (some time ago) was where they concluded Rome would be the most cost effective option.
Forget the MVWA. Go after the Canal Authority!!!! The Canal Authority should be charged with Environmental Terrorism, for purposely draining a reservoir while is primary reservior (Delta) was 75% full. To make matters worse the canal is so high now with all the this rain the we will soon see a repeat of last year flooding when the over flowing canal canal was so high it nearly Destroyed most of the Valley
I have a comment and a question. Maybe we should paint a visible line on the damn so anyone who goes by it knows that this is the lowest level we should drawn down the water in the future. My question is how much rain and snow do we need to fill the reservoir back up to the appropriate level before the canal opens again next season? Get the shovels out folks
1. Once Hinckley dam was built, any flows from Gray Dam were negligible, so the 1917 agreement was obsolete. The electric companies got more water from Hinckley reservoir than the natural flow of West Canada Creek could produce.
2. The only reason the 2007 summer crisis occurred was because the Canal Corp refused to abide by historical precedent. Instead of lowering outflow levels during the drought, they had outflows 50% greater than previous summers.
3. In response to Silence Dogood's question, if the reservoir was completely empty, it would take just 4 inches of rain over the whole watershed to fill back to full capacity
4. MVWA was trying to stimulate the economy in the area by building this water transport system to Verona. Would you rather progressive development happen here or some place else? The only thing in the way is the Canal Corp, which would rather fend off their dying importance than support local expansion
In response to Anonymous:
The 1917 Agreement was never obsolete because MVWA's right to use Hinckley for water transport (through it) and to settle out solids (in it) comes from the Agreement (where these things are written). MVWA, however, has NEVER had ANY right to use Hinckley for STORAGE. Rather, MVWA ASSUMED that it had such a right, which led to its dispute with the Canal Corp.
If Hinckley is going to be used to store water for MVWA, then the State will need to be compensated. Hinckley does not take care of itself. It required extensive maintenance in the past, and likely will require more in the future.
While I cannot verify the numbers in your point #2, I think you are probably correct that the Canal Corp created last summer's crisis - - Unfortunately, that crisis (which is unlikely to occur again because people are watching for it) has been a distraction from the more long-term issues regarding MVWA and Hinckley.
In so far as MVWA trying to "stimulate the economy," it should stick to its business of supplying water because it is mismanaging that terribly. Simply put, there is more than enough land available for economic development in MVWA's existing service area: New Hartford, Whitestown, Utica, Marcy and Deerfield. If economic development in Central or Western Oneida County needs water, the long standing plan was for the water to come from Rome or Lake Ontario -- not Herkimer County -- because less infrastructure (and less maintenance) would be required if the supplies came from those places. **Verona's own engineering study establishes this.**
What MVWA's expansion plan (which, in effect, carries "coal to Newcastle") will do, it will ultimately result in shortages within its existing service area if economic fortunes change (eg., Chip Fab, 9,000 more houses in New Hartford (see the NH comprehensive plan update)). An old county study establishes that under certain growth scenarios, even with the full amount of water that MVWA claims rights to (now in doubt) shortages would result WITHOUT any expansion. Obviously, if there is a potential for shortages without an expansion, shortages will be much more likely with an expansion. Worse, the alternative supply suggested by the old study to make up for the anticipated shortage (Oriskany Creek) might not be practicable now because of the new filtration requirements. MVWA not only banks on no growth in its existing service area, it will be a self-fulling prophesy.
The expansion plan simply makes no sense for the general public. However, landowners/developers along the proposed pipeline route will be enriched. One suspects that this is the real reason why this plan is being pushed. The region will sprawl more without growing (because this is what has happened for the last 30 years). Instead of "progressive development," our declining population will be forced to support more infrastructure. That MVWA is oblivious to these consequences makes it appear to be doing the bidding of those who will be enriched, rather than the public it was created to serve.
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