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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
06/01/2024 09:26 PM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20130&cosponId=14138
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House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: February 20, 2014 12:46 PM
From: Representative Scott A. Petri
To: All House members
Subject: Delaware River Flooding Resolution
 
In the near future, I will be introducing a resolution that would greatly help Bucks County residents and businesses with flood mitigation. The resolution would call upon the states of Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York to urge the Supreme Court of the United States to amend the Consent Decree of 1954 to limit the level of waters in the reservoirs in New York City that impact the Delaware River.

In 2007, the Delaware River Flood Task Force performed a study on the flood events of 2004, 2005 and 2006. The Flood Task Force concluded, based on two years of study, that establishing year-round voids in the New York City reservoirs would have a beneficial effect on flood levels in Bucks County and would reduce the number of properties flooded and the extend of flooding.

The management of the flows and levels of these reservoirs, which are owned by the City of New York, are subject to the United States Supreme Court Decree of 1954. The decree provides the City of New York may fill its reservoirs to 105 percent of capacity from the period of May 1 to June 15 of each year. When the reservoirs are filled beyond their capacities, New York City is unable to provide any flood control downstream thereby presenting an unnecessary and dangerous threat to the citizens and businesses of Bucks County.

Each of the four states has standing to call upon the United States Supreme Court to amend the Decree of 1954 and demand that the City of New York maintain the levels in its Delaware River Basin reservoirs at or below 90 percent during all periods of the year.

I invite you to join me in cosponsoring this resolution. If you have any questions, or would like further information, please contact Lea Farrell at lfarrell@pahousegop.com.

Introduced as HR674