WSPC04680

• File Number: 8040.950
• Description: Section D General Studies-General Water Studies
• Date: 11/23/1983
• Title: Report on River Conservation Programs in the 50 States-Working Draft-Prepared for National Association of State River Conservation Programs
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

NEW YORK. 1

The act requires coorRration with feoeral agencies preparing studies or
plans for the national system.

Nl'.TIG1AI, RIVFPS

The upper Delaware Piver, between Fancock and Port Jerivs, was desiqnated
in the national system in 197R after a 10-year perioO as one of the originel
authorized study rivers. The segment is aprroximately 70 ~iles lona. ~he Middle
Delaware, running through NY, NJ, an0 PI', was also &cded in 1978.

,

Unique provisions of the act include a spe~ific limitation on federal
aCQUisition, with protection to be accomplished largely by local land use
controls. The National Park Service was designatea as ~~e managina agency
largely because of intensive recreation use on the river, and their ability to
assist with that as well as oversee the protection of the corridor in
cooperation with two states, 15 towns, 5 counties and the Delaware River Pesin
Commission. By law, NPS is limited to 450 acres of acrnJisition initially,
another 1,000 when the management plan is cone at the end of three years and, if
the local governments are not able to accomplish protection two years after the
plan is adopted, then the 8ecretary of the Interior may acquire up to one-third
of the corridor in the defaulting municipality, The plan is now scheduled for
completion in 1982.

The act also requires the ~ecretary to prowulaate land use control
guicelines for the nppor Delaware, Public hearings were held on these in
Octoher, 1980, They are to guide interior actions as well as he reflected in
the plan.

The upper Delaware is the only nesiqnater. national river in New York.
Fowever, in 1~73, the East Branch of Fish Creek, on the ,"Iestern side of the
l'dirondacks was authorized as a study river and the National Park Service beaan
that "'Orkin 19R 1. It has been made clear alrea(v that state or local manaaement
would he applied tllere if that river is advance<,( and that the NPS \>.Quld not he
the manager.

CCNTAC1': Mr.Charles C. Morrison ,Jr.
Chief, State pivers Proaram
PYS Dept. of. Environmental Conservation
Room 412
50 \\'Olf Poad
Albany, ~JY 12233
[phone]

Adirondack Park Agency
Box 99
Ray Brcok, NY 12977
[phone]

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