Lawsuits in the Making?
Capital News 9 reports “Canal closing early leaves businesses high and dry.” It seems that canal marinas are taking a hit because boaters are in a rush trying to get out of the canal before it closes.
“This time of year most of your boats are headed back south because they got to get out of the system,” said Bernie Brandow, St.Johnsville Marina Owner.
This year they have to get out even earlier. An end of season rush could mean big business for Brandow and other marinas along the Mohawk. Except for one thing, boaters aren’t stopping.
“They’re trying to make up time so they’re not stopping at night for dockage or fuel. That’s basically the hold up here,” said Brandow. . . .
The problem is every time that lock opens one point five millions gallons of water flushes down stream and needs to be replaced with water upstream at the Hinckley reservoir. That’s where water is at its lowest level since 1915 when the reservoir was created.
Hmm . . . If the Mohawk Valley Water Authority was complying with its old agreement with the state, it would be contributing from its Gray Reservoir the equivalent of its entire draw from Hinckley for drinking water — about 21 million gallons per day (MGD) based on the Water Authority’s 2002 engineering report. Divide by 1.5 MGD for each lock closing and you get an extra 14 lock closings per day that would be possible if MVWA obeyed its agreement — TIMES the 18 locks between Herkimer and the Hudson. THAT’S 252 fewer lock closings a day that can be attributed by math to MVWA’s non-compliance. Sound’s like a lot of inconvenience to boaters, disruption to shippers, and lost business for marinas to me!
Shhh …. Someone might get the idea that MVWA should pay! There go the rates!
(See, kids, math can be fun.)
How about some more math? The flow out of the dam is now 120 CFS and the authority is not contributing the 30 CFS it is supposed to do. Would a flow of 150CFS be enough to keep the creek open for fishing? That is more lost business for some people.
Somehow the pictures of boats lining up, empty marinas, and no fishing signs are more compelling visuals than the one Mr. Becher uses with the fish tank and shot glass to show how “insignificant” the MVWA’s actions are.
