What's happening
This bill authorizes a pilot program for the Department of Environmental Conservation to control Lake DeForest reservoir water releases to reduce downstream flooding.
Why it matters
Directs state oversight of a privately owned reservoir, which could set a precedent for more active public management of private water resources when public safety is at stake.
Prioritizes balancing flood control with maintaining water quality and supply, which may impact how water is managed during extreme weather, possibly affecting both flood-prone communities and drinking water users.
Requires the Department of Environmental Conservation to create clear regulations on when and how flood control actions can be taken, potentially increasing transparency and predictability for downstream residents and stakeholders.
Establishes the program as a pilot with a 10-year duration, enabling the state to gather data and assess the effectiveness of such interventions before making permanent policy changes.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Test Lake DeForest Flood Release
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1254
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 11, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ZEBROWSKI, JAFFEE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to authorize the department of environmental conservation to establish the Lake DeForest Flood Control Pilot Program; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The department of environmental conservation shall establish the Lake DeForest Flood Control Pilot Program to regulate the volume and releases of water from the Lake DeForest reservoir, which is operated by a privately owned waterworks corporation as defined in section 2 of the public service law, to mitigate downstream flooding, to the maximum extent practicable while recognizing and ensuring the primary purpose of the availability of sufficient quality drinking water. The department shall promulgate rules and regulations describing the circumstances in which flood control authority may be used including the anticipation of a major weather event, large inflow of water into reservoirs, dam safety, seasonal precipitation schedules or any other condition that may reasonably cause unnecessary flooding to surrounding areas.
§ 2. This act shall take effect December 31, 2017 and shall expire and be deemed repealed December 31, 2027.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04073-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.