Urges parties to 1954 U.S. Supreme Court Decree to address ongoing risk of Delaware River Basin flooding.
The resolution brings attention to the management practices of New York City's reservoirs, particularly how their fill levels during critical periods from May to June can exacerbate flooding downstream in New Jersey. It advocates for mandated year-round voids in these reservoirs to mitigate flooding effects. Studies have suggested that maintaining a certain percentage of void space could have prevented flooding events that impacted many communities in New Jersey, particularly those downstream from the New York City reservoirs.
ACR129 is a Concurrent Resolution from New Jersey urging the governors of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware to petition the United States Supreme Court to amend a 1954 decree regarding the management of the Delaware River Basin. This decree has significant implications for flood management in the region, particularly as flooding has historically posed risks to lives and properties in New Jersey, where nearly two million residents depend on the river for various uses, including drinking water, agriculture, and recreation. The resolution emphasizes the urgent need for flood control measures as rapid flooding events have caused extensive damage in recent decades.
Notably, the resolution reflects a growing concern among New Jersey legislators regarding the responsibilities and implications of the 1954 Supreme Court decree. It highlights previous task forces' recommendations that question the current management of reservoir levels. There are unresolved tensions among the states involved, as the solution proposed in ACR129 would require collaboration and compliance from New York City and the other parties to the decree, which may be met with resistance due to differing interests in water resource management.