Gov. Rendell Says PA Will Operate Three Vital Delaware River Gauges to Keep Communities...

Gov. Rendell Says PA Will Operate Three Vital Delaware River Gauges to Keep
Communities Safe

PA to Assume Operational Costs to Preserve Information Needed to Protect
Against Flooding, Protect Water Quality

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G.
Rendell announced today that Pennsylvania is taking steps to ensure three
important river gauges on the upper Delaware River continue to operate and
provide critical information that protects residents by monitoring flood
conditions and water quality.

The Governor said funding shortfalls by New York City had threatened to cease
operation of the gauges--located at Callicoon, Pond Eddy and Barryville--which
would have jeopardized Pennsylvania's ability to provide real-time information
to residents, businesses and officials at all levels of government.

"The difficult budget situation faced by New York City threatened to shut down
these gauges that are so critical to Pennsylvania," said Governor Rendell. "We
could not let that happen, because so many of our citizens, businesses,
emergency responders and government officials rely on the valuable information
they provide on stream flows, water levels, and water quality. These gauges
let us know if there's a potential for flooding, if pollution is entering the
watershed, or if we're facing drought conditions. We have a responsibility to
ensure that they continue to operate and fulfill their intended purpose.

"At the same time, we're continuing to work with our other partners in the
basin to ensure that the cost of operating and maintaining the remaining
gauges is picked up so communities along the length of the Delaware have the
information they need and we have a complete, working system in place," said
the Governor.

Beginning Oct. 1, Pennsylvania will provide funding to operate gauges at
Barryville / Shohola and Pond Eddy in Pike County. The state will begin
funding operation of the gauge at Callicoon in Wayne County, on Oct. 1, 2010.

The annual cost to the commonwealth will be $25,410, which includes telemetry
costs for converting Barryville / Shohola to a real-time data collection
gauge. Funding will come from the state's Clean Water Fund.

The commonwealth operates a network of approximately 250 stream gauges and
groundwater level gauges in the Delaware, Ohio, Potomac, Great Lakes and
Susquehanna river basins at an annual cost of $1.6 million.

Information from this network is used by federal, state and local officials,
citizens, communities, businesses, and emergency response officials to:
-- Make decisions to issue evacuation orders for homes or businesses
before
or during floods and provide advance warning of flooding to residents
in
flood-prone areas;
-- Monitor stream flows and groundwater levels as part of
Pennsylvania's drought monitoring program;
-- Plan for construction of water supply or wastewater treatment
facilities;
-- Manage water-quality or habitat conditions;
-- Design infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and culverts;
-- Map floodplains for zoning or insurance purposes;
-- Assess sources of pollution in a watershed;
-- Determine flood hazard zones when making building and development
decisions;
-- Accurately estimate streamflow across the whole state for better
designed water management systems; and

-- Make decisions on the safety of recreational activities such as
boating
and fishing.

For more information, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: Water
Management.

The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public
education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing
economic investment to support our communities and businesses.To find out more
about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter,
visit www.governor.state.pa.us.

CONTACT: Tom Rathbun (DEP)
717-787-1323
Michael Smith
717-783-1116

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

Tom Rathbun (DEP), +1-717-787-1323 or Michael Smith of the Pennsylvania Office
of the Governor, +1-717-783-1116