Campaigns & Cases > Safeguard Drinking Water > Ashokan Reservoir: Stop the mud

Ashokan Reservoir: Stop the mud

New York City is once again dumping millions of gallons a day of turbid water from its Ashokan Reservoir into the Lower Esopus Creek. Let’s demand better ways to manage this water supply in the face of climate change – and protect communities downstream.

Ashokan Reservoir:Stop The MudHalfway along its course through the Catskills, the Esopus Creek is dammed to create the Ashokan Reservoir, one of the most important parts of New York City’s vast drinking water supplies. Erosion from severe storms – which will become more common as the climate changes – causes excessive turbidity in the reservoir.

One way New York City manages this challenge is to dump massive amounts of muddy water from the reservoir into the Lower Esopus Creek, which flows 32 miles from the reservoir to the Hudson. These releases are the least expensive way for the DEP to preserve the quality of NYC drinking water. However, this “solution” only shifts costs and consequences onto farmers, businesses, residents and communities downstream.

The turbid water severely affects water quality, wildlife habitat and recreation along the creek.

Levels of light and oxygen within the water are reduced, affecting fish and their ability to feed and see their food. Further downstream, the turbid water adds to the cost of drinking water treatment for communities that draw water from the Hudson. A late December 2020 storm triggered the latest release, which will continue, with some pauses, through Spring.

These impacts are only expected to grow with climate change, making the releases unsustainable and unacceptable in the long term.

We must demand better. We have a critical opportunity right now to raise our voices and stop the mud.

FEB. 9, 2022 – NYS to NYC: Find alternatives to dumping muddy Ashokan Reservoir water into the Esopus Creek
Riverkeeper applauds the state’s decision to require further analysis of alternative actions, as well as impacts to the Hudson River drinking water supply, and the effects of climate change on the management of the city’s water supply.

Please get informed and speak out:

 


Map: Community members document turbidity in Lower Esopus Creek

 

Learn more

Press coverage

The River: Mud in the Water: The Fight Over Turbidity in Esopus Creek

Poughkeepsie Journal: A proposed project is threatening one of the Catskills’ best fishing streams. Here’s details.

Daily Freeman: Speakers at Ashokan Reservoir hearing want NYC to back up claim that muddy water discharges are harmless

Daily Freeman: Ashokan Reservoir discharges into Esopus Creek come under fire at hearing

Daily Freeman: Muddy discharges from Ashokan Reservoir into Esopus Creek will face scrutiny at hearing

Daily Freeman: More coverage

Green Radio Hour with Jon Bowermaster: Focus on ‘The Big Muddy (the Esopus Creek)’

La Voz con Mariel Fiori: Mud in the Creek (begins at 41:00 mark on Radio Kingston) or view on Facebook.

Patch: HV Communities Fight NYC Reservoir’s Massive Muddy Discharges: Turbidity is a growing challenge with climate change

Tell Gov. Hochul to block invasive species at the Erie and Champlain canals
Become a Member