News Release

June 30, 2006

GREAT SACANDAGA LAKE REDUCES HUDSON RIVER FLOODINGThe Great Sacandaga Lake, a river regulating reservoir operated by the Hudson River - Black River Regulating District, stored more than 50 billion gallons of water since Monday, June 26, 2006, significantly reducing the flow in the Hudson River.  This prevented flooding from the Town of Hadley to Fort Edward and reduced flooding further downstream.  Great Sacandaga Lake, New York State’s largest river regulating reservoir, stored 25 billion gallons of water on Wednesday, reducing the average Hudson River flow by at least 300,000 gallons per second. 

 “Prior to the recent storms, on Monday, June 26, we were at our target elevation on the Great Sacandaga Lake, so we had ample room to begin storing this runoff,” stated Glenn A. LaFave, Executive Director of the Hudson River - Black River Regulating District. 

Without the river regulation provided by the Great Sacandaga Lake, peak flow in the Hudson River would have exceeded 423,000 gallons per second from Hadley to Fort Edward.  At this flow, the Hudson River would have exceeded the flood stage by more than 6 feet.  The Hudson River is considered above flood stage at Fort Edward when the flow exceeds approximately 176,500 gallons per second. 

Now that the threat of flooding has passed, the Regulating District has begun to release water from the Great Sacandaga Lake in accordance with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission mandates.

Due to the recent high water conditions, from July 1 to July 31, 2006 permit holders at the Great Sacandaga Lake may remove uprooted trees, deadfall and debris washed on the beach without a work permit.  Please call the Sacandaga Field Office at 518-661-5535 prior to these or any other work activity.

The Hudson River - Black River Regulating District is a public benefit corporation of the State of New York that operates 5 reservoirs in the Adirondack Mountains.