News Release

February 7, 2007

REGULATING DISTRICT RETURNS TO NORMAL RELEASES AT
GREAT SACANDAGA LAKE

Regulating District Board To Hold Special Meeting to Monitor Dam Repairs
  

The Hudson River - Black River Regulating District reports that on Tuesday, February 6, 2007 at 10:00 a.m., Regulating District personnel closed valve number 3 in the Conklingville Dam.  The valve operated without incident and closed normally.  The reservoir elevation at that time was approximately 759.7 feet, more than 11 feet below the top of the spillway.  The valve had been open since January 12, to increase the release of water, lowering the elevation at Great Sacandaga Lake so all three valves in the dam can be inspected and repaired as necessary.

As these releases exceeded the maximum flow limitations in the Upper Hudson/Sacandaga River Offer of Settlement, on January 26, the Regulating District consulted with agencies, organizations and municipalities as required in the Offer of Settlement.  The excess water released since January 12 caused no flooding and provides additional storage capacity.
 
The decision to deviate from the maximum flow limitations was a result of the need to declare a second valve inoperable after an abnormal vibration was detected during operation.  The Conklingville Dam facilities, including the valves, are inspected annually by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).  In addition, the valves are operated and tested monthly.

Robert S. Foltan, the Regulating District’s Chief Engineer, re-evaluated the hydrologic and hydraulic conditions of the reservoir and river system as well as meteorological forecasts and made the decision to discontinue the Regulating District’s exception to the maximum flow limitation included in the Offer of Settlement when the reservoir reached an elevation of 760.0 feet.

At the regular monthly meeting of the Board of the Hudson River - Black River Regulating District held on February 5, 2007 in Johnstown, the Board approved a contract amendment for Phase 3 of the valve repair.  The Board also scheduled a special Board meeting to be held February 26 to discuss the valve repair and take any actions necessary to facilitate this project.