News Release

January 11, 2008

HUDSON RIVER-BLACK RIVER REGULATING DISTRICT STORES WATER AND CONTROLS FLOODING UNTIL SNOW MELT AND RAINFALL SUBSIDE

Great Sacandaga Lake, Indian Lake, Stillwater Reservoir and the Fulton Chain of Lakes are rising and are expected to continue to rise due to unseasonably warm temperatures and heavy rainfall which is melting the snow and increasing inflow to these reservoirs.  “Recently, we have experienced record high temperatures and heavy rainfall,” stated Glenn A. LaFave, Executive Director of the Hudson River - Black River Regulating District.  “This is causing the snow to melt and the inflow to our reservoirs, as well as the flows in the Hudson and Black Rivers, to rise significantly.”

The elevation of the Great Sacandaga Lake has risen approximately 21 inches since January 8, 2008 due to increased inflow.  On January 9, inflow to the Great Sacandaga Lake was 9,300 cubic feet per second (cfs), more than four times the historic average for that date of 1,927 cfs.  The Hudson River at Hadley is flowing at 9,320 cfs (over 69,000 gallons per second) approximately four times the historic average of  2,370 cfs.

The Regulating District anticipates that Great Sacandaga Lake will continue to rise over the next several days as today’s rainfall and snow melt provides additional inflow.  Great Sacandaga Lake may rise to approximately elevation 758 feet by January 15, and approximately 760 feet by January 22, about 11 feet below the Conklingville Dam spillway.

“The Regulating District continues to maximize the release of water from the Great Sacandaga Lake in accordance with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license and the Upper Hudson / Sacandaga River Offer of Settlement operating agreement.  We will make every effort to return the elevation of the reservoir to its target level as soon as possible.” stated Mr. LaFave.

Stillwater Reservoir has risen approximately 19 inches since January 8 with inflow on January 9 of 2,080 cfs (over 15,500 gallons per second). The historic average inflow for January is 481 cfs.  Stillwater Reservoir could rise to approximately elevation 1,675 feet by January 15, about two feet below the crest of the dam.  On January 11, 2008, the flow in the Black River at Watertown is 16,700 cfs, (about 125,000 gallons per second) almost four times the historic average of 4,420 cfs.

The other Regulating District reservoirs, Indian Lake and the Fulton Chain of Lakes, are also experiencing similar increased inflow and will also continue to store water until the increase in runoff from snow melt and rainfall subsides.