Ulster County Comptroller March Gallagher Statement on Turbid Release from the Ashokan Reservoir
Kingston, NY May 4, 2021– The release of turbid water from the Ashokan Reservoir into the Esopus Creek is just the latest incident of a wide range of problems caused to our communities by hosting the largest reservoir system in the New York City watershed. As the former head of economic development for Ulster County, I understand that being a host community has tremendous economic impact on all of Ulster County. New York City DEP and New York state DEC need to recognize that the watershed communities are not made whole by the original agreement between the city and the communities of the watershed, and that each time they undertake a release like this, there are real costs to the people and businesses of Ulster, including contamination of local drinking water, damage to septic systems, and impacts on tourism.
Ulster County Comptroller – March Gallagher
Background: Ulster County Comptroller March Gallagher has been critical of the turbid releases from the Ashokan Reservoir into the Lower Esopus since it was proposed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. One of her initiatives in a second term will be to determine the real costs to Ulster County residents of hosting the New York City Watershed.
