Dramatic differences between New York City's and the New York Power Authority's high-water predictions for the Schoharie Creek need to be resolved before the next flood there.
Because there will be another flood, and those living downstream from the Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage-as well as the NYPA's own employees there-need to know they'll be safe when it comes.
Those are among the arguments made by Schoharie County representatives at a relicensing hearing for B-G Thursday in Cobleskill.
The hearing continued the process begun in April 2014 as part of a federal timetable that has nothing to do with '11's Hurricane Irene.
NYPA has two weeks to file a summary of the hearing. The Relicensing Committee and the public will then have a month to respond as the process inches forward.
Kevin Miller, an engineer for Gomez and Sullivan Engineers told an audience of about 50 people that one of the study's goals remains determining steps NYPA can take to prevent flooding downstream of B-G in high-water events.
Howard Bartholomew, a member of the Relicensing Committee, said in order to do that, NYPA needs to look at the county's own study, done by MacDonald Engineering, which looks specifically at potential flood mitigation measures.
"We wish you'd take this study into consideration when you're looking at alternatives," Mr. Bartholomew told Mr. Miller.
"Many of us live downstream from Blenheim-Gilboa and realize that if you were to pump up [from the Lower to the Upper Reservoir], it could reduce discharge significantly. You might lose half a day's revenue, but we think that's a small price to pay..."
In part, Mr. Bartholomew said, because research going back as far as the 1600s indicates the flooding caused by Hurricane Irene not was not as unique as NYPA thinks.
"Your figures may severely underestimate the historic levels of flooding," Mr. Bartholomew said.
Worse, they don't agree with the figures New York City used when it built the Gilboa Reservoir-something that's crucial in ensuring dam safety.
Richard Mix, another member of the Relicensing Committee, said the 40 percent discrepancy between NYC's and NYPA's PMF-probable maximum flood-figures of approximately 340,000 vs. 170,000 cubic feet per second, needs to be looked at.
"This discrepancy has to be addressed for the psychological well-being on the Valley," Mr.Mix said.
Like Mr. Bartholomew, he called for NYPA to "pump up" during floods, noting that historically, flooding in the Valley occurs from spring snowmelt.
"It's flashy and fast...B-G is in an ideal place to deal with it," he said, adding, "We realize the Power Authority has an electricity mandate. But they also have a moral mandate."
Mr. Miller said pumping up is being considered.
Engineers, however, are not looking at the differences between the NYC and NYPA high-water figures.
"I find that incomprehensible," said Gail Shaffer, another member of the Relicensing Commmittee. "Especially considering that they're only a few miles apart..."
Under its original license, NYPA is prohibited from using the B-G reservoirs and dams for flood control-something the Relicensing Committee has been working to amend in the relicensing process.
Afterwards, Mr. Bartholomew called Thursday's hearing "cordial and courteous" and said he's optimistic NYPA's new license will address local concerns-especially when it comes to potential high-water levels.
"That difference is really significant," he said. "The people at B-G were real heroes during Irene. They need to know if it's safe and so does everyone living downstream."