In 1867 the first Adirondack reservoir built in order to manage river water was constructed on the Oswegatchie River. The reservoir raised Cranberry Lake thirteen feet and doubled its size. Since then, reservoirs have become the primary means to control flooding and drought in Adirondack rivers. In 1919 the Black River Regulating District was created in order to regulate water levels on the Black River through the use of dams and reservoirs. In 1920 the Black River General Plan was completed and the District began operations, acquiring Old Forge and Sixth Lake reservoirs, which had been constructed in the early 1880s. In 1924 the Black River District completed the Stillwater Reservoir. A similar district was created for the Hudson River in 1922, and the general plan was completed in 1924. In 1930 the Sacandaga Reservoir (now Great Sacandaga Lake) and Conklingville Dam were completed using funds from direct beneficiaries. This reservoir remains the centerpiece of the Hudson River-Black River Regulating District to this day. In 1927 the Districts began their purchase agreements with New York Power and Light (the predecessor to Niagara-Mohawk). The practice of selling annually renewable access permits to private individuals and businesses for use of the Sacandaga shoreline began in 1933. The Conservation Department was given some jurisdiction over lands in private use adjacent to the Great Sacandaga Lake. In 1959 the two Districts were merged to become the Hudson River-Black River Regulating District. A five-member board, appointed by the governor, manages the District. The Board reports annually to the Department of Environmental Conservation and submits records of its financial operations for review by the State Comptroller. The Board must include a minimum of two residents of the Black River area, two residents of the Hudson River area, and a fifth member selected at large from anywhere in the State.
Web Site Topic:
The Hudson River-Black River Regulating District's primary objective is to protect communities, industries, and residents of the Hudson River and Black River Adirondack drainage basins from seasonal flooding and drought through the creation and management of reservoirs and dams. The District is organized as a public benefit corporation and has the authority to build and operate reservoirs, as well as issue bonds and apportion costs on its beneficiaries to finance construction, maintenance, and operation. The District does not use any State taxpayer money for its projects. The District charges fees to municipalities and corporations that directly benefit from its water management systems. These municipalities and corporations benefit from flood control and depend on augmented low river flow to power industrial operations with water, supply water for sewage management, and supply water for drinking. The District also defrays costs through an arrangement with Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation, which generates electricity at its E.J. West facility adjacent to the District-owned Conklingville Dam and Mercer at Stillwater. The District charges Niagara Mohawk for the water used to create power. Finally, a cost-defraying income is derived from annual recreational use permit fees on District-owned Great Sacandaga Lake (formerly the Sacandaga Reservoir) property. These permits allow landowners whose property adjoins reservoir property to use District-owned shoreline land in ways that do not damage District property or hamper reservoir operations. Recreational use of the rivers and of the reservoirs is another service made possible by the District. The Northampton State Park and numerous public and private entities operate recreational facilities on the reservoirs, encouraging a range of activities year-round: fishing, boating, water skiing, ice fishing, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing. The District's board is responsible for formulating the district's operating rules and regulations; operating and maintaining reservoir facilities that provide crucial water management services to District beneficiaries; operating a surveillance system for precipitation, stream flow, snow depth, and flood conditions; paying property taxes; maintaining a sound financial status for maintenance and operation procedures including retirement of any bonded indebtedness; and submitting an annual report on operations, personnel, petitions, reservoir conditions, and finances to the Department of Environmental Conservation.
