Upper Delaware River (UDR) Network Newsletter

August 2025 Edition

As we give a bitter sweet goodbye to the Summer season on the Upper Delaware River, we welcome Autumn and all it has to offer. From the anticipated leaf color change that paints the landscape to exciting research, educational, and networking events taking place in the coming months, the UDR is the place to be!

In this edition, you'll find informational fisheries updates, details about the upcoming 2025 UDR Rendezvous, and a spotlight on our featured organization: the Delaware River Basin Commission.

It’s Been a Hot Summer on the Upper Delaware River

Article by: Jeff Skelding, Angling Advocate for FUDR

The wild trout fishery of the Upper Delaware River has experienced significant heat stress this summer. Trout need cold, clean water to thrive, but the hot air temperatures of recent weeks are causing concern for habitat conditions in the river. Fortunately, thanks in large part to the advocacy efforts of the UDR conservation community, a “thermal bank” was established in the management plan that governs the operations of the NYC Delaware basin reservoirs. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has unilateral authority to manage the thermal bank and call for additional releases of cold water (above baseline releases) when water temperatures are predicted to exceed 75 degrees F at the Lordville, NY USGS gauge. The DEC has called for 7 thermal releases in 2025. Since there is only a limited amount of water in the thermal bank, these releases must be efficient and accurate to ensure enough water is available throughout the summer and fall to protect the wild trout of the UDR tailwaters. We are keeping a close eye on the use of the bank this year and will continue to keep you posted on social media when thermal releases are initiated.  

For more information: https://webapps.usgs.gov/odrm/

Fishing on the Delaware River

Registration for the 2025 Upper Delaware River Rendezvous is now open!

Join us for the 2025 UDR Rendezvous in Callicoon, NY on October 15 & 16! This conference is a great opportunity for scientists, landowners, government officials, watershed groups, and others who care about the UDR Watershed to gather together to share knowledge, collaborate on solutions, and celebrate the progress being made to protect and restore the Upper Delaware River Watershed.

The UDR Rendezvous will feature engaging presentations, interactive workshops, networking opportunities, and field excursions led by experts in watershed science, conservation, and community engagement. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to watershed work, there’s something for everyone!

Click here to register for the conference & view the agenda.

Interested in becoming a 2025 UDR Rendezvous sponsor? Click here to check out the sponsorship opportunities available.

Delaware River Tailwaters Joint Trout Management Plan

Article by: Jeff Skelding, Angling Advocate for FUDR

We’re looking forward to the implementation phase of the joint New York and Pennsylvania Tailwaters Joint Trout Management Plan for the nationally renowned wild trout fishery below the Cannonsville and Pepacton reservoirs. The jurisdiction of the plan includes 75 miles of the East Branch, West Branch, and main stem of the Upper Delaware River.  The joint plan is the first one of its kind specific to the Upper Delaware River tailwaters and includes goals and objectives that address habitat enhancement, fisheries monitoring, and public outreach. One of the key elements of the plan that we are particularly excited about is an annual “report card” for the UDR tailwaters wild trout fishery which will guide future agency management activities. The first report card is due out in the Spring of 2026!

For more information: Delaware Tailwaters Joint Trout Management Plan

Cover Photo for Delaware River Tailwaters Joint Trout Management Plan

Featured Watershed Partner - Delaware River Basin Commission

In this newsletter we are featuring UDR Network member the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC). Thanks for everything you do!

The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) is a federal-interstate agency formed in 1961 with a mission to manage a river system without regard to political boundaries. Its members include the four basin state governors and the Division Engineer of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ North Atlantic Division, who serves as the federal representative. Under this leadership, the DRBC oversees a unified approach to protecting the Delaware River and its resources, a vital water supply for an estimated 14.2 million people.  

The DRBC’s staff manages a wide range of programs from water quality monitoring and protection, planning and permitting, to flow management. In simple terms, the Commission works to ensure that there is enough water of high enough quality for the basin's many diverse needs, including agriculture, recreation, industry, drinking water, and more. In the Upper Delaware, the DRBC works closely with partners to protect the high-quality waters that support the region’s unique habitats, scenic beauty, and world-class fishing. DRBC does this through its Special Protection Waters program, partnership with the National Parks Service and other agencies, the Upper Delaware Council, the Supreme Court Decree Parties, and DRBC's Our Shared Waters partner network.

The Commission celebrates the many dedicated local leaders in the Upper Delaware who work to protect this special part of the basin so that it may be enjoyed and used by future generations.

DRBC’s Canoe

Thanks for taking a moment to read the UDR Network Watershed Newsletter! We hope it helps you gain a broader understanding of all the work happening in the watershed and provides you with an opportunity to meet new partners, learn new strategies, and identify opportunities to strengthen your watershed work! 

If there is an activity or event that your organization would like featured in the next newsletter, please email info@fudr.org. To learn more about the UDR Watershed Network, visit our website https://www.udrwatershed.org.

-The UDR Watershed Network Team

Activities and Important Dates