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NYC reservoir releases raise worries about stormier future

Water from the Ashokan Reservoir, about 10 million gallons a day, runs through the release channel and towards the Esopus Creek in Olive, N.Y., Tuesday, April 5, 2022. The channel can handle a flow of up to 600 million gallons per day. As western regions contend with drier conditions, New York City is under fire for sometimes releasing hundreds of millions of gallons of water a day from the reservoir in the Catskill Mountains. The occasional releases, often around storms, have been used to manage water the reservoir's levels and to keep the water clear. But residents downstream say the periodic surges cause ecological harm along the lower Esopus Creek. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Sediment and debris are seen on the bottom of the Esopus Creek in Saugerties, N.Y., Tuesday, April 5, 2022. As western regions contend with drier conditions, New York City is under fire for sometimes releasing hundreds of millions of gallons of water a day from the Ashokan reservoir in the Catskill Mountains. The occasional releases, often around storms, have been used to manage water the reservoir's levels and to keep the water clear. But residents downstream say the periodic surges cause ecological harm along the lower Esopus Creek. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

The Esopus Creek, center, empties out into the Hudson River in Saugerties, N.Y., Tuesday, April 5, 2022. As western regions contend with drier conditions, New York City is under fire for sometimes releasing hundreds of millions of gallons of water a day from the Ashokan reservoir in the Catskill Mountains. The occasional releases, often around storms, have been used to manage water the reservoir's levels and to keep the water clear. But residents downstream say the periodic surges cause ecological harm along the lower Esopus Creek. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

A rowboat makes its way on the surface of the Ashokan Reservoir in Olive, N.Y., Tuesday, April 5, 2022. As western regions contend with drier conditions, New York City is under fire for sometimes releasing hundreds of millions of gallons of water a day from the reservoir in the Catskill Mountains. The occasional releases, often around storms, have been used to manage water the reservoir's levels and to keep the water clear. But residents downstream say the periodic surges cause ecological harm along the lower Esopus Creek. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Michael Vallarella shows reporters a section of the Esopus Creek near his house in Saugerties, N.Y., Tuesday, April 5, 2022. As western regions contend with drier conditions, New York City is under fire for sometimes releasing hundreds of millions of gallons of water a day from the Ashokan reservoir in the Catskill Mountains. The occasional releases, often around storms, have been used to manage water the reservoir's levels and to keep the water clear. But residents downstream say the periodic surges cause ecological harm along the lower Esopus Creek. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Trees line the banks of the Ashokan Reservoir in Olive, N.Y., Tuesday, April 5, 2022. As western regions contend with drier conditions, New York City is under fire for sometimes releasing hundreds of millions of gallons of water a day from the reservoir in the Catskill Mountains. The occasional releases, often around storms, have been used to manage water the reservoir's levels and to keep the water clear. But residents downstream say the periodic surges cause ecological harm along the lower Esopus Creek. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Water from the Ashokan Reservoir, about 10 million gallons a day, runs through the release channel in Olive, N.Y., Tuesday, April 5, 2022. The channel can handle a flow of up to 600 million gallons per day. As western regions contend with drier conditions, New York City is under fire for sometimes releasing hundreds of millions of gallons of water a day from the reservoir in the Catskill Mountains. The occasional releases, often around storms, have been used to manage water the reservoir's levels and to keep the water clear. But residents downstream say the periodic surges cause ecological harm along the lower Esopus Creek. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Michael Vallarella shows reporters a section of the Esopus Creek near his house in Saugerties, N.Y., Tuesday, April 5, 2022. As western regions contend with drier conditions, New York City is under fire for sometimes releasing hundreds of millions of gallons of water a day from the Ashokan reservoir in the Catskill Mountains. The occasional releases, often around storms, have been used to manage water the reservoir's levels and to keep the water clear. But residents downstream say the periodic surges cause ecological harm along the lower Esopus Creek. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

A motorized boat makes its way on the Ashokan Reservoir in Olive, N.Y., Tuesday, April 5, 2022. As western regions contend with drier conditions, New York City is under fire for sometimes releasing hundreds of millions of gallons of water a day from the reservoir in the Catskill Mountains. The occasional releases, often around storms, have been used to manage water the reservoir's levels and to keep the water clear. But residents downstream say the periodic surges cause ecological harm along the lower Esopus Creek. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

NYC reservoir releases raise worries about stormier future