Senate Resolution No. 4271

BY: Senator AKSHAR

SUPPORTING the Upper Delaware River in New York
State in an effort to raise its state and national
profile for both its economic and environmental
value in Delaware and Broome Counties

WHEREAS, The Upper Delaware River in New York State (Broome/Delaware
Counties) supports a thriving and growing recreational economy that
includes a world class wild trout tail water fishery, a unique cold
water ecosystem, and one of the few remaining unspoiled major river
valleys in the northeastern United States; and

WHEREAS, Fishing, boating, and second home investment contributes a
net value of $414 million to the economy of the Upper Delaware River
region according to a 2014 economic study of the value of the river; and

WHEREAS, More than 9 million New Yorkers rely on a clean water
supply supplied wholly or in part by the Upper Delaware River; and

WHEREAS, The Upper Delaware River region in New York State is a
major tourism destination in the western Catskill Mountains and helps
generate tourism activity from across the globe throughout the entire
year; and

WHEREAS, In 2016, the U.S. Congress enacted the federal "Delaware
River Basin Conservation Act" which creates the potential for job
creating conservation projects in the Upper Delaware River region of New
York State; and

WHEREAS, A diverse partnership of local elected officials in Broome
and Delaware Counties, local coalitions of conservation and business
advocates, and Delaware County government have joined together to
develop a comprehensive stream corridor management plan for the Upper
Delaware River region that will serve as a blueprint for future
voluntary water resource management approaches; and

WHEREAS, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has placed a renewed emphasis on
the Catskill Park as one of New York States most ecologically and
economically important natural resource assets; and

WHEREAS, Numerous coalitions, including the Upper Delaware River
Tailwaters Coalition, which is comprised of diverse local and regional
conservation, business and governmental institutions have joined
together to promote initiatives that protect and restore the river and
promote its economic significance to this region; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
support the Upper Delaware River in New York State in an effort to raise
its state and national profile for both its economic and environmental
value in Delaware and Broome Counties, to support enhanced investments
at the federal, state, and local levels that will protect and restore
the river for all to enjoy, and to generate economic benefits for the
people who rely on the river for their livelihood.