Merrill Creek water level update...

[buzzbaiter]

Per NJDFGW:

Although the reservoir is currently down almost 10 ft, it is approximately at 90% capacity. This condition has occurred due to the limited precipitation over the last few years, summer and winter. The reservoir watershed is extremely small due to the fact that it is located on top of Scotts Mountain and therefore receives very little runoff as compared to other lakes.

The Merrill Creek Owners Group plans on pumping more water back up (from the Delaware) but it is not being considered until next year at the earliest. It is very expensive to pump water back up so they need to budget accordingly. The other deciding factor is that they can only pump during times when the river has adequate flow which restricts when they can pump, as per DRBC regulations.

Although the shallow areas in the coves are very exposed as indicated in your photos there's still lots of water! Good thing they planned for that when constructing the boat ramp.

When the shallows are re-inundated with water the aquatic vegetation will be slow to reestablish, thus favoring Smallmouth over Largemouth Bass. which I view as a good thing

[AndyS]

I dunno, I'll ALWAYS take more water over less water. So it finally rains and no one pumps water back in, I just don't get it.

[Moz]

They didn't pump into Round Valley nor Spruce Run either and in the case of RVR they haven't in a few years so as far as pumping costs that should mean a budget surplus.

But this is Jersey.

[Jhunter1]

The Delaware has sustained much higher average heights this year than a few years prior. This would have been a good year to pump if they needed to. Last year not so much.

[Eskimo]

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90% full isn't bad. Almost all NJ reservoirs are at least that level.

The only two reservoirs that are still low are Round Valley and Spruce Run.
I suspect the reason for this is New Jersey American Water is dirtier than than a public toilet and not filling their reservoirs is a ploy to extort more money from the state or their water customers.


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[FASTEDDIE29]

Originally Posted by Jhunter1

The Delaware has sustained much higher average heights this year than a few years prior. This would have been a good year to pump if they needed to. Last year not so much.

It's been above average since the beginning of March! It's about time!!! 50 lb Flatheads and some big old Stripers on the way up to Hancock, NY!!! Awesome!!!

Thanx for the update Buzzbaiter! I was wondering where you've been dude! Hope all is well!!!

[Jigman13]

Spruce has gone up significantly in the last 6 weeks. Can't comment in rvr though

[buzzbaiter]

Spruce is still down but getting thee. If anyone is into bowfishing for carp, now is the time to go there. Saw hundreds of them nosing around the shallows and trying to go up the small stream channels.

[Moz]

Originally Posted by Jigman13

Spruce has gone up significantly in the last 6 weeks. Can't comment in rvr though

That's great to hear. RVR with engineering works for the dams will remain low for quite some time so makes sense to be put as much into Spruce and MC as they can.

[NJSquatch]

Originally Posted by Eskimo

.
The only two reservoirs that are still low are Round Valley and Spruce Run.
I suspect the reason for this is New Jersey American Water is dirtier than than a public toilet and not filling their reservoirs is a ploy to extort more money from the state or their water customers.

RV and SR are owned and operated by the New Jersey Water Supply Authority "State Agency". The reservoirs provide raw water storage for all the water purveyors down stream that have surface water intakes along the Raritan & DR Canal (NJAW, New Brunswick, Middlesex Water Company, etc)

As others have stated RV is in the middle of a rehabilitation project that includes work on the dams, pumps, intake, and outlet structures. Major construction work is slated to start in 2018. They don't provide an anticipated end date but have to imagine it will a quite a few years before it is full again.

http://www.njwsa.org/html/rv_project.html