S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7377
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              March 25, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. STIRPE -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
 
 AN ACT to amend the canal law, in relation to establishing a stakeholder
   group to coordinate water release in the Oswego river basin
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The canal law is amended by adding a new section  130-a  to
 read as follows:
   §  130-A. OSWEGO RIVER BASIN WATER RELEASE COORDINATION. 1. THE CORPO-
 RATION, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF  ENVIRONMENTAL  CONSERVA-
 TION,  SHALL,  WITHIN  SIX MONTHS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION,
 FORM A STAKEHOLDER GROUP TO EVALUATE APPROACHES  TO  COORDINATING  WATER
 RELEASES IN THE OSWEGO RIVER BASIN. SUCH STAKEHOLDER GROUP SHALL INCLUDE
 ALL  ENTITIES  WITH THE ABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTROL FLOOD WATER
 DISCHARGES EITHER DIRECTLY TO OR FROM  MAJOR  WATER  BODIES  WITHIN  THE
 OSWEGO  RIVER BASIN AND THEIR TRIBUTARIES, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER GROUPS,
 THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  ENVIRONMENTAL  CONSERVATION,  AND  SUBJECT   MATTER
 EXPERTS.
   2.  THE  STAKEHOLDER  GROUP  SHALL  REVIEW  ALL  AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 REGARDING UTILIZING FLOOD STORAGE ABOVE LAKE RULE CURVES, AND  WATERSHED
 RELEASES  DURING  HIGH FLOW EVENTS, IN THE OSWEGO RIVER BASIN, INCLUDING
 ANY RELEVANT MODELING.  WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE FORMATION OF THE STAKE-
 HOLDER GROUP, THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP SHALL MAKE  RECOMMENDATIONS  TO  THE
 GOVERNOR,  THE  TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE
 ASSEMBLY ON A REGULATORY STRUCTURE TO COORDINATE COMMUNICATION AND WATER
 RELEASES DURING HIGH FLOW EVENTS. IN MAKING  SUCH  RECOMMENDATIONS,  THE
 STAKEHOLDER  GROUP  SHALL  CONSIDER A VARIETY OF ALTERNATIVES, INCLUDING
 BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
   (A) RECOMMENDING A CONTINUATION, EXPANSION, OR RECONSTITUTION  OF  THE
 STAKEHOLDER GROUP FOR SUCH PURPOSE;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD09563-01-5
 A. 7377                             2
              

 
   (B)  RECOMMENDING  A  LEGISLATIVE  MANDATE  FOR  COORDINATION OF WATER
 RELEASES; OR
   (C)  RECOMMENDING  THE LEGISLATURE INITIATE AN INDEPENDENT WATER REGU-
 LATING DISTRICT WITH THE AUTHORITY TO DIRECT WATER RELEASES PURSUANT  TO
 TITLE  TWENTY-ONE  OF  ARTICLE FIFTEEN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
 LAW.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.