§ 15-0801. Statement of legislative findings and policy.

1. In addition to the statements of policy and legislative findings as
herein otherwise provided in this article, the legislature hereby finds
that the volume and abrupt changes in the volume of releases of water
from impounding reservoirs of water having a capacity of more than one
billion gallons and located in the counties of Delaware, Greene, Putnam,
Schoharie, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester have damaged the
recreational uses, such as trout fishing and canoeing, of waters
affected by such releases, that such waters are a recreational resource
for residents from all parts of the state of New York and elsewhere,
that such recreational resource benefits the economy and welfare of this
state and that the volume and rate of change of volume of such releases
can be regulated to protect and enhance the recreational use of waters
affected by such releases while ensuring and without impairing an
adequate supply of water for power production or for any municipality
which uses water from such reservoirs for drinking and other purposes.

2. It is hereby declared to be the policy of this state that the
volume and rate of change of volume of releases of water from such
reservoirs should be regulated to protect and enhance the recreational
use of waters affected by such releases while ensuring and without
impairing an adequate supply of water for power production or for any
municipality which uses water from such reservoirs for drinking and
other purposes.