Hinckley Reservoir

About the Final Report

The Working Group submitted its final report to Governor Paterson on April 30, 2008. Included within the report are 10 recommendations that will help improve management of the Hinckley Reservoir and other associated water resources. The report is 151 pages, and includes many additional pages in appendix items that are available along with the report on compact disk (CD). There will be a 30-day public comment period on the report and Governor Paterson will consider all public comments received by the State Department of Health on or before May 31, 2008.

To order a CD of the report or make comments:

  • E-mail: ceheduc@health.state.ny.us
  • Telephone: (800) 458-1158 or
  • Mail:
    • Outreach and Education Group, Center for Environmental Health
      New York State Department of Health
      Flanigan Square, 547 River St.
      Troy, NY 12180-2216

About the Working Group

On October 19, 2007, Governor Eliot Spitzer directed the formation of the Hinckley Reservoir Working Group. The Working Group was charged by the Governor to examine specific issues surrounding the uses of water from the Hinckley Reservoir and to make recommendations regarding:

  • the water levels needed at the Hinckley Reservoir to service drinking water needs, fisheries, power generation and canal operations;
  • the capability of other canal reservoirs to help meet those needs;
  • an early warning system to communicate drought situations to stakeholders and facilitate their communication regarding all competing needs; and
  • a report of the water usage and meteorological data for 2006 and 2007 to better understand the factors that contributed to low reservoir conditions in the fall of 2007.

The Working Group held eight open meetings in Utica, NY that were attended by members of the public and elected officials. Additionally, the Working Group collected extensive information to help evaluate and understand the Hinckley Reservoir, the Delta Reservoir and other canal water resources.