25 Pa. Code § 105.113 - Releases
(a) The Department
will impose general and special conditions regarding release rates in a permit
for a dam or reservoir that it deems necessary to maintain stream flows for the
purposes of protection of public health, water quality control, conservation of
fisheries and aquatic habitat, improvement of recreation and protection of
instream and downstream water uses. The appropriate release rates for the dams
and reservoirs will be established in accordance with subsections (b) and
(c).
(b) For dams or reservoirs
constructed after August 28, 1978:
(1) The
minimum release rate unless modified in accordance with paragraph (2) shall be
the average consecutive 7 day flow having a recurrence interval of once in 10
years (Q 7-10) plus an additional release rate determined by the following
formula:
| Release rate (csm) | = | Q7-10 + PDF(.25 csm-Q7-10 csm) |
| where PDF | = | the percentage factor based on the storage capacity of the reservoir measured as percent of average annual runoff retained in the reservoir. This factor is explained in Planning Principles, State Water Plan SWP-1 (March, 1975). |
| .25 csm | = | .25 cubic feet per second of flow per square mile of watershed. |
| Q7-10csm | = | The seven-day, ten-year flow, in cubic feet per second per square mile of watershed. |
| The minimum release rate determined by this formula shall not exceed 0.25 cubic feet per square mile of watershed. | ||
(2) The Department may modify the minimum
release rate, or provide variable schedules or releases considering the
following factors:
(i) The purposes stated in
subsection (a).
(ii) Particular
stream requirements, including the particular needs of instream and downstream
water uses and riparian rights.
(iii) The particular uses and purposes of the
dam or reservoir.
(iv) The
particular engineering, hydrologic and economic factors affecting the ability
of the dam or reservoir to provide the releases.
(c) For dams and reservoirs constructed prior
to August 28, 1978, the Department will determine a reasonable schedule for
release rates, considering all of the following:
(1) The purposes stated in subsection (a) and
the particular needs of instream and downstream water uses on the affected
stream.
(2) The capacity of
existing release works at the dam and feasibility of potential modification of
the release works.
(3) The yield of
the reservoir, and its capability to meet release requirements and satisfy the
purposes and uses of the reservoir.
(d) Every dam must at all times be operated
in a manner to allow the required flow of water into the stream below the dam
as established under this section, and as otherwise necessary to support fish
and other aquatic life and to assure compliance with the water quality
standards in Chapter 93 (relating to water quality standards) and to provide
for other instream uses for the affected stream.
Notes
The provisions of this § 105.113 amended under section 5 of the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act (32 P. S. § 693.5).
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