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S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8924
I N S E N A T E
January 16, 2026
___________
Introduced by Sen. C. RYAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed 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:
1 Section 1. The canal law is amended by adding a new section 130-a to
2 read as follows:
3 § 130-A. OSWEGO RIVER BASIN WATER RELEASE COORDINATION. 1. THE CORPO-
4 RATION, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVA-
5 TION, SHALL, WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION,
6 FORM A STAKEHOLDER GROUP TO EVALUATE APPROACHES TO COORDINATING WATER
7 RELEASES IN THE OSWEGO RIVER BASIN. SUCH STAKEHOLDER GROUP SHALL INCLUDE
8 ALL ENTITIES WITH THE ABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTROL FLOOD WATER
9 DISCHARGES EITHER DIRECTLY TO OR FROM MAJOR WATER BODIES WITHIN THE
10 OSWEGO RIVER BASIN AND THEIR TRIBUTARIES, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER GROUPS,
11 THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, AND SUBJECT MATTER
12 EXPERTS.
13 2. THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP SHALL REVIEW ALL AVAILABLE INFORMATION
14 REGARDING UTILIZING FLOOD STORAGE ABOVE LAKE RULE CURVES, AND WATERSHED
15 RELEASES DURING HIGH FLOW EVENTS, IN THE OSWEGO RIVER BASIN, INCLUDING
16 ANY RELEVANT MODELING. WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE FORMATION OF THE STAKE-
17 HOLDER GROUP, THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP SHALL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE
18 GOVERNOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE
19 ASSEMBLY ON A REGULATORY STRUCTURE TO COORDINATE COMMUNICATION AND WATER
20 RELEASES DURING HIGH FLOW EVENTS. IN MAKING SUCH RECOMMENDATIONS, THE
21 STAKEHOLDER GROUP SHALL CONSIDER A VARIETY OF ALTERNATIVES, INCLUDING
22 BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
23 (A) RECOMMENDING A CONTINUATION, EXPANSION, OR RECONSTITUTION OF THE
24 STAKEHOLDER GROUP FOR SUCH PURPOSE;
25 (B) RECOMMENDING A LEGISLATIVE MANDATE FOR COORDINATION OF WATER
26 RELEASES; OR
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09563-01-5
S. 8924 2
1 (C) RECOMMENDING THE LEGISLATURE INITIATE AN INDEPENDENT WATER REGU-
2 LATING DISTRICT WITH THE AUTHORITY TO DIRECT WATER RELEASES PURSUANT TO
3 TITLE TWENTY-ONE OF ARTICLE FIFTEEN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
4 LAW.
5 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.