15-0801 - Statement of legislative findings and policy.

§ 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.