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NARROWSBURG – The Upper Delaware Council (UDC) will host a public presentation, “Thermal Mitigation in the Upper Delaware, 2019 to 2025” by Eldred, NY resident Peter J. Kolesar of the Columbia University Water Center on Thursday, December 4, at 6:30 p.m., at the UDC’s 211 Bridge St., Narrowsburg, NY office and virtually by Zoom.

Professor Kolesar will review the thermal challenges facing the trout fishery in the upper Delaware during summer heat waves, and the successful impact of the thermal mitigation protocol that has been included in the Flexible Flow Management Program (FFMP) since 2019.

In addition, he will discuss the challenges facing the upper Delaware community with the expiration of the FFMP on May 31, 2028.

Peter Kolesar, Professor Emeritus at Columbia University, is a member of the Water Center of Columbia University’s Earth Institute.

The author of more than 50 scientific papers, his research has been applied in diverse areas of industry and government including his prize-winning design of the FDNY’s computerized fire-engine relocation algorithm, his path breaking research on early glaucoma diagnosis, and his research on counter-IED warfare strategies in Afghanistan.

Kolesar is an internationally recognized expert on statistical process improvement. His research on deployment of police and fire fighting resources won him the 1975 Lanchester Prize of the Operations Research Society of America and the 1976 NATO Systems Science Award. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

His research on water policy issues of the upper Delaware River, in partnership with Jim Serio, led to the 2007 Flexible Flow Management Program, contributed to the 2010 Joint Fisheries White Paper, and led to the incorporation of a thermal mitigation protocol in 2019. This work was honored by the Upper Delaware Council’s Distinguished Service Award in 2013, and by the 2021 Lee Wulf Conservation Award of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum.

Kolesar is an avid fly-fisher, guitarist, and photographer.

The UDC’s monthly business meeting to follow will include reports from the Delaware River Basin Commission, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, National Park Service, and UDC Executive Director; discussion of old and new business; and public comments.

All UDC meetings are open to the public.

To request the Zoom link for remote participation, please contact UDC Administrative Support Stephanie Driscoll at stephanie@upperdelawarecouncil.org or (845) 252-3022.

Check www.upperdelawarecouncil.org or UDC social media pages for any meeting updates.