Building a second reservoir is the state Canal Corp.’s long-term answer to the ongoing controversy about who’s entitled to how much water from Hinckley Reservoir.

The state’s plan to tap Uncle Sam for $50 million in federal stimulus money to build a 6-billion-gallon reservoir surfaced Wednesday as the long-standing dispute about the water levels freshened during a slow snowmelt.

The lake level today is slightly more than 11 feet below what is normal for this time of year, said Canal Corp. Director Carmella Mantello.

The 25-billion-gallon Hinckley that straddles the Oneida and Herkimer county line is the sole water source for the Mohawk Valley Water Authority and outflows from it power electrical generation stations on the West Canada Creek.

However, the state built Hinckley in the early 1900s exclusively as a source of water for maintaining navigation, and the Canal Corp. makes the decisions on how much water to release.

The water authority currently serves about 130,000 users in Utica, and parts of seven towns on the eastern side of Oneida County plus parts of Frankfort and Schuyler in Herkimer County. No conservation orders have been issued to water customers.

Oneida County Anthony J. Picente Jr. has asked the Canal Corp. to reduce the current outflow temporarily to ensure there’s an adequate supply of drinking water while the snow melts. So far he has been rebuffed even though he says the reductions would only be needed for a few days, perhaps four to six. Navigation season does not open on the canal until April.

Neither the Canal Corp. nor Erie Boulevard Hydropower, which uses water from Hinckley to produce electricity, have accepted his point of view. According to Picente, Erie Boulevard Hydropower wants financial compensation if the Hinckley outflows are reduced — less water reduces the amount of power it can generate. Picente says the reduction he’s seeking is in line with the typical water outflow in the summer.

Mantello said the Canal Corp. is contractually obligated to provide the company with certain amounts of water. She said the company has indicated to the state that Erie Boulevard Hydrpower has to be made whole in the event of outflow reductions.

On Wednesday, Hinckley dipped below the lowest point reached in 2007, when water conservation measures were enacted during a dry spell at the end of the summer. The reservoir’s level dropped more than 10 feet in 2007, forcing state officials to draw off water from other sources — including Lake Delta north of Rome — to feed the canal system.

As of today, the water level is slightly below 1,188 feet above sea level, a mark the water authority views as a crucial. The normal level is 10 feet higher, 1,198.

The water authority, state and Canal Corp. have been at loggerheads, including a lawsuit brought by the MVWA, over Hinckley water levels for years.

"We consider 1,188 (feet above sea level) to be our safe minimum level," said MVWA Executive Director Patrick Becher today, adding, "However, we also consider 1,185 to be our critical minimum level."

Mantello said that in earlier discussions the water authority indicated 1,185 was the minimum operating level and her agency has been monitoring the Hinckley level hourly with this number in mind.

"No one is going to jeopardize public drinking water," she said, later adding, "We will not go below 1,185."

She notes there have been daily telephone conference calls among state agencies, the water authority and the counties to track the situation and stay current with developments.

She said the availability of safe public drinking water "is paramount to all of the parties involved."

Becher is looking to the weather to improve the situation in the near term.

"There is some rain expected over the watershed," he said. "The snowmelt is expected to accelerate. We hope that is true."

Mantello says that aside from the current dispute over water releases from Hinckley, the region needs more water resources to allow the MVWA to expand its service territory and to promote economic development. That’s where the second reservoir comes in.

"Obviously Hinckley is being stressed by competing interests," she said. "What we have found is there is a shortage of water."

Picente insists that the priorities for Hinckley’s water must be: first, public health and safety; second, power generation; third, economic development; and last, recreation and leisure. The West Canada Creek below Hinckley is popular with trout fishermen and tube riders in the summer.

Mantello said building another reservoir is one way to expand the water supply.

"This is an idea that’s being put out there," she said. She said it can only happen if there are partnerships involving local, state and federal governments, and the private sector.

"It’s very much in the infancy stage," she added.

She also endorsed the water authority installing pumps at Hinckley that would could be used when the Hinckley level goes below 1,185 feet.

The MVWA has set aside money in its budget this year for final designs, permits and approvals in anticipating of such a project.

The new reservoir would be built in Herkimer County near Hinckley. However, any construction seems a ways off.

"I don’t have that information readily available," said Mantello when asked about a construction timetable.

She retiterated that any project is still a long ways off.

Rep. Michael A. Arcuri agrees,

"As you know, there are a number of legislative steps that must be taken before federal funds can be committed to a public works project like the construction of a reservoir ­ in terms of authorizing the Army Corps of Engineers to be involved in the project," said Jay Biba, press secretary for Arcuri, D-24, Utica. "None of those initial steps have been done for any project related to Hinckley as our office understands it, nor has the congressman’s office received any request to initiate that process."