The very bottom layer of water goes anoxic after awhile, I forget why, that's why earlier in the summer the trout were deep near the bottom while it still had oxygen, but now they are higher up in the thermocline seeking oxygen. I think it's just that bottom layer sits there with no mixing and the oxygen goes out of it after awhile. As far as west basin draw down - if the West basin water quality is good enough to deliver to the City through the aqueduct, it is always best to use west basin water to create a void in the basin so next spring during run-off, snow melt, and storms the incoming Esopus creek can fill the west basin and provide settlement until it clears up again while using the east basin reserve.