1. 2006 Land Use/Land Cover
NOAA CSC
WATER
BARREN
2%
<1%
WETLANDS
8%
DEVEL
15%
FOREST
6,288
mi2
BASIN
AG
26%
49%
WETLANDS WATER
2%
6%
BARREN
DEVEL
10%
FOREST
1925
mi2
58%
CENTRAL
AG
24%
WETLANDS
3%
WATER
2%
FOREST
BARREN
2,778
mi2
AG 13%
81%
UPPER REGION
DEVEL
1%

2. Outstanding Regional
Resource





Exceptional water
quality
Exceptional source
water
Ecological diversity
~75% of non-tidal
river part of National
Wild and Scenic
Rivers System
100% of non-tidal
river is Special
Protection Waters

3. Delaware River
Watershed Facts




Over 15 million people
(about 5% of the U.S.
population) rely on the
waters of the basin
Drains 13,539 mi² , or 0.4
of 1% of the continental
U.S. land area
Longest undammed river
east of the Mississippi
Daily water withdrawal in
the DRB = 8.7 BGD
1
5

4. Head of Tide

5. Delaware River Port Complex – Largest Fresh Water Port

6. Salt Line
(250 mg/l, 7 day avg)
Water Supply Intakes
RM 110
1960’s Maximum
M O N TH
Normal
R.M. 77
Ja n
Fe b
Ma r
Ap r
Ma y
J un
J ul
Aug
Se p
Oct
N ov
Dec
A V G . M I D -M O N TH
L O C A TI O N
68
68
67
61
64
67
72
77
79
81
80
74
Data for determination provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and Kimberly Clark Corp.

7. Fish Consumption
Advisories

8. DRBC
Special Protection Waters Program
“It is the policy of
the Commission
that there be no
measurable change
to existing water
quality except
towards natural
conditions …”

9. Water Quality
 Federal Wild and Scenic
River Designation – ¾ of
non-tidal river
 Total non-tidal river and
its watershed designated
DRBC Special Protection
Waters
 Mainstem = longest
stretch of anti-degradation
waters in U.S.
 No measurable change in
water quality

10. Vulnerability of Headwaters

Headwaters are the
most sensitive areas
of a watershed

Existing contiguous
forest is critical to
water quantity and
quality

Philadelphia Source
Water Protection
Analysis
 #1 – Change in
Delaware River
Headwaters

11. Aerial view of a Marcellus Shale well site near Waynesburg, Pa. (MICHAEL BRYANT / Phila. Inquirer Photographer )

12. Issues knocking
on our door
Sea Level Rise
More Intense Storms
Summer Droughts

13. Interconnected Water Resources

14. Research Needs for Policy Decisions
 Data,
Monitoring
 Modeling
 Aquatic Resources
 Value of Forests
 Climate Change
 Natural Gas Impacts
 Social Issues
 Economic Analyses

15. Research Needs for Policy Decisions
 Data,


Monitoring
Background, trends, “red flags”
Qualified staff, reliable equipment, data
programs
 Mapping



Land Use
Natural Features
Prioritization of HVWRL

16. Research Needs for Policy Decisions
 Modeling






Flow model, Salinity model, Runoff model
Rank subbasins response to change
Forecast change to multiple factors
Connect land use change to WQ
ID most critical lands to Water Resources
Impact of traditional development vs LID

17. Research Needs for Policy Decisions
 Aquatic

Resources
316(b) – Impingement/Entrainment
• Estuary – existing conditions, cumulative impact

Location of key communities and habitats
 Value



of Forests to WQ
Natural Capital, % Loss Before Impact
Type, Distance from Waterbody
Mapping

18. Research Needs for Policy Decisions
 Climate

Scenario testing, Drought/flood of record
 Natural


Change
Gas Impacts
Land changes
WQ Impacts

19. Research Needs for Policy Decisions
 Social/Community

Value of Clean Water to Region
 Economic






Issues
Analysis
Effect of pricing on water use (block rates)
Changes in industry/utilities – water use
Natural capital analyses
Economics of raising DO std. in Estuary
Value of “Keeping the Clean Water Clean”
Value of RBCs – Cost Effectiveness

20. QUESTIONS?
ww.DRBC.net

21. Data, Monitoring
Modeling
Aquatic Resources
Value of Forests
Climate Change
Natural Gas Impacts
Social Issues
Economic Analyses