Lessons Learned - Water Management in the Delaware River Basin Carol R. Collier, P.P., AICP Executive Director Delaware River Basin Commission.

Lessons Learned -Lessons Learned -Water Management in the Water Management in the

Delaware River BasinDelaware River Basin

Carol R. Collier, P.P., AICPCarol R. Collier, P.P., AICP

Executive DirectorExecutive Director

Delaware River Basin CommissionDelaware River Basin Commission

Delaware RiverDelaware River Watershed Watershed

FactsFacts Over 15 million people Over 15 million people

(about 5% of the U.S. (about 5% of the U.S. population) rely on the population) rely on the waters of the basinwaters of the basin

Drains 13,539 miDrains 13,539 mi²² , or 0.4 , or 0.4 of 1% of the continental of 1% of the continental U.S. land areaU.S. land area

Daily water withdrawal in Daily water withdrawal in the DRB = 8.7 BGDthe DRB = 8.7 BGD

The Need for The Need for Basin-Scale Basin-Scale PlanningPlanning

4 States4 States 25 Congressional 25 Congressional

DistrictsDistricts 42 Counties42 Counties 838 Municipalities838 Municipalities

Photos Courtesy NYC DEP

Delaware River Port Complex – Largest Fresh Water Port

Delaware River Delaware River Basin CommissionBasin Commission

PE

NN

SY

LV

AN

I A

MARYLAND

DELAWARE

N E W Y O RK

ATLANTI

C O

CE

AN

CH

ESA

PE

AK

E B

AY

NewJersey

Why Does DRBC Work?Why Does DRBC Work?

One vote for each state and federal One vote for each state and federal governmentgovernment

Members gave up portion of their Members gave up portion of their sovereignty to manage a watershedsovereignty to manage a watershed

DRBC is DRBC is OFOF, not , not ABOVEABOVE the states the states Engage StakeholdersEngage Stakeholders Forum for AdaptationForum for Adaptation

Changing Management NeedsChanging Management Needs

Point – Non-Point SourcesPoint – Non-Point Sources Ecological Flow NeedsEcological Flow Needs Emerging ContaminantsEmerging Contaminants Issues of Water Allocation and UseIssues of Water Allocation and Use

Energy Water Footprint, Pop. ChangesEnergy Water Footprint, Pop. Changes Climate Change - UncertaintyClimate Change - Uncertainty Subtle Changes – Converging FactorsSubtle Changes – Converging Factors

WQ Creep, Tipping PointWQ Creep, Tipping Point

ActionsActions Whole basin models (quantity and quality)Whole basin models (quantity and quality) Increase monitoring including headwatersIncrease monitoring including headwaters Educate water users -complexity of waterEducate water users -complexity of water Think Holistically – Watershed BasisThink Holistically – Watershed Basis

““One Water”One Water” Downstream Users affected by Upstream ActionsDownstream Users affected by Upstream Actions

Protect Your HeadwatersProtect Your Headwaters Manage Adaptively, Be Flexible, Nimble,Manage Adaptively, Be Flexible, Nimble, Plan for ResiliencyPlan for Resiliency

Questions?Questions?

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