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Delaware River Basin Commission 2014 AWRA Annual Water Resources Conference Fifty years and counting: Unified Water Management in the Delaware River Basin Steve Tambini Executive Director, DRBC November 5, 2014
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Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

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Page 1: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

Delaware River Basin Commission

2014 AWRA Annual Water Resources Conference

Fifty years and counting: Unified Water Management in the Delaware River Basin

Steve TambiniExecutive Director, DRBC

November 5, 2014

Page 2: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

Let’s Talk …

…about:• Who we are and what we do.• Why it matters now and in the future.

Page 3: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

Fast Facts:Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long

Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire length

15+ million people (about 5% of the U.S. population) rely on the waters of the Delaware River Basin

Drains 13,539 square miles of watershed in 4 states.

Water withdrawal in the Basin = 8.7 billion gallons a day

Longest, un‐dammed U.S. river east of the Mississippi (dams are located on tributaries, not the main stem Delaware)

Contributes over $21B in economic value to the Region.

“A river is more than an amenity, it is a treasure”‐US Supreme Court JusticeOliver Wendell Holmes

Page 4: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

Why was the DRBC created?

Water supply shortages and disputes over the apportionment of the basin’s waters;

Serious flooding;

Severe pollution in the Delaware River and  its major tributaries;

Philadelphia Record, 1937, editorial page cartoon

Page 5: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

Five Equal Members:Delaware

New Jersey

Pennsylvania

New York

Federal Government

Delaware River Basin CommissionFounded by Compact in 1961 

Note:  New York City and Philadelphia are “advisors” and not members

Page 6: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

DRBC:Delaware

New Jersey

Pennsylvania

New York State

Federal Government

DRBC and the Parties to the 1954 Supreme Court Decree

Parties to the 1954 Supreme Court Decree:

New York City

Page 7: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

1961 Delaware River Basin Compact

• Recognizes DRB as a regional asset with local State and National interests

• Management and control of water resources under a Comprehensive Plan will bring benefits and is in the public welfare.

• The Commission shall develop and effectuate plans, policies and projects relating to the water resources of the Basin

• The Commission (without unanimous consent of the 1954 Decree parties) cannot change or impact the Supreme Court Decree.

Page 8: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

• From the Compact Preamble:

• a Comprehensive Plan administered by a basin wide agency will provide 

flood damage reduction; 

conservation and development of ground and surface water supply…; 

development of recreational facilities; 

propagation of fish and game; 

promotion of related…watershed projects; 

protection to fisheries…;

development of hydroelectric power; 

improved navigation; 

control of movement salt water; 

abatement and control of stream pollution; 

and regulation towards the attainment of these goals.

DRB Compact  Basic “Charges”  

Page 9: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

DRBC Primary Functional Responsibilities

• Water Supply

• Drought Management

• Flood Loss Reduction

• Water Quality

• Watershed Planning

• Regulatory Review (Permitting)

• Outreach/Education

• Recreation

Page 10: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

Simplified Water Management in the Delaware River Basin One Day Snapshot on 8/31/14

480 MGD0 MGD

97 MGD

90 MGD

450 MGD

303 MGD

Cannonsville

Pepacton

Neversink

Beltzville

Blue Marsh

Out‐of‐Basin Diversion

Primarily Water Supply Reservoirs

Primarily Multi‐Purpose Reservoirs

134 MGD

107 MGD

56 MGD

25 MGD

48 MGD

660 MGD

390 MGD

Flow Objective

Montague

Trenton

Delaware and Raritan Canal

NYC Water Supply

753 MGD

DELAWARE RIVER

LEHIGH RIVER

SCHUYLKILL RIVER

ESTUARY and “Salt Line”

92 MGD

77 of 95 BG80%

123 of 140 BG85%

31 of 35 BG87%

1330 MGD  (Target=1130 MGD or 1750 cfs)

2080 MGD  (Target=1940 MGD or 3000 cfs)

13 BG100%

5 BG100%

To New Jersey

Page 11: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Million Gallons per Day

Consumptive Use Trends 1994 ‐ 2012

Bold lines indicate 12 month moving average of consumptive use

Combined

Public Water

Industrial Water

Thermoelectric

Page 12: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

Recent Floods and DroughtsEvent Year Comment

Flood 2011 September ‐ Hurricane Irene and TS Lee

Drought 2010 Drought Warning ‐ Lower Basin only

Flood 2006 June  ‐ Heavy Rains

Flood 2005 March/April ‐ Snow Melt and Heavy Rains

Flood 2004 September ‐ TS Ivan

Flood 2003 October ‐ Heavy Rains

Drought 2001/2002 Drought Emergency

Flood 2001 June ‐ TS Allison

Flood 1999 September ‐ Hurricane Floyd

Drought 1998/1999 Drought Warning 

Flood 1996 January – Heavy Rains/Ice

Page 13: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

Drought Management

• Drought of record led to the “Good Faith Agreement” in 1983 including:

A  schedule of phased reductions in out of basin diversions,  releases and flow target objectives.Coordination of equitable apportionment of priority water uses. 

Page 14: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

Interstate Flood MitigationTask Force

• Reservoir Operations

• Structural and non‐structural measures

• Storm water Management

• Floodplain Mapping

• Floodplain regulation

• Flood warning

Page 15: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

• Public drinking water (after reasonable treatment)

• Recreation• Navigation• Wildlife, fish and other aquatic life

• Regulated waste assimilation

The quality of Basin watersshall be maintained for:

Page 16: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

Special Protection Waters Program“Keeping Clean Water Clean”

• Anti‐degradation regulatory program for entire 197 miles of non‐tidal Delaware River.

• Policy of “no measurable change” in existing water quality except toward natural conditions.

• Three‐quarters of the non‐tidal Delaware River (about 150 miles) has been included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

Page 17: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

Estuary Water Quality

Tremendous progress made towards overall health of the estuary

Continuing Issues of Concern:• PCBs• Nutrients• Pharmaceuticals 

and PCPs

Page 18: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

The Need for Basin‐Scale Planning and Management

4 States 42 Counties838 MunicipalitiesNY City 

Page 19: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

• Watershed, Basin‐wide, Goal‐based Plan

• Consensus‐based Plan. 

• Integrated, created and implemented by ALLStakeholders

• 5 Key Result Areas

• 21 Goals 

• 102 Objectives

Water Resources Basin Plan 

Page 20: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

“No [person] ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river…”

‐Heraclitus ~500BC

• Change…change…change…and challenge:

• Planning for…

• Regulatory roles and relationships

• Funding

• More

www.thehappymd.com

Page 21: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

Mega Trends and other Emerging Planning Issues

• Demographics: Changes and Shifts

• Climate Change:  Sea level rise, frequency and intensity of  storms and droughts

• Energy Water Nexus• Energy and Water Efficiency• Possible Shale Gas Development• Ecological Flows

Page 22: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

• Water withdrawals

• Wastewater treatment/discharges

• Flood Plain• Other projects having a “substantial effect on the water resources of the basin”

Significant Regulatory Programs

Page 23: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

• Water withdrawals

• Wastewater treatment/discharges

• Flood Plain• Other projects having a “substantial effect on the water resources of the basin”

Significant Regulatory Programs

Delaware

New Jersey

Pennsylvania

New York State

Federal Government

Page 24: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

• DRBC Compact and Rules allow for and encourage the use of administrative agreements with states and state agencies to:

Promote inter‐agency collaboration and cooperation on shared mission objectives.

Promote regulatory program efficiencies.

Avoid unnecessary duplication of effort.

• Recognizes the Authority, standards, rules of each agency

Administrative Agreementswith States

Page 25: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

Foundational Funding (Revenue) Sources

Signatory Members

Regulatory Program Fees 

Water Charges 

Other (grants, special projects, etc.)

DRBC

These need to be stable, sustainable, and “right sized”

Page 26: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

Why it matters for the next 50+ years…

Photo by Nicholas A. Tonelli

Page 27: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

• Built upon the Compact Foundation

• Adaptive to change• Well defined and value added mission, scope and focus

• Collaborative with our signatory partners

• Committed to Public Service

The Bridge for DRBC…

Page 28: Delaware River Basin Commission - New Jersey · 2015-01-21 · Fast Facts: Delaware River Main stem river is 330 miles long Delaware River forms an interstate boundary over its entire

Steve Tambini, Executive [email protected]

www.drbc.net

Thank you!