Delaware River Basin Forum Delaware River Basin Forum Delaware River Basin Forum: March 10, 2011 Alysa Suero EPA Region 3 Source Water Protection Team.

DelawareRiver Basin ForumDelawareRiver Basin Forum

Delaware River Basin Forum:March 10, 2011

Alysa SueroEPA Region 3

Source Water Protection Team


FORUM OBJECTIVES:

Heighten awareness of issues and decisions affecting water resources—now and future—in the Delaware River Basin

Connect basin-wide and local actors, issues and needs

Create a framework for ongoing collaboration among officials, planners, water suppliers and other stakeholders and

practitioners

DelawareRiver Basin Forum

ABOUT THE FORUM• Sponsored by the Source Water Collaborative

• Staged by Local Planning TeamEPA Regions 2 & 3 NJ DEPDRBC NY DOH, NY DECDE DNREC & DE DHSS PA DEP

• Concurrent, coordinated events at six locations in Basin• Central event in Philadelphia• Five “satellite” sites: DE, NJ, NY and PA (2)• Simultaneous internet broadcast from each satellite site


Sullivan County Community CollegeLoch Sheldrake, NYMonroe County Public CenterStroudsburg, PAReading Area Community CollegeReading, PAWHYY Public Media CommonsPhiladelphia, PARutgers Eco ComplexBordentown, NJUniversity of Delaware – NewarkNewark, DE


ABOUT THE FORUM– “Green meeting” practices – minimize environmental

footprint• Travel reduced: attend nearest meeting to participate, or

view online• Website, electronic media used for communications• Electronic registration only• Limited printing; no meeting trinkets (aka “eco-junk”)

– Approx. 400 participants registered at 6 locations, dozens viewing online throughout the day


ABOUT THE FORUM– Significant use of innovative technology• Live internet broadcast to/from satellite locations• Live Tweets, blogging• Podcasts• Created narrated GoogleEarth flyover• Person on the Street video• Shared Gmail account for Event Day communication with

satellite sites• Shared docs via Google Docs

Website: www.DelawareBasinDrinkingWater.org


CENTRAL AGENDA FOCUSED ON BASIN-WIDE ISSUES


CENTRAL AGENDABasin-wide Issues of Local Consequence:Water Use, Population Growth, Climate Change and Water Protection• Straws in the Delaware: Water Use Today and Tomorrow

Susan S. Hutson, US Geological Survey• Climate Change Implications for the Delaware Basin

Raymond G. Najjar, Jr., Ph.D., Penn State University• Strategies for Drinking Water Protection–from Planning to Partnering

G. Tracy Mehan III, Principal, The Cadmus Group, Inc.• Delaware River Basin: Challenges On the Ground and In the Water

Carol R. Collier, ACIP – Executive Director, Delaware River Basin Commission

Drinking Water: Facts, Fears, and the FutureJeffrey K. Griffiths, MD, MPH&TM, Tufts University School of Medicine


LOCAL AGENDAS• Developed from local

input– Survey of prospective

participants– Solicitation of interests

from registrants• Local speakers• Facilitated discussions to

focus issues & needs, what works, & next steps

• Summary reports sent to Philadelphia for closeout


SATELLITE ISSUES RAISED• Need integrated leadership• Education-many levels, varied

audiences• Communication/coordination/

outreach• Externalities: “True cost of

water”• Effectiveness of local planning• Lack of funding• Stormwater management• Infrastructure needs• Marcellus Shale development


SATELLITE ACTIONS/NEXT STEPS• Build integrated leadership• Education—many levels, audiences• Use technology, social media tools• Let officials know we care about

water!• Municipal water & wastewater

forums• Funding• Measuring & implementation of

monitoring results• Enhanced government action—

regulation, enforcement, transparency

• Collaboration

DelawareRiver Basin Forum

POST-FORUM PLANS & GOALS• Develop summary of Forum, including process, format,

outcomes• Basin-wide and local issues, needs, actions and

recommended next steps• Video recordings posted on website

• Potential for States, DRBC, EPA, others to provide continued leadership/facilitation

• Maintain collaboration with stakeholders• Reconvene for status check, summer 2011• Website maintenance--depends on funding, support (meld

into SWC site?)


FORUM HIGHLIGHTS– Accomplished Forum objectives:• Heightened/broadened awareness of issues affecting

water resources• Connected basin-wide & local players & concerns• Established expectation for further collaboration

– Uncovered stakeholders’ need for action, leadership & collaboration


LESSONS LEARNED FOR NEXT TIME…• Begin process with a clear plan for post-Forum collaboration

and support from partners

• Establish plan for communication with attendees post-Forum to maintain momentum and interest

• Ensure all satellite site managers are comfortable with technology and newer services/platforms

• Engage non-government partner early in process to overcome logistical obstacles (lunch $$$, website compliance, etc)


Website: www.DelawareBasinDrinkingWater.org

EPA Region 3 Forum Planning Team:Vicky Binetti (215) 814-5757Chuck Kanetsky (215) 814-2735Alysa Suero (215) 814-5733

Delaware River Basin Forum Delaware River Basin Forum Delaware River Basin Forum: March 10, 2011 Alysa Suero EPA Region 3 Source Water Protection Team.

Documents

delaware basin raymond

basin central event

forum green meeting

water use

day slide

water resourcesnow

water carol

water suppliers