THE VALUE OF A WATERSHED APPROACH Carol R. Collier, P.P.,AICP Delaware River Basin Commission

THE VALUE OF A THE VALUE OF A WATERSHED APPROACHWATERSHED APPROACH

Carol R. Collier, P.P.,AICPCarol R. Collier, P.P.,AICPDelaware River Basin CommissionDelaware River Basin Commission

WHY?

Most Major Rivers Cross Or Form State Boundaries

Rivers Do Not Respect Political Boundaries No One Agency Can Manage Water

Resources Most Water Problems Cannot Be Solved At

the Site – Need To Look Upstream (Quantity and Quality Issues)

Why?

Multi Dimensional Issues• Flow affects water quality• Stormwater management is necessary for water

supply management• There is only one water system

Need for Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)

Cost Effective• Working across boundaries can spread out the

costs and provide leverage • Reduce Litigation

Delaware River Watershed Facts

• Nearly 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

• 216 tributary streams

Delaware River

Longest Undammed River

East of the Mississippi

330 miles

The Need for Basin-Scale Planning

4 States 25 Congressional Districts 42 Counties 838 Municipalities

Rivers Don’t Respect Political Boundaries

Delaware River Basin

New York City, which lies outside

the watershed, gets roughly half its

water from three reservoirs located

on tributaries to the Delaware --

Cannonsville, Pepacton, and

Neversink.

Map: NYC DEP Web Site

DelawareBay

At l

ant ic

Oce

an

Philadelphia

Dover

Reading

Camden

Trenton

Wilmington

Lewes

Pottstown

Salem

Milford

Maurice River

C & D Canal

Salem River

Perkiom

en Creek

Neshaminy Creek

Rancocas Creek

Leipsic River

Alloway Cr.

St. J ones River

Cohansey R

iver

Raccoon Cr.Oldmans Cr.

Chris

tina R

iver

Assunpink Cr.

White C

lay Cr.

Mantua Cr.

Tulpehocken Creek

Mispillio

n River

Smyrna River

Stowe C

r.

Brandywine C

reek

Crosswicks Creek

Big Timber Cr.

Cooper River

Crum

Cr.

Blacks Creek

Manataw

ny Cr.

Broadkill River

Ceda

r Cr.

Schuylkill River

Delaware RiverMurde

rkill River

Dennis Cr.

West Br.

Brandywine Cr.

Pennsauken Cr.

Wissahickon Cr.

UnionLake

Geist

LakeGalena

Green Lane

HoopesRes.

Blue MarshReservoir

Marsh CreekReservoir

Pennsylvania

Maryland

New Jersey

Delaware

Zone 6

Zone 3

Zone 2

Zone 4

Zone 5

RM 48.23

RM 108.4

RM 133.4

RM 95

RM 78.83

RM 0

±0 5 10

Miles

Zone Designations

for the Delaware Estuary

Delaware River Port Complex – Largest Fresh Water Port

1960’s Maximum

Salt Line (250 mg/l, 7 day avg)

Normal R.M. 77

Data for determination provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and Kimberly Clark Corp.

AVG. MID-MONTH

LOCATION

J an 68Feb 68Mar 67Apr 61May 64J un 67J ul 72Aug 77Sep 79Oct 81Nov 80Dec 74

MONTH

Water Supply Intake RM 110

Delaware River Basin 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

Commitment to Resolve Disputes

Committed to work through the Commission

The States mutually agreed – for the 100-year duration of the Compact – to waive and relinquish any right or privilege to apply for modification of the 1954 Supreme Court Decree

Flexible Flow Management Plan (FFMP)

Reservoir Releases• Dependent on Reservoir Levels• Water Supply – NYC and Downstream• Ecological Flows –

cold water fishery,

endangered species

• Salt Repulsion

Fish Consumption Advisories

“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll probably end up somewhere else.”

The Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll

DRBC Planning

Water Resources Plan for the Delaware River Basin

Comprehensive Plan

6 yr. Strategic Plan (updated annually)

Annual Work Plan and Budget

State of the Basin Report

State Water Resources Planning &

Management

Infrastructure Funding

Basin Comm-issions

TribesState

AgenciesFederal

Agencies

Consensus & Coordination

Federal Policy &

Regulation

Data & Research

Key Factors Influencing States’ Key Factors Influencing States’ Water Resources ActionsWater Resources Actions

NGOs

Political & Budget

Realities

Locals &Watershed

Groups

CRISIS

RECAP - Value of Watershed Approach and River Basin Commissions

Place-based Management Working with the River Integrated Water Resources Management More Comprehensive – More Alternatives Avoid Litigation More Cost-Effective

Needs For Effective Watershed Management

Governance Changes – • streamlining, eliminate stove pipes, etc.• IWRM

Funding

Data and Information

Change Crisis Mgt. to Proactive Strategies

Promotion / Education on Watershed Approach

QUESTIONS?

What the Heck is IWRM???? Integration of:

• Multiple Interests• Multiple Levels of Government• Variety of Stakeholders• All Water Sectors

No Stovepipes Ultimate Goal - One plan addressing:

• Quality and quantity• Water supply/droughts, stormwater/flooding,

wastewater, ecological flow needs, (and land use) • Groundwater and surface water• In a watershed context