Upstream-Downstream Connections in the Delaware Basin by Stephanie P. Dalke

Upstream-Downstream Connections in the

Delaware BasinStephanie P. DalkeOctober 28, 2013

Pinchot Institute for Conservation

“He was more than a forester, he was the father of American conservation. . . .It is far more fitting and proper, rather than merely honor what he [Gifford Pinchot] did, to dedicate this Institute to active work today. . .because we are reaching the limits of our fundamental needs of water to drink, of fresh air to breathe, of open space to enjoy, of abundant sources of energy to make life easier.” – John F. Kennedy, 1963

• Dedicated in 1963 at Grey Towers National Historic Site, Milford, PA

• Forges science-based & collaborative solutions to natural resource problems

• Serving the greatest good of the greatest number in the long run

• Non-profit and non-partisan conservation thought, policy, & action

The clean, reliable water of the Delaware depends on healthy, intact forests at its source.*

*This relationship could use further clarification

Delaware River Basin• Upper Basin: ~4,500 mi2

• High levels of forest cover (80%)• Mostly privately owned• Development pressure and

forest loss • “Next Generation” of sediment

in the Basin

Pollution: point & non-point sources Impervious surface Variability in precipitation: climate change

Forests: losing 100 acres/week Forest health: insects & disease Investment in source water protection

Trends that threaten source water

25%

75%

Forests in the Upper Basin

Protected

Unprotected

*Excluding NYC watershed

Nearly 70% of all land conversion (between 1996-2002) took place on previously forested landscapes.- DRBC 2008 State of the Basin Report

Private landowners:• Few $ incentives to keep

their land forested• Under increasing pressure to

sell or develop their land

Trends that threaten source water

SLEUTH Development Model Dr. Claire Jantz, Shippensburg University

Which outcome is likely? • Low flow in summer, early spring melt, salinity,

discharge of cooling water• High flows in late fall/winter, higher intensity

events, flooding

Mid-Century Streamflow Models Dr. Ray Najjar, Pennsylvania State University

Brodhead Watershed AssociationBuilding Consensus for SustainabilityCatskill Forest AssociationDelaware Highlands ConservancyDelaware River Basin CommissionEnvironmental Protection AgencyLacawac SanctuaryLeague of Women Voters, PennsylvaniaMonroe County Conservation DistrictNational Audubon SocietyNational Fish and Wildlife FoundationNational Parks Conservation AssociationNational Park Service, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation

AreaNational Park Service, Rivers and Trails Conservation AssistanceNational Park Service, Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational

RiverNatural Lands TrustNatural Resources Conservation ServiceNew Jersey Forest ServiceNew Jersey Water Supply AuthorityNew York Department of Environmental ConservationOrange County, NY Department of PlanningPennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural ResourcesPennsylvania Environmental CouncilPike County Conservation DistrictPike County, PA Office of Community PlanningPinchot Institute for ConservationPocono Environmental Education CenterPocono Resource Conservation and Development Council

Sullivan County, NY Division of Planning and Environmental Management

Sussex County Soil Conservation DistrictSussex County, NJ Department of GIS ManagementSussex County, NJ Planning DivisionThe Nature Conservancy, National HeadquartersThe Nature Conservancy, New JerseyThe Nature Conservancy, PennsylvaniaUpper Delaware CouncilUpper Delaware River RoundtableUS Forest Service, Grey Towers National Historic SiteUS Forest Service, State and Private ForestryWayne Conservation District

Common Waters PartnershipA regional partnership of public and non-profit organizations and agencies who recognize the importance of protecting and managing the Upper Basin’s resources for many beneficiaries downstream.

Consensus Priorities for Investment

Natural Lands Trust, The Nature Conservancy, US Forest Service, National Park Service

Priority areas, v.2 (May 2012)

Reaching Private Forest Owners

• Stewardship plans & practices• Conservation Easements

Incentivize forest protection in priority areas

Incentivize forest protection in priority areas“In working with my family in this effort, I have an opportunity to be a leader in saving and preserving the forest that is so essential to us, our children, and grandchildren. The Common Waters Fund’s assistance with the Stewardship Plan has been a significant driver in making this happen.”— Gary Carr

Reaching Private Forest Owners

AcquisitionsPermanent Easements (Purchased)

Permanent Easements (Bargain Sales)

Permanent Easements (Donated – Pay for Associated

Costs)Term Easements, Contracts for Annual

Payments or NPV Lump Payments, Farmland Retirement, CREP, etc

Incentives for Stewardship Plans, Forest Management Practices, Agricultural BMPs

Education, Estate Planning Assistance, Income Diversification/Marketing Local Forest Products (incl.

carbon), Tax Credits/Preferential Assessment, etc

COS

T

# LANDOWNERS PARTICIPATING

Land Protection Strategies

TIM

E TO

AC

HIE

VE

PermanentNon-permanent

• Regional land-use planning• Climate change adaptation• Stewardship & estate

planning workshops• Cross-boundary collaboration

Technical Assistance & Capacity Building

Who Benefits from Upstream Forests?

Million People Served(% State Population)

New Jersey 5.8 (66%)

Pennsylvania 5.5 (43%)

New York 4.2 (22%)

Delaware 0.7 (74%)

The Delaware supplies drinking water to >15 million

Upper & Central Region

Lower & Bay Region -

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

All Other HydroelectricThermoelectric Public Water SupplyNon-agricultural Irrigation MiningIndustrial Self-supplied DomesticAgriculture

mg

d

In-Basin Water Use

Source: Delaware River Basin Commission

Downstream Beneficiaries• Sectors and facilities face different risks

• Floods• Drought• Water quality

"When the well's dry, we know the worth of water." -- Benjamin Franklin

• Energy• Drinking water• Industrial use

• How “make the case” for investment in existing forests?– Scientific justification (modeling etc.)– Economic justification (cost-benefit analyses etc.)

Downstream Beneficiaries

Source: Natural Infrastructure: Investing in Forested Landscapes for Source Water Protection in the United States, World Resources Institute, 2013

Upstream-Downstream Connections

How link upstream “suppliers” with downstream beneficiaries & stakeholders?• Water-related risks & needs• Value of forests• Challenges & opportunities

Thank You!

Stephanie P. [email protected]

Will [email protected]

www.commonwatersfund.org