Building Watershed Resiliency in the Upper Delaware … · Building Watershed Resiliency in the Upper Delaware River Basin ... our fundamental needs of water to drink, ... NY Interim

Building Watershed Resiliency in the Upper Delaware River Basin

Stephanie P. Dalke

June 7, 2017

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

Building Consensus for SustainabilityCatskill Forest AssociationDelaware Highlands ConservancyDelaware River Basin CommissionEnvironmental Protection AgencyLeague 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 Partnership A regional partnership of public and non-profit organizations and agencies focused on supporting the development of sustainable communities and working landscapes in the Delaware River watershed upstream of the Delaware Water Gap.

Upper Basin (~4,500 sq mi)

• PA (Monroe, Pike, & Wayne)

• NY (Delaware, Orange, & Sullivan)

• NJ (Sussex & Warren)

Geographic Focus

Climate Adaptation

• Our plan: translate climate change information into local actions

– Agencies, natural resource managers, NGOs

– Local governments

– Landowners

Source: Nalat Phanit

Climate Adaptation - Takeaways

• Climate change impacts on local water resources & communities

• Strategies for reducing climate-related risks

– Local examples

• Resources and tools

What do you need?

• Existing threats

• Climate-related risks

• Strategies & action plan

• Build support & implement

A Plan for our Region

www.pinchot.org/adapt

• Predominantly rural

• Approx. 75% forested on average

• Overall excellent water quality

• Water supply for some 16 million

• Existing stressors

Healthy Forests = Clean Water

Source: NPS DWGNRA

Land Cover 2010 %

Agricultural 9.69%

Barren 0.10%

Coniferous Forest 0.10%

Deciduous Forest 71.33%

Developed 7.17%

Grassland 0.60%

Mixed Forest 3.49%

Open Water 2.46%

Riparian 3.10%

Wetland 1.97%

Current Conditions & Trends

Forests = insurance policy!

Observed Regional Climate Trends:Increasing average temperatures and precipitation across the region

• Spring has advanced by approx. 4 days

• Loss of snow pack / warmer winters

• Dates of river and lake ice melt have advanced by 1-2 weeks

• Less winter precipitation as snow & more as rain

• Earlier peak stream flows

Source: NOAA


• Extreme storms are responsible for a larger percentage of annual precipitation

• Longer intervening dry spells

1948-2011Source: http://www.environmentamerica.org/reports/ame/when-it-rains-it-pours



• Extreme downpours happening more frequently

• Storms are getting bigger

Source: http://www.environmentamerica.org/reports/ame/when-it-rains-it-pours


***Forest roads & trails, stream crossings


• Stormwater runoff, nutrient & sediment loads from extreme precipitation events

• Streambank erosion, changes in channel morphology, habitat degradation

Source: Pike Co. Conservation District

Source: Pike Co. Conservation DistrictSource: Pike Co. Office of Community Planning

Climate Risks to Water Resources

• Seasonal drought

• Accelerated algae growth

• Increased evaporation from reservoirs

• Increased water uptake by trees & vegetation

• Sea level rise and salt intrusion downriver **

• More competition for less water

Source: NY DEC


• Stream flow fluctuations

• Thermal stress to fish

• Declines in cold water fish and other sensitive species

Looking Ahead: Potential Loss of Stream Habitat for Trout & Salmon due

to Climate Change (2050-2100)

Source: EPA


• Floodplain development

• Floodplain maps*

• Inadequate stormwater management

• Aging infrastructure

Source: USACE Livingston Manner, NY Interim Feasibility Report

Source: WBRE TVSource: Pike Co. Office of Community Planning

Existing Non-Climate Water Stressors


http://ashokanstreams.org/our-areas-of-focus/floodplain-management/

• Floodplains– Disconnected

– Altered flow regimes*

– Dysfunctional

– We’re missing out on the benefits they can provide


• National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)– Enables development where it shouldn’t happen

– Doesn’t reflect true cost

– False sense of security

– Example - Smarter Safer Coalition pressing for reforms


• Flood losses, property damages

• Municipal budget impacts

• Infrastructure damages

– High hazard dams

Economic Implications

Source: USACE

Source: WBRE TV

• Flow and water quality related impacts on tourism and recreation

• Weather-related power disruptions

• Small Business Losses (Reynolds, 2013)

Source: FUDR

Source: KittatinnyCanoes

Source: Pike Co. Office of Community Planning

Economic Implications

• Promote dialogue and information exchange about climate risks

• Maintain forest cover through land use & taxation policies that support forest conservation

• Provide landowner $$ and technical support to promote forest health

• Manage deer & invasives through cooperative efforts

• Implement strategic voluntary easement/land acquisition programs

Strategies for ReducingForest & Water Climate Risks

Source: Dave Soete

• Use watersheds as unit for planning

• Update floodplain management, riparian buffer and stormwater management standards*

• Improve infrastructure to accommodate changing precipitation patterns*

• Update underlying precipitation & flood frequency data

Source: DRBC


http://www.state.nj.us/drbc/library/images/photo gallery/spring/Kit_Bea_030_owens.jpg

http://www.state.nj.us/drbc/library/images/photo gallery/spring/Kit_Bea_030_owens.jpg

• Landscape- or watershed-scale planning & implementation

– Best opportunities for multi-benefit projects & utilization of green infrastructure

– More challenging to coordinate

– Stream Corridor Management Plans (SCMP)

– River Management Plans

• Land use decisions matter


• Landscape- or watershed-scale planning & implementation

• Land use decisions matter

Help is available!!


• EPA’s Smart Growth program

January 2017 guide


• Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM)

– Tons of resources and information

– www.floods.org

– National Flood Mitigation & FloodProofing Workshop in August in Iselin, NJ


• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)– Hazard & Flood Mitigation Programs

– *Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program*

– Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning (Risk MAP) -- provides communities with flood information and tools they can use to enhance their mitigation plans and take action to better protect their citizens.

– NFIP Community Rating System

– Agency-wide directive to integrate climate change (~2012)

– www.fema.gov/climate-change


• DRBC

– Interstate Flood Mitigation Task Force (after ‘04, ‘05, ‘06)

– Flood Advisory Committee – recommendations (2009)• “The Committee determined that minimum floodplain management

regulations, administered by FEMA through the National Flood Insurance Program, do not adequately identify risk or prevent harm.”

– Meets 3-4 times/year

– All meeting summaries, presentations posted online:• http://www.nj.gov/drbc/about/advisory/FAC_index.html

• FEMA often presents there


• Identify mutually beneficial, collaborative projects

• Focus on “no regrets” actions


• Riparian buffers

• Shade

• Canopy closure

• Insects

• Streambank integrity

• Woody debris*


• Demonstration project on Sands Creek in Delaware County, NY

• Workshops in 2017


• Demonstration project on Sands Creek in Delaware County, NY

• Workshops in 2017


Sands Creek improvements:Floodplain reconnection, woody debris / roughening

• Neversink River (NY) floodplain reconnection, reforestation, & modeling (TNC)


Prioritization Tools• Riparian restoration• Stream crossings



“As the climate changes, well‐designed stream crossings will become even more important.”

Resources• The Nature Conservancy• Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture


Resources• Trout Unlimited• National Wildlife Federation• American Rivers• USDA Forest Service


Cost-Benefit Analyses


Federal Highway Authority – guidance and resources


Many other tools• Climate Resilience Toolkit

• https://toolkit.climate.gov/

• American Rivers• Floodplain restoration

framework

Source: NPS UDSRR

Contact:Stephanie P. DalkePinchot Institute for [email protected](202) 797-6530

Adaptation Plan www.pinchot.org/adapt

Resilience Guidewww.pinchot.org/resilience

mailto:[email protected]

Building Watershed Resiliency in the Upper Delaware … · Building Watershed Resiliency in the Upper Delaware River Basin ... our fundamental needs of water to drink, ... NY Interim

Documents

Building Watershed Resiliency in the Upper Delaware … · Building Watershed Resiliency in the Upper Delaware River Basin ... our fundamental needs of water to drink, ... NY Interim