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

1. THE VALUE OF A WATERSHED APPROACHCarol R. Collier, P.P.,AICPDelaware River Basin Commission

2. 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)

3. 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

4. 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

5. Delaware River Longest Undammed River East of the Mississippi 330 miles

6. The Need for Basin-Scale Planning • 4 States • 25 Congressional Districts • 42 Counties • 838 Municipalities Rivers Don’t Respect Political Boundaries

7. Delaware River Basin

8. 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

9. Zone Designations for the Delaware Estuary

10. Delaware River Port Complex – Largest Fresh Water Port

11. Salt Line (250 mg/l, 7 day avg) Water Supply Intake RM 110 1960’s Maximum Normal R.M. 77 Data for determination provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and Kimberly Clark Corp.

13. Delaware River Basin Commission

14. 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

15. 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

16. Fish Consumption Advisories

17. “If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll probably end up somewhere else.”The Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll

18. 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

19. Key Factors Influencing States’ Water Resources Actions Political & Budget Realities Infrastructure Funding Consensus & Coordination State Water Resources Planning & Management CRISIS Federal Policy & Regulation Data & Research NGOs Basin Comm-issions Tribes Locals & Watershed Groups State Agencies Federal Agencies

20. 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

21. 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

22. QUESTIONS?

23. 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