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DRBC Staff Collaborate with DNREC to Perform Christina River Basin Monitoring

The final project of DRBC's 2015 monitoring season involved commission staff collaborating with staff from the Delaware Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) to do ambient water toxicity testing in several Christina Basin waterways, including the Christina River and the Brandywine, Red Clay, and Shellpot creeks.

The monitoring was done as part of DNREC's Watershed Approach to Toxics Assessment and Restoration (WATAR), which is a watershed-scale approach to compile, assess, and access toxics data in Delaware's waterways by sampling water, fish tissue, and sediment. This effort will provide a greater understanding of the status, trends, and sources of toxics, establish a baseline of water quality, and identify toxic hotspots to target for remediation and restoration.

Samples collected are being analyzed for toxic substances that include PCBs, mercury, and some organic compounds. Monitoring toxicity in the basin's estuarine waters is an essential component of DRBC's water quality programs, and helping DNREC with their WATAR assessment is a great example of how the commission partners with its basin states to help protect water resources.

DRBC's Elaine Panuccio records data on water quality samples taken from the Brandywine Creek. DRBC assisted DNREC with their Christina River Basin assessment by monitoring for ambient water toxicity. Photo by DRBC.DRBC's Ron MacGillivray and Elaine Panuccio travel the Christina River in DRBC's boat. DRBC assisted DNREC with their Christina River Basin assessment by monitoring for ambient water toxicity. Photo by DRBC. DRBC's Elaine Panuccio collects water samples from the Red Clay Creek. DRBC assisted DNREC with their Christina River Basin assessment by monitoring for ambient water toxicity. Photo by DRBC. Peristaltic pumps and other water quality monitoring equipment being used to sample Shellpot Creek. DRBC assisted DNREC with their Christina River Basin assessment by monitoring for ambient water toxicity. Photo by DRBC.DRBC's Greg Cavallo collects a water quality sample from Shellpot Creek. DRBC assisted DNREC with their Christina River Basin assessment by monitoring for ambient water toxicity. Photo by DRBC.