This May, DRBC staff participated in several outreach events throughout the Delaware River Basin. Staff enjoy interacting with our publics and stakeholders, educating about clean water and how we work to manage, protect and improve the Basin's shared water resources.

A Chester River Festival attendee stops by the DRBC table. Photo by the DRBC.

The Chester River Festival was held May 6 at Subaru Park, Chester, Pa. along the Delaware River.

Hosted by the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, this free event featured food trucks, fun family activities, music, local community groups and environmental learning activities.

In addition to our popular shad and eagle baggo boards, the DRBC brought a macroinvertebrate fishing game and educational handouts about the Delaware River Basin. Other fun giveaways included bookmarks, reusable canvas bags and stickers.

Festival attendees enjoyed stopping by and chatting with DRBC staff about the river, the critters that depend on it and our shared water resources.

This event offered the local Chester community a fun day outdoors, learning about the Delaware River through hands-on activities and experiences. The DRBC appreciated the connections made, not only with local community members but with our partners and stakeholders in attendance.

(L) DRBC & PDE staff take a photo. Photo by the DRBC.	A father & son enjoy our macros fishing game! Photo by the DRBC.	A festival attendees checks out our macroinvertebrate stamp collection. Photo by the DRBC.
A family poses for a pic after playing baggo. Photo by the DRBC.	This young festival attendee had fun with our baggo boards. Photo by the DRBC.	Folks of all ages enjoyed playing a quick game. Photo by the DRBC.

DRBC staff at HydroMania 2023. Photo courtesy of Lehigh Valley Water Suppliers.

The 20th HydroMania was held May 11 at Cedar Crest College, Allentown, Pa. The DRBC has participated in every HydroMania since the beginning and was happy to be back after its three-year hiatus due to covid.

This fun-filled water festival attended by hundreds 3^rd and 4^th grade elementary school students, teachers and chaperones. Students get to participate in a variety of interactive exhibits and learning stations, each of which answered a different water-themed question. 

DRBC staff helped the students answer the questions, "Do we live in a watershed?" and "How can we help keep our watershed clean?" using a map of the Delaware River Basin and the Commission’s Enviroscape watershed model. The model helps teach about watersheds and demonstrates how what we do on the land affects our water. It is a great visual to show kids the connection between land and water. And, yes, we all live in a watershed!

HydroMania is organized by the Lehigh Valley Water Suppliers. This educational event aims to generate curiosity, excitement and understanding about all things water, resulting in a lifetime of watershed-friendly water-use habits.

The DRBC team with the HydroMania mascot, Dewey. Photo by the DRBC.	We end the demo by asking the kids what can they do to help keep our waters clean. Photo by the DRBC.	Staff uses a map of the Delaware River Basin to talk about what a watershed is and show we all live in one. Photo by the DRBC.
The Enviroscape model is a great teaching tool to show how what we do on the land can affect our water. Photo by the DRBC.	Staff encourages the kids to ask questions and think about the different ways they can protect our shared water resources. Photo by the DRBC.	The Enviroscape model is a great teaching tool to show how what we do on the land can affect our water. Photo by the DRBC.

DRBC's Beth Brown (left) and NPS UPDE Superintendent Lindsay Kurnath (R) pose for a photo. Photo by the DRBC.

The 2nd Annual Festival of the Founding Fish was held from May 19-28.

DRBC staff, along with the National Park Service and fishing groups, participated in the Angler's Meet Up held May 20 at the Fort Delaware Museum, Narrowsburg, N.Y.

The DRBC's educational activity was focused on macroinvertebrates (aquatic bugs), which were collected and displayed in trays for attendees to check out. These insects are important parts of the fish food web, as well as important indicators of water quality.

Using identification keys and with the help of DRBC staff, kids and adults alike were able to identify the bugs found in the water samples. This hands-on lesson explained that the type and amount of bugs found in a waterway can help tell how healthy the river is. Some bugs, for example mayflies, stoneflies and dragonflies, are sensitive to pollution; others, such as scuds, crayfish and aquatic worms, are more pollution tolerant. Finding more pollution sensitive species in the water, as well as a wide variety, are indicators of good water quality.

Produced by The Delaware Company and many other partners, the Festival of the Founding Fish celebrates the spring return of the American shad and the communities of the upper Delaware River region.

DRBC staff show a display of macroinvertebrates to festival attendees. Photo by the DRBC.	Kids and adults alike love to check out the trays of macroinvertebrates to see what lives in the river. Photo by the DRBC.	DRBC staff poses with members of the Brooklyn Fishing Club. Photo by the DRBC.