Earlier this fall, DRBC staff attended and presented at the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed's 12th Annual Delaware River Forum.

Staff enjoyed networking with folks from across the Basin, learning about the great work that they do and exploring opportunities for cross-sector collaboration.

Staff especially enjoyed presenting about the DRBC's ongoing climate resilience work, from modeling that looks at flow, sea level rise and habitat to the development of a Climate Resilience Plan to community engagement, the DRBC is focused on ensuring that the water resources of the Basin will continue to be clean, sustainable and secure in the future.

We want to extend a huge thank you to Coalition staff and the Coalition's steering committee for organizing such an educational and enlightening conference.

  • Building Blocks of Climate Resilience: Highlights from the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC presentation; pdf)

  • View news release announcing the DRBC's new climate resiliency planning effort (issued June 13, 2024)

  • Learn more about the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed

From L to R: Beth Uhler, Center for Watershed Protection; Craig Thomas, Chester County Water Resources Authority; and Beth Brown, DRBC.

Last month, DRBC staff was at the recent WeConservePA Fall Gathering for municipal Environmental Advisory Councils (EAC). The conference brought together EAC members, municipal staff, elected officials and others for an in-person networking and training event at Temple University Amber Campus.

DRBC Director of External Affairs and Communications Beth Brown presented as part of the "Protecting and Enhancing Groundwater Resources" session, introducing attendees to DRBC's Southeast Pa. Groundwater Protected Area, where more stringent regulations apply to groundwater than in other parts of the Delaware River Basin. Other session presenters included Beth Uhler, Center for Watershed Protection and Craig Thomas, Chester County Water Resources Authority.

Thanks to WeConservePA for having us; we enjoyed the discussion and collaborative engagement!

  • DRBC Groundwater Management (DRBC presentation; pdf)

  • DRBC Groundwater information

  • Learn more about WeConservePA

Last month, DRBC staff participated in the Friends of the Upper Delaware River's first-ever River Rendezvous conference. DRBC Sr. Aquatic Biologist Jake Bransky presented as a member of the Upper Delaware Watershed Network's Science Committee, updating on DRBC's monitoring work. Staff also presented on DRBC's 6-PPDq study, which is collecting baseline data on the presence of this contaminant of emerging concern in DRB waters.

The chemical 6-PPDq comes from tire particles that wear off on roads and enter waterways; recent studies show it can negatively impact salmonids, including a few trout species found in the DRB. DRBC's study is the first-of-its-kind in the Basin.

Staff enjoyed sharing information on DRBC and networking with others at the conference. Thanks for having us!

  • Trout and Toxics in the Upper Delaware Basin: Understanding a contaminant of emerging concern (DRBC presentation; pdf)

  • Information on 6-PPDq

  • Learn more about the Friends of the Upper Delaware River

  • Learn more about the Upper Delaware River Watershed Network

From L to R: Beth Brown, DRBC; Adrian Leary, USACE; Mike Pisauro, The Watershed Institute; Steve Tambini, DRBC; and Mark Mauriello, NJAFM. Photo by the DRBC.

Last month, the DRBC participated in a plenary session at the New Jersey Association for Floodplain Management (NJAFM) 19th Annual Conference. The conference was themed "Partners in Progress: Floodplain Management in New Jersey," highlighting the importance of partnerships and collaboration, which allow for leveraging of resources, technology, funding and knowledge, all geared toward common goals and successful hazard mitigation outcomes.

The plenary session staff participated in was titled "The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC): A Regional Partnership for Water Resource Management". The session aimed to:

  • Describe the challenges of managing water supply (reservoir management) and flood mitigation

  • Identify different interests that create the challenges

  • Highlight the outcomes of the partnership between states and the federal government, and the working relationships that define DRBC operations

  • Discuss how are public interests addressed and managed

The session was moderated by DRBC Director of External Affairs and Communications Beth Brown. Speakers included DRBC Executive Director Steve Tambini, The Watershed Institute Policy Director Mike Pisauro, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Planning Division Chief Adrian Leary.

The plenary began with introductions from the moderator, followed by short presentations from each speaker. A casual discussion and question and answer session followed; topics included climate change, environmental justice and community engagement.

Staff thanks the conference organizers for an informative conference that brought the public sector, private sector, academia and not-for-profit organizations together around hazard mitigation.

  • Balancing Water Resources in the Delaware River Basin - Steve Tambini, DRBC (pdf)

  • About the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Adrian Leary, USACE (pdf)

  • The Watershed Institute - Mike Pisauro, The Watershed Institute (pdf)

  • Learn more about NJAFM