The DRBC Commissioners at the dais. Photo by the DRBC.

Did You Know? The phrase "Forks of the Delaware" has long referred to the city of Easton, Pa., where the Lehigh River enters the Delaware River. The Lenape word for the city and its surrounding area is Lechauwitank, meaning "the Place at the Forks." In the 1750s, a town located at "the Place of the Forks" was surveyed by William Penn's son and named Easton.

On June 11, 2025, the Delaware River Basin Commission, community organizations, government partners, invited guests and the public gathered in Easton at the Nurture Nature Center (NNC) for the DRBC's second-quarter business meeting and wraparound programming.

  • View information about the DRBC's June 11 Business Meeting

  • Learn more about the Nurture Nature Center

The day prior, the DRBC Commissioners and staff got together for a walk along the Karl Stirner Arts Trail with staff from the Wildlands Conservancy. Wildlands recently led several key projects to remove dams from the Bushkill Creek, and this walk showcased several of the dam removals. The day ended with a canal boat ride on the Lehigh Canal aboard the Josiah White II with staff from the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. 

  • Learn more about Wildlands Conservancy

  • Learn more about Bushkill Creek Dam Removals

  • Learn more about the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor

Before diving into regular business, the June 11 Business Meeting featured in-person remarks from Easton Mayor Salvatore J. Panto, Jr. and Nurture Nature Center Executive Director Rachel Hogan Carr, as well as video remarks from U.S. Representative Ryan Mackenzie (PA-7). Each welcomed folks to the meeting and discussed why the Easton region - and its vital connections to the Delaware River - are unique and important to preserve and protect.

  • View the DRBC Resolution for the Minutes honoring the City of Easton and the Nurture Nature Center (pdf)

Other meeting highlights included Kristen Bowman Kavanagh's Executive Director Report, which provided updates on new Commissioners and DRBC staff, as well as a review of recent community outreach and DRBC publications. Karen Stainbrook, 3rd Alternate Commissioner from New York and then-current Commission Chair, led the ceremonial Executive Director Oath of Office, with the assistance of the Federal Alternate Commissioner Lt. Col. Jeffrey Beeman.

At the conclusion of the business meeting, a period of open public comment followed, allowing members of the community to address the Commissioners directly about issues important to them regarding water resources.

Afterward, the public was invited to stay for a showing of NNC's Science on a Sphere exhibit.

The day's events concluded with a press event at the Nurture Nature Center announcing its upcoming addition of a new Earth & Sky Dome™ theatre, which will be both a planetarium and immersive theatre for environmental education programming. During construction, which is planned to last into 2026, NNC will be closed to the public. 

The DRBC would like to express our gratitude to the City of Easton, Wildlands Conservancy, the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, and especially to the staff of the Nurture Nature Center for hosting this meeting.

A view of "The Forks," where the Lehigh River (dammed) flows into the Delaware River. Photo by the DRBC.	DRBC and Wildlands Conservancy staff on the Karl Stirner Arts Trail.  Photo by the DRBC.	The National Canal Museum's mules, Hank and George. The Josiah White II canal boat is in the background. Photo by the DRBC.	Hank and George pull the Josiah White II along the Lehigh Canal. The Lehigh River is seen on the right of the photo. Photo by the DRBC.
DRBC Commissioners and staff in front of the NNC's Science on a Sphere. Photo by the DRBC.	DRBC Commissioners on the dais. DRBC Executive Director Kristen Bowman Kavanagh is 3rd from left. Photo by the  DRBC.	Easton Mayor Salvatore J. Panto, Jr. welcomes everyone to Easton, Pa. Photo by the DRBC.	Easton Mayor Salvatore J. Panto, Jr. (3rd from L) and NNC Exec. Dir. Rachel Hogan Carr (2nd from L) pose with the Resolution for the Minutes honoring the city & the center. Photo by the DRBC.
Folks listen to video remarks from U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (PA-7). Photo by the DRBC.	DRBC Commissioners Karen Stainbrook (N.Y.; right) and Lt. Col. Beeman (Fed; left) lead the ceremonial Exec. Dir. Oath of Office. Photo by the DRBC.	DRBC Commissioners and staff pose with NNC Exec. Dir. Rachel Hogan Carr (4th from L). Photo by the DRBC.	NNC Exec. Dir. Rachel Hogan Carr introduces the press and invited guests to the Earth & Sky Dome. Photo by the DRBC.