Water Resources Resilience Plan
Background & Purpose

 

DRBC's Water Resources Resilience Plan.


At its 2024 second quarter business meeting, the DRBC unanimously approved a resolution directing staff to develop a resilience plan for water resources. 

The resolution included a finding that climate change - for example, increased temperatures, changing precipitation patterns and sea level rise - is impacting the Basin's water cycle. 


Planning Goal

  • The DRBC's Water Resources Resilience Plan (WRRP) will help us ensure resilient and sustainable water resources in a changing climate by connecting multiple water resource impacts under one umbrella. 


  • Three key focus areas: Water Availability, Aquatic Ecosystem and Built Environment


  • DRBC's activities will focus on matters within the authority and jurisdiction of the Commission and will complement the efforts being made by Commission members. 


Three Planning Phases 

  • The WRRP will consist of three (3) phases. Each phase will include public input components. All timing is subject to change.

  • In parallel, DRBC staff will continue to advance ongoing climate-related work, and the Commission will consider actions as surfaced throughout the WRRP process. 


  • DRBC will include updates and work plans through its annual Water Resources Program based on available capacity and funding.  


The WRRP will include:

  • Prioritized actions for evaluating impacts of climate change and other challenges and formulating management approaches to improve resilience and adaptation to a changing climate and other emerging challenges


  • Consultation with Advisory Committee on Climate Change (ACCC) and other stakeholders


  • Funding priorities and timing


Actions within the Commission's authority may include:

  • Flow and drought management


  • Flood loss


  • Water quality


  • Water use and water efficiency


  • Water equity


  • Regulations

 

Group Presentations

  • DRBC staff is available to attend your group or event to share more about the Water Resources Resilience Plan and the process. To arrange for a speaker, send an email to: contact@drbc.gov. 



Stay Connected & Check Back for Updates!
Developing the WRRP: Phase 1 & April 2026 Webinar

 

Phase 1 - A Framework for DRBC's Water Resources Resilience Plan

 

April 2026 Webinar

On April 30, 2026, DRBC held a public webinar to review Phase 1 of the WRRP and preview Phase 2.

 

 
Developing the WRRP: Phase 2

 

Phase 2 - Advancing Resilience of the Delaware River Basin's Water Resources to Climate Change

  • Timing: 2026 - 2027 (we are here)


  • Objective: Develop a list of recommended actions and activities that DRBC can take to address climate change impacts to water resources


  • Public Engagement: Phase 2 Survey, Outreach Events & Listening Sessions


    • Phase 2 Survey - Closed October 19


    • DRBC tabled the following outreach events

      • Chester River Festival (PA) - May 9, 2026

      • World Environment Day (DE) - June 4, 2026

      • Rutgers Climate Symposium (NJ) - June 10, 2026

      • American Littoral Society's Sunset on the Bay (NJ) - June 13, 2026

      • Mercer Co. Juneteenth Celebration (NJ) - June 20, 2026

      • DVRPC's Water Table Happy Hour (PA) - June 23, 2026

      • Zane Grey Festival (PA) - July 11, 2026

      • Glen Foerd's RiverFest (PA) - July 12, 2026

      • Our Founding Waters Day (PA) - September 2, 2026

      • Parks on Tap at Penn Treaty Park (PA) - September 3, 2026

      • Parks on Tap at Borski Park (PA) - September 10, 2026

      • FUDR RiverFest (NY) - September 12, 2026

      • Trenton RiverFest (NJ) - September 12, 2026

      • Delaware River Festival (PA & NJ) - September 26, 2026

      • Delaware Coast Day (DE) - October 4, 2026

 

Folks were excited to be a part of the WRRP planning process by completing our survey. Photo by the DRBC. Folks were excited to be a part of the WRRP planning process by completing our survey. Photo by the DRBC. Staff discuss the WRRP at DRBC's Our Founding Waters Festival, Sept. 2026. Photo by the DRBC.
Staff discuss the WRRP at World Environment Day in New Castel, Del., June 2026. Photo by the DRBC. Folks were excited to be a part of the WRRP planning process by completing our survey. Photo by the DRBC. Folks were excited to be a part of the WRRP planning process by completing our survey. Photo by the DRBC. Staff discuss the WRRP at DRBC's Our Founding Waters Festival, Sept. 2026. Photo by the DRBC.

 
Developing the WRRP: Phase 3


Phase 3 – Advancing Resilience of the Delaware River Basin's Water Resources to Additional Challenges

  • Timing: After completion of Phase 2


  • Objective: Provide the Commission with recommended actions and activities to advance the resilience of the Basin's water resources in light of additional challenges, such as contaminants of emerging concern, freshwater salinization and changing patterns of water demand


  • Public Engagement: Yes, details TBD
Materials & Resource Archive

 
Phase 1 Public Input Archives


Archives: Phase 1 Public Input - Comment Card

  • The public was invited to share thoughts on the scope of DRBC's Water Resources Resilience Plan via an online comment card, which remained open through the end of October 2025.


Archives: Phase 1 Public Input Sessions

The DRBC scheduled a series of public input sessions in 2025 on the plan, both in-person and virtual, to assist staff in developing the plan. Opportunities included: