2. THE VALUE OF A WATERSHED APPROACH Carol R. Collier, P.P.,AICP Delaware River Basin Commission

3. WHY?   Most Major Rivers Cross Or Form State Boundaries   Rivers Do Not Respect Political Boundaries   No One Agency Can Manage Water Resources   Most Water Problems Cannot Be Solved At the Site – Need To Look Upstream (Quantity and Quality Issues)

4. Why?   Multi Dimensional Issues Flow affects water quality Stormwater management is necessary for water supply management There is only one water system   Need for Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)   Cost Effective Working across boundaries can spread out the costs and provide leverage Reduce Litigation

5. Delaware River Watershed Facts Nearly 15 million people (about 5% of the U.S. population) rely on the waters of the basin  Drains 13,539 mi², or 0.4 of 1% of the continental U.S. land area 216 tributary streams

6. Delaware River Longest Undammed River East of the Mississippi 330 miles

7. The Need for Basin-Scale Planning   4 States   25 Congressional Districts   42 Counties   838 Municipalities Rivers Don’t Respect Political Boundaries

8. Delaware River Basin

9. New York City, which lies outside the watershed, gets roughly half its water from three reservoirs located on tributaries to the Delaware -- Cannonsville, Pepacton, and Neversink. M ap: NYC DEP Web Site

10. Zone Designations for the Delaware Estuary

11. Delaware River Port Complex – Largest Fresh Water Port

12. 1960’s Maximum Salt Line (250 mg/l, 7 day avg) Normal R.M. 77 Data for determination provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and Kimberly Clark Corp. Water Supply Intake RM 110

14. Delaware River Basin Commission

15. Commitment to Resolve Disputes   Committed to work through the Commission   The States mutually agreed – for the 100-year duration of the Compact – to waive and relinquish any right or privilege to apply for modification of the 1954 Supreme Court Decree

16. Flexible Flow Management Plan (FFMP)   Reservoir Releases Dependent on Reservoir Levels Water Supply – NYC and Downstream Ecological Flows – cold water fishery, endangered species Salt Repulsion

17. Fish Consumption Advisories

18. “If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll probably end up somewhere else.” The Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll

19. DRBC Planning   Water Resources Plan for the Delaware River Basin   Comprehensive Plan   6 yr. Strategic Plan (updated annually)  Annual Work Plan and Budget  State of the Basin Report

20. State Water Resources Planning & Management Infrastructure Funding Basin Comm- issions Tribes State Agencies Federal Agencies Consensus & Coordination Federal Policy & Regulation Data & Research Key Factors Influencing States’ Water Resources Actions NGOs Political & Budget Realities Locals & Watershed Groups CRISIS

21. RECAP - Value of Watershed Approach and River Basin Commissions   Place-based Management   Working with the River   Integrated Water Resources Management   More Comprehensive – More Alternatives   Avoid Litigation   More Cost-Effective

22. Needs For Effective Watershed Management   Governance Changes – streamlining, eliminate stove pipes, etc. IWRM   Funding   Data and Information   Change Crisis Mgt. to Proactive Strategies   Promotion / Education on Watershed Approach

23. QUESTIONS?

24. What the Heck is IWRM????   Integration of: Multiple Interests Multiple Levels of Government Variety of Stakeholders All Water Sectors   No Stovepipes   Ultimate Goal - One plan addressing: Quality and quantity Water supply/droughts, stormwater/flooding, wastewater, ecological flow needs, (and land use) Groundwater and surface water In a watershed context