On July 25, the Delaware River Basin Commission released its 2019 State of the Basin Report, which provides an overview of the health of the water resources and key species of the Delaware River Basin, along with the factors that impact the Basin, primarily: pollution, climate change, and development.
“This is our third such publication since 2004, which benchmarks conditions and tracks progress toward achieving key DRBC water resource management goals for maintaining an adequate supply of suitable quality water to meet the diverse needs of our region,” said DRBC Executive Director Steve Tambini. “I am pleased to report that overall, a majority of the indicators received a good or very good rating, while trends are predominantly stable or improving.”
The 2019 State of the Basin report provides a technical focused snapshot of 31 indicators for watersheds and landscapes, water quantity, water quality, and living resources, and includes a rating and a directional trend for each.
Some parameters, for example, groundwater availability and nutrients, received high ratings and are trending positively, thanks to proactive management strategies.
Lower ratings or declining trends for some indicators, for example, impervious cover, salinity, and invasive species, show us where additional focus is needed.
“Since 1961, DRBC has been working to manage, protect, and improve the water resources of the Basin for the over 13.3 million people in four states that depend on them for public water supply, recreation, business, and agriculture, as well as for aquatic life,” said Tambini. “While our water resources are greatly improved today, there is more to do, and this work is not possible to do alone. We thank our basin state colleagues, federal agencies, partner organizations, and stakeholders for their collective efforts and commitment to stewardship and sustainability.”
In addition to publishing the State of the Basin report, DRBC will be undertaking a larger effort to obtain wider input on the State of Our Basin’s water resources.
This effort, Our Shared Waters: A Look at the Delaware River Basin, aims to gather diverse perspectives from across the basin on its health, with the goal of increasing public awareness to continue the work needed to maintain and improve this critical resource.
Click Here for a copy of the 2019 State of the Basin Report. Information about the Our Shared Waters campaign will be available in the coming weeks.
For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Delaware River Basin Commission website. Click Here to sign up for regulator updates. Follow DRBC on Twitter. Visit them on YouTube.
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