Christina Basin Trends,1995-2010

• Population• Land Use• Water Quality• Water Temperature• Streamflow

Compiled by A. Homsey, S. Chatterson, E. McVey.S. Mack, M. Narvaez, and G. Kauffman (University of Delaware)

Christina Basin Clean Water PartnershipPolicy Committee

DRBC, USEPA, Del. DNREC, Pa. DEP

Coordinating CommitteeDel. Co-coordinator: DNS, WRA

Pa. Co-coordinator: CCWRA, CCCD

Task ForceChair: BVA

Interstate• Brandywine Conservancy• Brandywine Valley Association (BVA)• Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC)• Partnership for the Delaware Estuary• Red Clay Valley Association (RCVA)• United States Department of Agriculture

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

• United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)

• United States Geological Survey (USGS)• United States National Park Service (NPS)• White Clay Creek Watershed Association• White Clay Creek Wild and Scenic

Watershed Management Committee

Pennsylvania• Chester County Conservation

District (CCCD)• Chester County Health

Department• Chester County Planning

Commission• Chester County Water Resources

Authority (CCWRA)• Pennsylvania Department of

Conservation and Natural Resources (Pa. DCNR)

• Pennsyvlania Department of the Environment (Pa. DEP)

Delaware• Christina Conservancy• City of Newark• City of Wilmington• Delaware Department of

Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC)

• Delaware Nature Society (DNS)• New Castle Conservation

District• New Castle County Dept. of

Special Services• University of Delaware, Institute

for Public Administration, Water Resources Agency (WRA)

Partner Organizations

Ad Hoc Committees (as needed)

Christina Basin Population

Source: U. S. Census

Christina Basin Population, 2010

Brandywine Cr.246,702, 42%

White Clay Cr. 123,506, 21%

Red Clay Cr. 46,893, 8%

Christina R. 174,196, 29%

Christina BasinPopulation Change, 2000-2010

10,723

31,091

4260

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

Delaware Pennsylvania Maryland

Popu

latio

n ch

ange

Christina BasinPopulation Change, 2000-2010

25,289

7,7614,263 4,927

42,240

05,000

10,00015,00020,00025,00030,00035,00040,00045,000

BrandywineCreek

ChristinaRiver

Red ClayCreek

White ClayCreek

ChristinaBasin

Popu

latio

n ch

ange

Christina BasinPopulation Change, 2000-2010

3,3393,2285,782

7,204

1,035426131

-855

21,950

-5,000

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

Whi

te C

lay (D

E)Ch

ristin

a (PA

)Ch

ristin

a (M

D)

Red

Clay

(DE)

Red

Clay

(PA)

Bran

dywi

ne (D

E)W

hite

Clay

(PA)

Chris

tina (

DE)

Bran

dywi

ne (P

A)

-3,500

-2,500-1,500

-500

5001,5002,5003,500

C6 Tida

l Chri

stina

R.

W5 Mill C

reek

R5 belo

w Woo

ddale

C2 Mud

dy R

un

R4 abo

ve W

oodd

ale

W8 abov

e New

arkB6 D

oe Run

W10 Tida

l Whit

e Clay

Cr.

R3 Burro

ughs

Run

B7 Broa

d Cree

k

B1 WB H

oney B

rook

B5 Buc

k Run

R2 East

Branch

R4 abo

ve W

oodd

ale

W2 Midd

le Bran

ch

B3 WB C

oates

ville

B17 th

rough

Wilm

ington

W6 Pike C

reek

W4 EB below

Avond

ale

R1 Wes

t Bran

ch

C2 Mud

dy R

un

B12 Bea

ver C

reek

B14 ab

ove C

hadd

s Ford

B13 Vall

ey C

reek

Christina BasinPopulation Change, 2000-2010

Christina Basin Land Use

Source: NOAA CSC

Christina BasinLand Use, 2005

Urban/Suburban

28%Forest/Wetland

33%

Ag38%

Water1%

Brandywine CreekLand Use 2005

Urban/Suburban

18%

Agriculture

46%

Forest/Wetland

36%

Water1%

Red Clay CreekLand Use 2005

Urban/Suburban

27%

Water1%

Agriculture

39%

Forest/Wetland

33%

White Clay Creek Land Use 2005

Urban/Suburban

34%

Agriculture

36%

Forest/Wetland,

30%

Water0%

Christina RiverLand Use 2005

Urban/Suburban

58%

Agriculture15%

Forest/Wetland

26%

Water1%

Christina BasinLand Use Change, 1996 - 2005

9.61

- 3.06

- 6.7210

864202468

10

Are

a (s

q m

i)

Urban/Suburban Agriculture Forest/Wetland

Christina BasinLand Use Change, 1995 - 2010

5

43

2

10

1

2

34

5

Brandywine Christina Red Clay White Clay

Are

a (s

q m

i)

Urban/Suburban Agriculture Forest/Wetland

Christina Basin Land Useby State and Watershed, 2005

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Brandywine DEBrandywine PAChristina DEChristina MDChristina PARed Clay DERed Clay PAW

hite Clay DEW

hite Clay PAA

rea

(sq

mi)

Urban/Suburban Agriculture Forest/Wetland

Christina Basin Water Quality

• Dissolved Oxygen• Total Suspended Sediment• Enterococcus Bacteria• Nitrogen• Phosphorus

Source: DNREC STORET Monitoring Stations

Brandywine Cr. at Footbridge (104011)Red Clay Cr. at Stanton (103011)White Clay Cr. at Old Rte 7 Br. (105071)Christina R. at Wilmington (106291)

Water Temperature

Streamflow

• Annual Low Flow (Drought)• Annual Peak Flow (Flood)

Brandywine Creek at Wilmington Annual Low Streamflow

52

121

98

121

52

137

90

119

204

90

124

94 98

198

35

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Stre

amflo

w (c

fs)

7Q10

1%

10%

Red Clay Creek at StantonAnnual Low Streamflow

7

39

17

12

8

18

14

7

28

40

18

24

16 17

21

0

10

20

30

40

5019

95

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Stre

amflo

w (c

fs)

7Q10

Red Clay Creek at StantonAnnual Peak Streamflow

1,850

5,330

1,370

8,260

4,2003,140

864

17,400

10,900

3,780

5,000

3,0502,170

800

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,00019

95

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Stre

amflo

w (c

fs)

10%

1%

White Clay Creek near NewarkAnnual Low Streamflow

8.5

54

23 22

9.3

30

21

5.4

44

86

2530

18 18

42

0102030405060708090

100

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Stre

amflo

w (c

fs)

7Q10

White Clay Creek near NewarkAnnual Peak Streamflow

9,150

5,540

2,050

7,130

4,970

1,270

13,900

5,6004,630 4,390

5,090

1,9202,8703,160

19,500

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,00019

95

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Stre

amflo

w (c

fs) 1%

10%

Christina River at Coochs BridgeAnnual Low Flow

1.6

8.3

3.7

2.4

1.1

3.7

1.41

3.4

12

3.4

5.9

2.12.5

5.9

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

1419

95

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Stre

amflo

w (c

fs)

7Q10

Christina River at Coochs BridgeAnnual Peak Streamflow

1,790 1,910 1,8401,500

7,050

2,1302,350

629

2,340

5,430

1,910 1,9901,770

1,0801,330

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,00019

95

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Stre

amflo

w (c

fs)

1%

10%

Summary

• Water quality improvements are congruent with 15-year contributions of CBCWP.

• Water quality has improved even with 42,000 increase in population (2000-2010) and 9 mi2 increase in urban/suburban land (1996-2005).

• Nitrogen levels are degrading probably due to atmospheric deposition (not good) and/or conversion of ammonia to forms of N with rising DO levels (a good thing!).

• No low flows since drought of 2002.