Stressors, Linkages, Progress, and Lessons Learned from Basin-Wide Planning and Implementation for...

Track 6: Tributaries } River } Bay

A Basin-wide Perspective

Stressors, Linkages, Progress, and Lessons Learned from

Basin-Wide Planning and Implementation for

Water Quality and Quantity Restoration and Protection

Jessica Rittler Sanchez, PhD

River Basin Planner, Delaware River Basin Commission [email protected] 609-477-7202

Accelerating Action: Delaware River Watershed Forum October 28-29, 2013

Presenter

Presentation Notes

mailto:[email protected]

Stressors, Linkages, Progress, and Lessons Learned from Basin-Wide Planning and Implementation for Water Quality and Quantity Restoration and Protection

• Basin Context • Water Supply • Water Quality (DO) • 2030 Vision

Track 6: Tributaries } River } Bay A Basin-wide Perspective

Presenter

Presentation Notes

A lot to cover

Context: Diversity

• River @ Trenton photo

Ron Saari/with permission of the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission

Vicki Dodson

Context: Landscape

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Presentation Notes

Geology sets the stage. Trenton is a great vantage point. The river above has a very different personality from the river downstream due to the landforms it flows over & through. Flow regimes, availability & essential quality are dictated by geology, soils, weather…. Above the fall line: Freshwater. Below: subject to the tidal influence of the ocean 133 miles away. Click And the landscape

NYC reservoirs

PA-NJ-DE Port / industrial complex Energy

Generation

Special Protection

Waters

Major diversion of headwaters

Antidegredation policy on non-tidal River

Energy generation

Port

Urban-industrial complex

PCB TMDL on tidal River

Context

PCB TMDL

Drinking Water Intakes

Salt Line Range

1964

2002

Fresh Water & the Tidal River

89

102

Salinity repulsion target: 3,000 cfs Median flow: 12,000 cfs ‘60s drought low flow: 1,500 cfs ‘55 flood: >300,000 cfs

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Qs: Is target sufficient for species health & propagation? Port deepening? SLR? Others?

Sea Level Rise

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This graphic is from a study conducted by UPenn Graduate Students. It forecasts that sea level rise will cause the salt front to mover further upstream than what was experienced during the 1960s. This could have impacts for Power plants, industrial facilities and public water supply. Would it be better to move or reconfigure those intakes? Can we use existing storage to repel salinity? Do we need more storage for flow augmentation? From where?

Flow Target @Trenton= 3000 cfs

Philadelphia Intake

Philadelphia intake

oysters

Climate Change

30 day snow cover 2070-2099

Groundwater

• 2 separate critical ground water areas

• Special withdrawal limits/ review thresholds

• Emphasis on conjunctive use - surface water alternative is crucial

• Pumping in Delaware affects levels in NJ

• Where is growth desired/expected ?

DO Recovery 0

12

34

56 2001-2005

1971-1975

1981-1985

1986-1990

1991-1995

Ben Franklin D.O. - Medians of Daily ValuesRM 100

Dis

solv

ed O

xyge

n (m

g/L)

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

1966-1970

3.5 mg/L

5.0 mg/L

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1966-70 – Anoxic zone (zero O2) June – October at Ben franklin Bridge (RM 100) Progress in 5-year increments measurement of median values of DO Currently vastly improved, but these are median values, so half of all values better and half worse. Only part of story…

DO Recovery

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Presentation Notes

This represents 10 years of data for 78 miles of tidal River: 5 stations from Trenton RM 133 (#1) to Reedy Island RM 55 (#5). The measure here is saturation (dependent on temp, salinity, etc.) shown as a monthly mean value. The Ben Franklin Bridge is #3. Still a sag from June – October with a saturation of less than 60%. Actual daily values dip below - sometimes to 40% or less. A few days at 40% can be fatal to the young-of-year of sensitive species. Temperature (discharges, weather), salinity (low flows), biological & chemical oxygen demand (nutrients, etc.), all affect DO. DRBC is currently investigating the DO issue in the tidal River.

Water Resources Plan

Water Resource Management through 2030

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There is a water resources plan for the basin…

Progress: Recognizing Linkages

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Integrated issues and management

What’s Ahead?

• How do these large-picture issues affect your project(s)?

• How can your project(s) projects

help to mitigate large-scale issues?

Thank You !

Stressors, Linkages, Progress, and Lessons Learned from Basin-Wide Planning and Implementation for...

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