~ Water Resources Association ~

Water Resource Associations of the Delaware River Basin

Winter '06

Chairman’s Message

As we move forward into 2006, it’s good to live in interesting times. Your WRA continues its ongoing involvement in the Delaware Basin and the many activities of its federal and state agencies. Some of the issues for 2006 include the PCB TMDL, the implementation of the Water Resources Plan, development of new contracts between DRBC and the states and the release of the Demand Forecasting Study. Tied to the future water quantity and quality resource issues for the basin is the USGS Groundwater Availability study, which we await final review and release. Without question, water quantity and quality issues and inter-watershed transfers will be with us as the primary driver for environmental, economic and planning evaluations throughout the basin and the member states.
To take a line from the military recruiting slogan, “Be all you can be”, this would strike me as what your WRA is trying to reach and accomplish in so many ways. Our website is undergoing a major update and a new membership brochure, to represent and market the organization, is also in development. Both of these items will be completed in 2006. I had an opportunity to accompany our President, Robert Molzahn, to the WRA Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting, Chaired by Jan Phillips, and held at the DRBC’s headquarters. TAC is an excellent resource that is made available to all of our members so that we can hear from the Basin Commission staff as to the near and far range plans and progress on basin wide activates. However, this committee is underutilized. To be all we can be, I would encourage and frankly, like to challenge our members to take advantage of this and other committees and get involved, attend, hear and ask questions first hand as to the on goings in the basin.
I also had the opportunity to attend the December DRBC Commissioner’s meeting with President Molzahn and several other WRA Board of Directors and members. At the meeting DRBC announced the dedication of a garden to be constructed in DRBC’s courtyard to honor Dr. Ruth Patrick. Each year at our Annual Dinner we present an Excellence in Education Award in her name. Look for more information on this subject in future newsletters.
The WRA is also in the midst of planning our Annual Recognition Dinner and the undertaking to recognize worthwhile projects and persons for the WRA awards made at this dinner. This award recognition and networking opportunity is scheduled for April 5, 2006. Dennis W. Palmer, P.E., Chairman

Around the Basin: DRBC Flood Loss Reduction Activities

The Delaware River Basin Commission’s Flood Advisory Committee (FAC), which is comprised of representatives from many of the state and federal agencies responsible for flood loss reduction in the watershed, was created in 2000 to provide a forum for the coordination of flood-related activities and to promote the efficient use of technical and financial resources for the benefit of the basin community. The primary purpose of the FAC is the improvement of the basin’s flood warning system, but it also works to promote flood mitigation planning. The committee is currently chaired by Peter Gabrielsen of the National Weather Service (NWS) and its vice-chair is Mariana Leckner of the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management.
Recent activities of the FAC have included the participation of several of its members on the N.J. Acting Governor’s Delaware River Flood Mitigation Task Force. The task force report is expected to be released soon. Also, plans are underway to update the Commission’s 2002 Flood Warning Recommendations Report for the Delaware River Basin with the assistance of the NWS and U.S. Geological Survey. Additionally, the potential for flood operations modeling of basin reservoirs is under discussion by the FAC.
A Flood Mitigation Subcommittee of the FAC was recently formed in order to look at the need for All Hazard Mitigation Plans in basin communities as required under Section 322 of the federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000. Communities not having a plan approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are ineligible for future mitigation grant opportunities made available through that agency. The subcommittee has been looking into funding sources and initiatives in order to help realize the goal of FEMA-approved All Hazards Mitigation Plans for all communities within the basin. Additionally, the DRBC will seek funding to prepare a flood risk assessment as well as mitigation recommendations for the Delaware River Basin.
Beginning with the November 2005 FAC meeting, email notifications of committee activities have been expanded to include county emergency management and planning officials. The public is welcome to attend committee meetings, which include an open comment period for interested persons. More information on the FAC and its meeting dates is available on the DRBC website at http://www.nj.gov/drbc/advisory.htm.

Many thanks to Laura M. Tessieri, P.E., Water Resources Engineer, Delaware River Basin Commission, for contributing this article and providing an update on DRBC flood management activities.

DRBC Honors Pioneering Ecologist Dr. Ruth Patrick

The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), at its December 2005 meeting, announced plans to redevelop and dedicate its office building courtyard as the "Ruth Patrick River Garden" in honor of the world-renowned environmental scientist and Philadelphia resident.
"Dr. Ruth Patrick's outstanding career with The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia has spanned seven decades and her work has set the standard for how the environmental health of rivers and streams is evaluated," DRBC Chairman Kevin C. Donnelly said. Donnelly, who represents Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner on the federal-interstate commission, added, "We are thrilled to have Dr. Patrick join us today as we recognize her extensive contributions to riverine science and management."
The commission also released a concept design plan to improve the courtyard at the mid-day ceremony held at its West Trenton headquarters. "This design plan, which was shaped by comments received from DRBC staff, highlights the Delaware River Basin and will provide an opportunity for visitors to enjoy the space while learning about the watershed environment," DRBC Executive Director Carol R. Collier said. "Naming this planned courtyard makeover the 'Ruth Patrick River Garden' is a fitting tribute to a pioneer whose work in the Delaware River Basin dates back to 1945."
Dr. Patrick in the 1940s developed a new scientific method to assess the health of freshwater systems (lakes, streams, and rivers) involving the study of changes in abundance and diversity of plants, animals, and bacteria as a way to measure the impact of pollution and natural changes. She was one of only a handful of female ecologists at the time and her method is still used today.
Born in Kansas, she has lived and worked in the Delaware River Basin her entire professional career. Dr. Patrick has been associated with The Academy of Natural Sciences since 1933 and continues to spend time in her office there every day. In 1947, she founded the Academy's Limnology Department, now called the Patrick Center for Environmental Research, for the study of freshwater bodies. She is currently the Francis Boyer Chair of Limnology at the Academy and the honorary chair of its Board of Trustees.
Dr. Patrick is the recipient of numerous honorary degrees and awards, including the National Medal of Science, our nation's top science award, which she received from President Bill Clinton in 1996.
DRBC staff is exploring options to fund the construction costs of the planned courtyard redevelopment, expected to total over $200,000 according to preliminary estimates. "The commission is not in the position to finance this project with its limited resources, and since we are a regulatory agency, we are unable to accept donations from some private and public organizations who may wish to contribute to this project honoring Dr. Patrick," Collier said. "We are hoping to identify a nonprofit organization that might be willing to serve as a collector of donations which could then be provided to DRBC in one sum."
The above announcement was taken from a News Release issued by the DRBC on December 7, 2005. WRA will keep our readers informed as plans develop for the collection of funds from private parties for completion of the project .
For more information, visit DRBC's web site at www.drbc.net.