Water Resources Plan for the Delaware River Basin (Basin Plan)

Download the Water Resources Plan for the Delaware River Basin (Basin Plan)

Basin Plan Implementation Progress Reports -
Compiled for the Commissioners on an Annual Basis

FY 2005 Progress Report*
FY 2006 Progress Report*
FY 2007 Progress Report*
FY 2008 Progress Report*

As directed by the "Resolution on the Protection of the Delaware River Basin" signed by the four basin state governors, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) has developed a water resources plan for the basin ("basin plan").

The basin plan is a 30-year, goal-based framework that will serve as a guide for all governmental and non-governmental stakeholders whose actions affect water resources in the Delaware River Basin. It is the product of a four-year stakeholder process. A broad-based Watershed Advisory Council was established to provide guidance to the commission with the plan's development.

Elected and environmental leaders from Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and the federal government, along with other interested watershed stakeholders, met on September 13, 2004 along Wilmington's Christina Riverfront to celebrate the completion of the Water Resources Plan for the Delaware River Basin. Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner was joined by DRBC Federal Representative Brigadier General Merdith W.B. Temple, Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Catherine Baker Knoll, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell, and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Water Assistant Director Fred R. Nuffer in a ceremonial signing of a resolution supporting the implementation of the basin plan. View news release.

A number of federal agency representatives also participated by signing the resolution in affirmation of their agency's support of the basin plan. These participants included Jane M. Kenny, Region II Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Donald S. Welsh, Region III Administrator, EPA; Joe DiBello, Northeast Regional Partnership Programs Manager, National Park Service; Catherine L. Hill, Northeast Regional Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey; Marvin E. Moriarty, Region V Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and Anthony J. Kramer, N.J. State Conservationist and designated Regional Representative for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service.

On October 15, 2003, the Commission approved Resolution 2003-23 directing DRBC staff to solicit public comment on the Draft Water Resources Plan for the Delaware River Basin. The draft plan was the result of the combined efforts of the Watershed Advisory Council, DRBC staff, and standing technical advisory committees, as well as ad hoc subcommittees assembled for the basin planning effort. A series of public meetings was held between January 20 and March 17, 2004, in Delaware (Dover), New Jersey (Millville and Bordentown), Pennsylvania (Bethlehem and Philadelphia), and New York (Narrowsburg) in order to solicit public comment on the draft basin plan. You can view the powerpoint presentation used at these public meetings (378 KB; free Adobe reader required to view; please read footnote)

The Watershed Advisory Council met most recently on May 7, 2004. The primary purpose of the meeting was to review comments received from January - April 2004 and agree on revisions to the draft basin plan. View staff recommended changes in response to comments (211 KB; free Adobe reader required). In summary, those changes would add objectives relating to source water security and navigation, enhance the "roles and responsibilities" section, and add a suggested list of indicators.

The final draft of the basin plan was transmitted to the DRBC commissioners for final review on June 2, 2004.

Watershed Advisory Council Information
	Council Members
	Resolution 99-23 (Creates Council)
	Draft Revised Ground Rules
	Brief Summary of June 10-11, 2003 Workshop Highlighting Outcomes and Next Steps (18 KB)*
	Summary of January 14, 2003 Meeting (49 KB)*
	Summary of November 2001 Public Meetings Presented at December 2001 Workshop
	Water Resources Trends in the Delaware River Basin Presentation at July 24, 2001 Meeting
	Overview of Proposed Goals Presentation at July 24, 2001 Meeting
	Draft Summary of May 14-15, 2001 Workshop, Without Attachments (33 KB*)
	Draft Convening Paper - May 2001 (165 KB)*
	Participant Responses from January 2001 Meeting (43 KB*)
Basin Plan Development Documents
	Comprehensive Plan-Basin Plan Relationship: download* (276 KB) This PowerPoint file describes the relationship between the proposed water resources plan for the basin (basin plan) and the Comprehensive Plan required by the Delaware River Basin Compact. January 2003
	Legal Requirements & Structures: download* (17 KB) This PowerPoint presentation -- "Integrating Legal Requirements and Legal Structures into the Basin-Wide Plan" -- was given by DRBC General Counsel Ken Warren at the Watershed Advisory Council's June 2003 workshop.
	Proposed Combined Adoption/Implemention Flow Diagram: download* (47 KB) June 2003

DRBC Comprehensive Plan

The current DRBC comprehensive plan (CP) is basically a loosely organized collection of DRBC policies, rules, and projects. The CP is driven by the Delaware River Basin Compact and is the basis for setting standards and promulgating regulations. The new CP will be restructured to include forward-looking components of the Basin Plan so that the CP is a planning document rather than simply a compilation of the DRBC’s past decisions. The current CP can now be downloaded* (974 KB).

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