The Susquehanna River Basin Commission Friday issued its 2017 Annual Report highlighting SRBCs initiatives in help municipalities better manage water, promoting water conservation, building flood resiliency and other accomplishments.

Here’s Executive Director Andrew D. Dehoff’s message introducing the report:

As I reflect on the Commission’s activities in 2017, two elements stand out—advancement of our mission through the use of technology and the benefit of the Commission’s on-the-ground presence in comprehensive water resource management.

In support of its commitment to encouraging the use of state-of-the-art technology, in 2017 the Commission made good on its 2015 resolution offering incentives for the use of dry cooling technology at power generating facilities. 

The technology dramatically reduces the consumptive water use associated with power generation and serves as a model for modern and effective water conservation.  The Commission approved or began the permit review process of seven natural gas-fired power plants using dry cooling technology in 2017, reducing consumptive use by as much as 90 percent.

State-of-the-art technology is also evident in the cooperative flood forecasting and warning system. 

The Commission worked with local and federal partners in the installation of remotely controlled and digitally transmitting cameras that provide real-time, around-the-clock observations of flood conditions on urban streams. 

The system also added new locations to the online flood inundation mapping tool, according those communities the best available warning of possible onset of flooding.

Equally critical to meeting our mission are the Commission’s boots on the ground. Commission scientists routinely take to the field to participate in environmental improvement projects, study the impacts of water use on our ecosystems and communities, collect information for drought and flood planning, and ensure regulatory compliance.

To highlight our ongoing efforts to effectuate sound water management, this annual report includes an overview of our staff’s involvement in the American eel restoration effort, our commitment to providing technical assistance to municipal water suppliers, a focus on ensuring trout are returning to a creek where their habitat had been lost, and examples of our pursuit of innovative consumptive use mitigation initiatives in the Basin.

I am proud to share these examples of the Commission’s 2017 accomplishments and welcome your input on future Commission direction and efforts.

Click Here for a copy of the full report.

For more information on programs, training opportunities and upcoming events, visit the Susquehanna River Basin Commission website.  Follow SRBC on Twitter, visit them on YouTube.

[Posted: March 23, 2018]

3/26/2018