On April 26, the Delaware River Basin Commission released a review of future water storage options for the Delaware River Basin, Evaluation of Additional Storage in the Delaware River Basin.

The study explores the feasibility of additional freshwater storage to meet future water availability, climate adaptation, drought management and flow management needs in the Delaware River Basin.

The study evaluated a total of 2,513 potential projects, including 22 new reservoirs, 1,041 existing reservoirs, 1,421 quarries and 29 abandoned mines.

The final recommended projects include two existing reservoirs and 12 quarries.

Of the 14 recommended projects,12 are located in Pennsylvania.  [page 79]  Project summaries are included in the study appendices.

“While there is no immediate need for additional water storage, the DRBC sought to create a planning-level inventory of potential options that would be available if the DRBC determines that additional storage is needed in the future,” said Chad Pindar, P.E., DRBC’s Manager of Water Resource Planning.

The study seeks to not only identify, but also evaluate the feasibility of, options that could provide additional freshwater storage across a range of volumes, from 1 billion gallons (BG) to upward of 20 BG.

In the Delaware River Basin, both the flood of record and the drought of record occurred more than 50 years ago, in 1955 and 1962-1967, respectively.

“Future climate change scenarios suggest we need to plan for more variable flows - including more frequent drought conditions - to increase the resilience of the Delaware River Basin’s water resources,” said Kristen Bowman Kavanagh, P.E., the DRBC’s Deputy Executive Director.

DRBC has noted several climate-related impacts in our Basin.  Precipitation is predicted to occur in the form of fewer, but more intense storms, increasing the potential for flooding events. 

Higher temperatures and evaporation may create a greater likelihood for rapid onset drought conditions during periods of low rainfall.  The seasonality of flows may also change, for example, with less snowpack in the winter resulting in lower flows in the spring.

Sea level rise may also require increased releases from reservoir storage to augment freshwater flows in the Delaware River to impede the salt front and protect public water supply intakes. 

Industrial and other water users south of Philadelphia would also be impacted if increased salinity makes river water unsuitable for conventional treatment.

“The DRBC works to ensure water security for over 13 million people in four states,” DRBC Executive Director Steve Tambini said.  “To better manage this shared resource into the future, the DRBC needed to understand baseline options for expanded storage.”

Click Here for a copy of the report.  Click Here to learn more about the study.

For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Delaware River Basin Commission website.  Click Here to sign up for regulator updates.  Follow DRBC on Twitter.  Visit them on YouTube.

Related Articles This Week- Watersheds:

-- Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership Plans To Plant 500,000 More Trees Across PA During 2023  [PaEN]

-- Coldwater Heritage Partnership Awards 11 Grants Totaling $120,000  [PaEN]

-- County Conservation District Week Observed April 23-29  [PaEN]

-- DEP Update On Chesapeake Bay Healthy Waters: New Funding Available; Watershed Forestry Summit; County Updates, More

-- Western PA Conservancy To Hold Public Meetings, Invites Public Suggestions On Future Use, Improvements To Juniata River Watershed  [PaEN]

-- CBF Blog: Student In CBF's Student Leadership Program Worked To Rename Stream After Kitty Payne, An Emancipated Slave Who Lived Near Biglerville, Adams County - By B.J. Small, Chesapeake Bay Foundation  [PaEN]

-- Protecting Clean Water Together Series: Community Solar Saves Water - Keeps it Clean - Saves Money, Too! -  By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association, Monroe County [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Watersheds: How Land Use Impacts Groundwater  [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Awards $6 Million+ In Consumptive Water Use Mitigation Projects  [PaEN]

-- Delaware River Basin Commission Clarifies New Regulations On Oil/Gas Fracking Wastewater Ban Road Spreading, Disposal From Conventional Wells  [PaEN]

-- Delaware River Basin Commission Completes Water Storage Study To Support Resilience Planning; 12 Of 14 Final Projects In PA  [PaEN]

-- Delaware River Basin Commission Hearing May 10 On Water Withdrawal Requests, June 7 Business Meeting  [PaEN]

-- Julia Krall Named PA Executive Director Of Chesapeake Bay Foundation  [PaEN]

[Posted: April 26, 2023]

5/1/2023