On August 10, the Water Resources Association of the Delaware River Basin announced the winners of the 2023 Water Resources Awards, recognizing leadership, innovation and excellence in the science and management of water resources within the Delaware Basin.

“These awardees provide inspiration, templates for future projects, and a suite of technical tools that can help us build resilience and promote sustainability in the Delaware River Basin and beyond,” said Jennifer Garigliano, WRA Board President.

Awards will be presented at WRA’s 40th Annual Awards Gala on September 21 at the beautiful Fairmount Water Works in Philadelphia.

2023 Awardees are:

-- Samuel S. Baxter Memorial Award: Russell J. Furnari in recognition of his significant contributions advancing sustainability through his expertise, leadership, and remarkable ability to forge partnerships and promote collaborative solutions to challenges in the water and energy sectors in the Delaware River Basin.

-- Dr. Ruth Patrick Excellence in Education Award: The Nurture Nature Center for outstanding leadership in engaging, educating and empowering communities to prepare for and mitigate climate related risks and promote resilience throughout the Delaware River Basin.

-- Parks and Places Award: City of Newark, Delaware – Hillside Park for exemplifying a resilient, community-based approach to overcoming the challenges of water quality and flooding by improving headwater conditions of Silver Brook, a tributary to the upper Christina River.

-- Special Recognition Award: The Academy of Natural Sciences for their continued contributions to the Delaware River Basin with an innovative environmental justice mapping tool developed by scientists from the Academy’s Patrick Center for Environmental Research (PCER) to prioritize green stormwater infrastructure investment within underserved Philadelphia neighborhoods.

-- Government Award: The Philadelphia Water Department in recognition of PWD’s highly innovative and forward-looking Climate Change Adaptation Program providing a roadmap for Philadelphia and others to develop an actionable risk-based approach to planning, design, operations, and management of drinking water, stormwater management, and wastewater treatment.

-- Lifetime Achievement Award: Gary W. Snyder for a career dedicated to improving water resources in the Greater Philadelphia area through technical expertise, leadership, mentoring and an unflagging commitment to finding solutions through collaboration across sectors, municipalities, and technical disciplines.

-- Innovation and Collaboration Award – Government Agency: The City of Camden, New Jersey, Camden County and the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority for their transformational commitment to clean, accessible and sustainable water resources while building an economically thriving and dynamic waterfront and nurturing a spirit of community to address ongoing water quality and water equity challenges.

-- Innovation and Collaboration Award – Research: Dr. Franco Montalto, Director of Drexel University’s Sustainable Water Resource Engineering for dedicated leadership to advance cutting edge science and innovative technologies to protect communities from climate related flood risk and to enable historically disadvantaged communities to proactively partner with Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority to improve their neighborhoods.

-- Business and  Industry Award: Vicinity Energy for designing and implementing an innovative solution for a more sustainable water supply to critical components within the district energy system, providing a continuous, reliable, and low-carbon energy source and playing a significant role in fulfilling the City of Philadelphia’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Visit the Water Resources Association of the Delaware River Basin website for more information on programs, initiatives, upcoming events and how you can get involved.

NewsClips This Week - Watersheds:

-- York Daily Record: PA Farmers ‘Don’t Get Enough Credit’ For Chesapeake Bay Cleanup, Says Longtime York County Farmer

-- Chesapeake Bay Program Blog: Family Farm In Lancaster County Does All It Can To Help Local Streams Recover

-- Bradford Era Editorial: PA Must Help Protect Chesapeake Bay

-- Republican Herald Editorial: Keystone State Needs To Do Its Part To Protect Chesapeake Watershed

-- Philadelphia Water Dept. Blog: Spotlight On Award-Winning West Philly Green Stormwater Project

-- TribLive: Hampton Township Nears Stream Cleanup Goal In Allegheny County

-- Huntingdon Daily News: Trough Creek Watershed Assn. Could Be Reactivated

-- MCall Guest Essay: Saucon Creek Shows Some Surprisingly Good Pollution News For The Lehigh River - By Toby Broun, Allentown Central Catholic High School

-- StateImpactPA: PA Advocacy Group’s Guide Encourages Municipalities To Update Zoning Laws Covering Warehouse, Distribution Centers

-- Grid: In Last Century, PA And NJ Battled New York City To Control Water From Delaware River; With Sea Levels Rising And Droughts Looming, Another Fateful Conflict May Lie Ahead

-- Delaware RiverKeeper Aug. 11 RiverWatch Video Report

Related Articles - Watersheds:

-- Water Resources Assn. Of Delaware River Basin Announces 2023 Award Winners  [PaEN]

-- EPA: Apply Now For $206 Million, 4-Year Funding For Local Water Quality Improvement Projects In Chesapeake Bay Watershed And To Advance Environmental Justice  [PaEN]

-- National Assn. Of Conservation Districts Invites County Conservation Districts To Apply For $90 Million In Grants To Fund Local Climate-Smart Conservation Practices  [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Stream Evaluation Reports For 3 Streams In Monroe/Carbon; Susquehanna; Berks/Lehigh/Montgomery Counties  [PaEN]

-- DEP Extends Water Quality Data Submission Deadline For Brodhead Creek, Monroe County   [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Total Maximum Daily Load Water Quality Plan For Alder Run Headwaters, Erie County  [PaEN]

-- Schuylkill Action Network Oct. 20 Stormwater Operation & Maintenance Workshop, Montgomery County  [PaEN]

-- Penn State City Semester Student Monitors Clean Water Standards In Pittsburgh's Three River  [PaEN]

[Posted: August 11, 2023]

8/14/2023