On March 20, the Delaware River Basin Commission released a new tool aimed at helping communities throughout our Basin understand the local impacts of extreme precipitation and empowering them to make informed planning and design decisions.

Extreme rainfall events are increasing throughout the Delaware River Basin, research shows. These more extreme events exacerbate existing flooding and challenge stormwater management.

The tool-- Projecting Extreme Precipitation in the Delaware River Basin-- allows users to obtain estimates of future changes in intensity, duration and frequency of extreme rainfall in the Delaware River Basin, thereby informing stormwater management and infrastructure design and increasing climate resilience.

"Sharing data-backed information in a user-friendly tool is critical to helping the many local officials, policymakers and planners in the Basin struggling to understand how to take action in the face of climate change," said Kristen Bowman Kavanagh, DRBC’s Deputy Executive Director and project lead. "This resource gives decisionmakers a key to unlock adaptation possibilities by providing expected climate-induced precipitation changes."

Users can see how storm events may intensify in the future by selecting a location, global emissions scenario, annual exceedance probability and time period of interest.

With the option to view data on a county, local or watershed (HUC 12) level, users can tailor information to best suit their needs.

"Simply relying on historical observations to assess risk is no longer advisable in a changing climate. As communities make generational investments in bridges, culverts and other infrastructure, providing accurate information is critical to considering future flood risk," Arthur T. DeGaetano, Director of the Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell University and a member of DRBC's Advisory Committee on Climate Change, said. The Commission worked with the NRCC to develop the tool.

"Access to trusted information about extreme weather in the Delaware River Basin helps utilities and infrastructure owners like DELCORA understand flood risk and design for resilience," said Charles Hurst, Director of Engineering, Delaware County Regional Water Control Authority (DELCORA).

Visit DRBC’s Projecting Extreme Precipitation in the Delaware River Basin webpage to learn more.

Climate Change Impacts Work

The DRBC is working to advance understanding of climate change impacts to our water resources to ensure an adequate and equitable supply of suitable quality water for Basin water users and the environment.

In 2019, the DRBC established the Advisory Committee on Climate Change to provide the Commission with scientifically based information and recommendations.

The DRBC has also developed a complex computer model to evaluate sea level rise scenarios and plan for systemic impacts within the basin.

In 2021, DRBC held its first Climate Change Forum.

In 2022 and 2024, DRBC worked with the Pa. Emergency Management Agency to advance hazard mitigation and reduce flood losses.

In 2023, the Commission released a report exploring the feasibility of additional freshwater storage to meet future water management and climate adaptation needs.

The DRBC will soon release a first-of-its-kind report evaluating the impacts of sea level rise on salinity intrusion and salinity-sensitive uses in the Delaware River Basin.

This work was funded in part by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund.

The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and its funding sources.

Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government, or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation or its funding sources.

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:

-- Insurance Dept.: Stay Protected With Flood Insurance During Flood Awareness Week  [PaEN]

-- NRCS To Help Property Owners In Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wyoming Counties Damaged By Flooding  [PaEN]

-- Delaware River Basin Commission Releases New Tool To Help Communities Understand Local Impacts Of Extreme Precipitation Events  [PaEN]

-- Groups Send Letter To Congress Seeking Critical Investments In Appalachian Flood Recovery And Resilience Program  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- WNEP: Federal Assistance Officially Denied For Luzerne, Lackawanna County Flooding

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: Cartwright, PEMA Respond To FEMA Denial Of Flood Damage Aid

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: Flood Buyout Demolition Contract For Strip Club Awarded In Plymouth Twp, Luzerne County

[Posted: March 20, 2024]

3/25/2024