On December 5, the Delaware River Basin Commission took key steps to protect water users throughout the Delaware River Basin in the face of persistent dry conditions.

The Commission passed resolutions declaring a “water supply emergency” and issuing two special permits to coordinate the operation of regional reservoirs, out-of-Basin water diversions and Delaware River flow objectives should “Basinwide drought” conditions be reached.

“Basinwide drought” conditions are defined by available water storage in three New York City reservoirs - Cannonsville, Pepacton and Neversink - located in the Delaware River’s headwaters in New York.

Despite recent precipitation, the potential to reach Basinwide drought operating conditions remains.

This is the result of a significant, months-long rainfall deficit experienced throughout the Basin, during which the DRBC continues to actively manage regional water resources to ensure adequate flows in the main stem Delaware River. 

“Over 14 million people rely on the shared waters of the Delaware River Basin,” said DRBC Executive Director Kristen Bowman Kavanagh. “During times of drought, the DRBC’s primary responsibility is to conserve and protect water supplies.”

The DRBC’s drought management objectives complement the Basin states’ drought response efforts by aiming to conserve regional reservoir storage for purposes of water supply and flow augmentation in the Delaware River to control salinity in the estuary.

“The DRBC is well-positioned to manage water supplies during drought conditions by coordinating water releases from federal, state, municipal, and hydropower reservoirs in three states, providing direct benefits to all Delaware River Basin Commission members and communities,” said New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar. “The special permits approved today will set in motion management actions that will maintain access to clean water for the entire Basin, should conditions worsen.”

Special Permits

The first special permit issued under Section 10.4 of the Delaware River Basin Compact provides for temporary and aligned management in the event that a Basinwide drought condition is reached in the coming weeks.

Under the terms of this special permit--

-- The Commission’s “drought curves” – or transition between “normal,” “drought watch,” “drought warning” and “drought emergency” operations – will be based on the combined storage in the three New York City Reservoirs as agreed upon in the latest adaptive management program of the parties to the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court Decree. As of this morning, storage was 25.9 billion gallons above drought watch.

-- Out-of-Basin diversions to New York City and portions of New Jersey, first established by the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court Decree, will be adjusted in accordance with the drought operation stages defined by the special permit.

-- The Delaware River flow objectives at Montague, N.J. (supported by releases from the New York City Delaware River Basin Reservoirs and first established by the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court Decree) and Trenton, N.J. (supported by releases from Beltzville and Blue Marsh reservoirs located in Pa. and established by DRBC’s Delaware River Basin Water Code) will be reduced in accordance with the drought operation stages defined by the special permit.

In accordance with the Compact, the terms of this special permit have been unanimously approved by the parties to the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court Decree: Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York State and New York City.

A second special permit issued today similarly aligns the Commission’s utilization of Lake Wallenpaupack and the Mongaup system hydropower reservoirs with the drought curves described above.

Water released from Lake Wallenpaupack and the Mongaup system can assist, under certain conditions, in meeting the main stem flow objectives at Montague and Trenton.

Salt Front

The DRBC actively manages river flow to control the location of the salt front in the Delaware River Estuary.

As of this morning, the salt front is located at river mile 85.4, which is just south of the Philadelphia Airport; this is roughly 16.4 miles upstream of its normal location for this time of year, but still 24.6 miles downstream from key drinking water intakes.

DRBC will continue to direct releases from upstream reservoirs to repel the salt front in accordance with the measures approved today, protecting drinking water and industrial intakes in the estuary.

Basin-Wide Protections

The DRBC also has responsibility to protect water availability throughout the Delaware River Basin.

Under the terms of today’s declared water supply emergency, after consultation with the host state, the DRBC’s executive director may take action to address interference by otherwise-unregulated groundwater withdrawals if the interference is impairing groundwater sources vital to human health or sanitation.

The above actions were taken after DRBC gathered public input at a special public hearing on Nov. 19 on persistent dry conditions throughout the Basin and how to address them.

The declaration of this water supply emergency reflects continued stressed conditions throughout the Basin and is distinct from a declaration of drought emergency by the DRBC or any other jurisdiction.

The below-normal precipitation totals throughout most of the Delaware River Basin, and resulting effects on streamflows, groundwater levels, reservoir storage, and soil moisture, have prompted New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and New York to declare drought watches or warnings in 40 of the 42 counties that lie entirely or partially in the Basin.

Water Use Cooperation

DRBC urges all water users to fully cooperate with Basin state water use restrictions and conservation measures and encourages all Basin water users to maximize water efficiency wherever possible.

Visit DRBC’s Drought Information webpage for more on drought management.

NewsClips:

-- Courier Times: With The Drought, Will Washington Cross The Delaware This Year?

-- WHYY: Washington Crossing Historic Park Hosts Annual Historic Reenactment

[Posted: December 5, 2024]

12/9/2024