The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary released its “State of the Estuary Report” this week following two years of collaboration among environmental scientists in Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

The purpose of this 36-page assessment is to provide readers with insight into the status and trends of select natural resources in the Delaware Estuary’s watershed, which is home to approximately 6.4 million people.

According to the report, the state of the Delaware Estuary is mixed. Some environmental conditions have seen dramatic improvements during recent decades, while others are becoming increasingly degraded.

“The Delaware Estuary is a place of contrasts, so it’s not surprising to see mixed results,” said Jennifer Adkins, the Partnership’s executive director. “On one hand, the estuary is a center of commerce that has sustained our region since the Industrial Revolution. Yet, on the other hand, we have this incredible wealth of natural resources, not the least of which is drinking water for millions of Americans. Managing it is a delicate balance we and many others are working hard to preserve and perfect.”

To prepare the report, the Partnership worked closely with the Delaware River Basin Commission, state and federal agencies, universities, and its 21-member Science and Technical Advisory Committee to share data and select 26 key “indicators.”

An indicator is a measure used to gauge environmental conditions, examples of which range from land use and wetlands to bald eagles and horseshoe crabs. Each indicator was carefully chosen based on the data available and its ability to help readers understand current conditions and future needs.

“Scientists and managers usually examine specific natural resources, but now we’re learning to look at the whole ecosystem. This helps us understand how its parts interact and why we see ups and downs,” said Dr. Danielle Kreeger, science director at the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary. “This report provided us with an excellent opportunity to do that. It showcases which resources are most in need of attention, and it suggests how we can strengthen future assessments by improving our monitoring capabilities and preparing for new challenges like climate change.”

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary — a National Estuary Program — last issued a “State of the Estuary Report” in 2002. The information in these reports is used by the nonprofit to track the progress it is making toward the implementation of its long-term “Delaware Estuary Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan,” created in 1996.

A copy of the 2008 State of the Estuary Report” is available online or call 800-445-4935.

NewsClip: River report Finds Life and Loss

8/1/2008