Commentary: Delaware River Basin Commission anniversary is a story of our shared waters

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This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC). The long history of the commission has been defined by managing, protecting and improving water resources of the Delaware River Basin to achieve measurable and impactful results.

President John F. Kennedy and the four basin state governors knew the challenging task at hand when they created the DRBC in 1961 with the passage of the Delaware River Basin Compact. President Kennedy believed in its members and their ability to succeed, remarking,  "Today’s formal signing of the Delaware River Basin Compact is a significant event. … We are glad to join with Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania in this bold venture. The task set for the Commission will not be easy to achieve, but we are confident that the cooperation that has brought forth this Compact will endure, and that working together real progress can be made for the people of the Basin."

The DRBC hit the ground running, quickly developing a comprehensive plan and water quality improvement program.

In 1967, still several years before the creation of the U.S. EPA and the passage of the Clean Water Act, the DRBC adopted water quality criteria; in 1968, the DRBC adopted regulations to enforce the criteria. This prompted then-Interior Secretary Stewart Udall to say, "Only the Delaware among the nation’s river basins is moving into high gear in its program to combat water pollution."

To learn more about our rich history, I invite you to check out our 60th anniversary timeline at http://timeline.drbc.gov/.

I also wanted to share this sampling of comments that notable Delawareans have made to capture the history and contributions of this agency over the years:

  • To mark our 60th anniversary, Gov. John Carney wrote, “On behalf of the nearly one million Delawareans who have benefitted from the DRBC’s stewardship, I thank you for providing trusted leadership on the many issues that affect the river basin region. It takes extraordinary dedication to manage the 13,539 square miles of this watershed, but your efforts help support the 600,000 jobs and $22 billion in economic activity that the river basin generates. Our river and bay now support year-round fish and wildlife populations, extensive recreation opportunities, parks and greenways for residents to enjoy.”
  • U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester recognized the contributions of DRBC both past and present, remarking, “For six decades, the commission has carefully balanced the economic and environmental needs of the public, setting a model for the nation and the world on how to manage a vital, common resource.”
  • In 1996, during a speech commemorating the DRBC’s 35th anniversary, Sen. Tom Carper, then commission chair, noted, “The commission, which pioneered the concept of partnerships, has the tools through its organizational structure to oversee a unified approach to the development and control of the river system without regard to political boun­daries.”

Today, the DRBC provides for the water security for over 13 million people in four states by improving and protecting water quality; ensuring water availability for all the diverse water users in the basin; and planning and adapting to ensure resiliency and address the impacts of climate change.

The “bold venture” that Kennedy referenced — this experiment of sharing water resources governance launched 60 years ago, focused on interstate planning, science, engineering and management — has worked. It is based upon the principle that together the four basin states and the federal government can achieve for the basin’s water resources what each cannot achieve individually.

There is still more to do. Legacy pollutants and emerging contaminants continue to threaten water quality, especially in historically overburdened communities in the urban estuary. The climate will continue to change and challenge the water cycle with more frequent and severe floods, droughts and sea level rise. Water equity for the diverse communities that rely on the waters of the basin must be addressed.

As we have in the past, through collaboration, science and a watershed-based approach, we are committed to building upon the great history of the DRBC and will continue to provide significant and measurable solutions to ensure water security for the Delaware River Basin. 

Steve Tambini is executive director of the Delaware River Basin Commission. Learn more about the DRBC at www.drbc.gov.  This was originally published for Our Shared Waters: A Look at the Delaware River Basin.

 

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