Recently, DRBC Senior Aquatic Biologist Robert Limbeck presented at the Mid-Atlantic Conference of the American Water Resources Association (AWRA) on DRBC’s Special Protection Waters (SPW) Program.  

His presentation, entitled Advances in Implementation of Antidegradation Policies and Practices in Delaware River Basin Commission Special Protection Waters (pdf 3 MB), focused on the commission’s recently published assessment of existing water quality in the Lower Delaware River SPW, a 76-mile section of river from Portland, Pa. to Trenton, N.J. The assessment shows that for most water quality parameters at most locations, there were no measurable changes to existing water quality. This is good news, demonstrating that the SPW program is working and plays an important role in managing water quality in the Delaware River Basin. View the assessment report.

The SPW Program is designed to prevent the degradation of the high quality waters of the entire 197-mile non-tidal Delaware River, from Hancock, N.Y. to Trenton, N.J. These regulations establish an anti-degradation policy on one of the longest stretches of any river in the nation.

The conference, which took place at the Chase Center on the Riverfront, Wilmington, Del., featured technical and poster sessions, exhibits, and several field tours highlighting local water resource initiatives. The conference was presented by the Delaware Section-AWRA, in conjunction with the National Capital Region Section, New Jersey State Section, Pennsylvania State Section, and Philadelphia Metropolitan Area Section. Additional information can be found at http://www.mac2016.wildapricot.org/.