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WFMZ-TV 69 News Joins the DRBC Biomonitoring Crew in the Field

One of the key components of DRBC’s water quality management strategy is monitoring, because, quite simply, you can’t manage what you don’t measure. DRBC staff are active throughout the year monitoring the Delaware River, collecting samples and analyzing data for its various water quality programs. 

Last month, staff reached out to WFMZ-TV 69 News to invite them to visit one of our biomonitoring sampling locations in their viewing area in order to learn about the commission and our water quality programs. WFMZ's Bo Koltnow joined the DRBC biomonitoring crew and watched the team in action surveying and sampling the Delaware River just north of Easton, Pa.

View Bo Koltnow's article and video: Delaware River's Health Improving, Scientists Say

DRBC staff work hard to fulfill the commission’s mission of managing and protecting the basin’s water resources. Being able to work with local news stations to help share DRBC’s story with the public is also an important part of that mission. Efforts by commission staff to provide additional learning opportunities are ongoing.    

What is Biomonitoring?

DRBC's Delaware River Biomonitoring Program samples sediment, rocks, algae, aquatic bugs, and water chemistry to provide a complete overview of the diversity and health of the aquatic life community and overall water quality of the 200-mile non-tidal river.

Every two or three years, samples are collected at 25 river sites, targeting the richest habitat areas of riffles, runs, or island margins. The bulk of the biomonitoring program occurs during the months of August and September.

DRBC utilizes this information to implement biocriteria as part of Special Protection Waters regulations for the non-tidal portion of the Delaware River. Data assessed are also included in the Delaware River Water Quality Assessment Report that DRBC develops every other year for the U.S. EPA.

DRBC Water Resources Scientist Elaine Panuccio holds the frame used in macroinvertebrate (aquatic bugs) collection underwater. Finding species of bugs that are sensitive to pollution is a good water quality indicator. Photo by DRBC.DRBC's Elaine Panuccio and DRBC intern Andrew Garcia work together to collect a macroinvertebrate sample in the net, while WFMZ's Bo Koltnow and his cameraman look on. Photo by DRBC.DRBC's Elaine Panuccio and DRBC intern Andrew Garcia work together to collect a macroinvertebrate sample in the net, while WFMZ's Bo Koltnow and his cameraman look on. Photo by DRBC.DRBC's Elaine Panuccio talks with WFMZ's Bo Koltnow about DRBC's Delaware River Biomonitoring Program. Photo by DRBC.The DRBC biomonitoring crew (from L to R: Elaine Panuccio, Water Resource Planner Doug Rowland, and Andrew Garcia) discuss what they will be sampling next, while WFMZ's cameraman looks on. Photo by DRBC.
DRBC's Elaine Panuccio preps the water quality probe for data collection. Photo by DRBC.As part of the biomonitoring program, water chemistry data is also collected to help provide an overall picture of the river's health at each samplng location. Data collected by the water quality probe include temperature, dissolved oxygen, and pH. Photo by DRBC.On first glance, it doesn't look like much is collected, but this plant material and the aquatic bugs hiding in it help tell the story of the river's overall health. Photo by DRBC.DRBC's Andrew Garcia and Doug Rowland prepare a sample to be sent to the lab for analysis. Photo by DRBC.DRBC's boat allows the biomonitoring team to get to sampling locations quickly and easily. Here, DRBC's Andrew Garcia and Elaine Panuccio (driving) do a ride by for the WFMZ camera. Photo by DRBC.