This June, DRBC staff participated in several outreach events throughout the Delaware River Basin. Staff enjoy engaging with our publics and stakeholders, educating about clean water and how we work to manage, protect and improve the Basin's shared water resources.

Connecting with folks throughout the Basin is important, not just to inform about what we do, but to talk about what they too can do to help keep our waters healthy and sustainable.

DRBC staff participate in the DRBA's World Environment Day Celebration. Photo by the DRBC.

On June 1, staff participated in the Delaware River and Bay Authority's (DRBA) 2nd Annual World Environment Day celebration, held at Veterans Memorial Park in New Castle, Del.

  • Learn more about DRBA World Environment Day Celebration

Since 1973, World Environment Day has been held on June 5. This year's theme was #BeatPlasticPollution, highlighting the urgency to transition to a circular economy and take action to tackle plastic pollution.

  • Learn more about World Environment Day

At the DRBA event, ~100 entities representing government, environmental groups and companies exhibited, teaching about watersheds, green energy, recycling, air quality, climate change and so much more.

The DRBC table offered plenty of information on Commission programs, from water quality protection to water supply & conservation, as well as fun things like educational bookmarks and puzzles.

Staff who attended had a great time meeting people from the local community and talking about our work to manage, protect and improve the water resources of the Delaware River Basin. Located at the Basin's southern edge, Delaware knows all too well that what happens upstream affects those downstream.

DRBC staff at the Trenton Youth Fishing Derby. Photo by the DRBC.

Another successful Trenton Youth Fishing Derby was held earlier this month at Stacy Pond along the banks of the Delaware River!

Partnering together, the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection and the City of Trenton Department of Recreation, Culture and Natural Resources hold this annual event for local youth in grades 2-8. Free to participants and their families, the derby features education stations and a 1-hour period where the children fish for multiple prizes, such as first fish caught, most fish caught, largest and smallest fish and "strangest" find.

The DRBC was proud to again participate in this great event that gives Trenton's youth an opportunity to get outdoors and learn to fish in their local community. For our education station, staff collected macroinvertebrates (aquatic bugs and crayfish) and a few fish from the Delaware River and a nearby tributary and displayed them in trays and tanks of water. This gave kids and their families a closeup look at some of the different aquatic life that is in our waterways and provided a lesson on water quality. Certain critters need to live in very clean water, and others can tolerate water that is a little polluted. Finding a good variety of pollution-sensitive species, which we did, indicates a healthy waterbody. 

The event was catch and release; all equipment was provided for the students, and volunteers were on hand to help the kids learn how to fish and identify different species. 

DRBC staff looks on as a fishing derby participant checks out our trays of aquatic critters. Photo by the DRBC.	This derby participant caught a 19" catfish! Photo by the DRBC.	N.J. Fish & Wildlife bring large fish from a local hatchery for folks to check out and touch. Photo by the DRBC.
DRBC staff looks on as fishing derby participants check out our trays of aquatic critters. Photo by the DRBC.	Kids fishing Stacy Pond in Trenton, N.J. Photo by the DRBC	The Trenton Youth Fishing Derby is geared not just for kids, but for families. Photo by the DRBC.

DRBC staff at the Juneteenth Celebration in Mercer County Park. Photo by the DRBC.

On June 16 and 17, 2023, DRBC staff was honored to attend Juneteenth celebrations hosted by the African American Cultural Collaborative of Mercer County (AACCofMC), N.J. Legislative District 15 (Senator Shirley Turner, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds Jackson and Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli) and Outdoor Equity Alliance.

The weekend began with a Juneteenth Kickoff event at the Trenton City Hall Atrium. Among the lineup of inspiring speakers included U.S. Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson (NJ-15), Mayor of Trenton Reed Gusciora and members of the Trenton Board of Education. Each spoke about their unique perspective on the observance of the Juneteenth holiday and the important work of community and elected leaders in advancing racial equity in the region's schools, public spaces and natural environment. The theme of the evening was an empowered one, with a sobering acknowledgment of the extensive work that is yet to be done in achieving true racial justice for future generations.

The festivities continued into Saturday with the Juneteenth Finale Celebration held at the Mercer County Park Festival Grounds. Numerous speakers and representatives from organizations such as the Trenton NAACP and the AACCofMC took to the stage to welcome attendees, honor the ancestors of enslaved African Americans and formally kick off the event. Live music throughout the day represented a variety of genres and cultures.

For DRBC staff, the event was an opportunity to engage with members of the public not just on what we do, but also about what was of interest and concern to them regarding water resources. In conversations with event attendees, there was particular interest in protecting water quality and recreational engagement with the river, such as fishing for shad. Fishing holds important cultural significance for communities linked to the Delaware River waterfront, and the City of Trenton is no exception.

Our staff extends a special thanks to Latarsha Burke of the Collaborative, who played an extraordinary role in leading the charge to bring community leaders, businesses and government officials together in observance of this very important federal holiday. Events like the Juneteenth celebrations reaffirm the power of community and the need to celebrate, uplift and support the important work of local groups and stakeholders. This is the second year that the DRBC was an event sponsor, and staff was proud to participate.

DRBC's Beth Brown (L) and U.S. Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12). Photo by the DRBC.	The Honorable Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) addresses the crowd at the Juneteenth kickoff celebration on June 16. Photo by the DRBC.	N.J. Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (NJ-15) gives remarks at the Juneteenth kickoff event. Photo by the DRBC.
From L: DRBC's Beth Brown, Avery Lentini and Trenton City Councilwoman Jasi Edwards. Photo by the DRBC.	The DRBC brought its ever-popular baggo boards to the Juneteenth Celebration. Photo by the DRBC.	Staff enjoyed engaging with attendees, talking about their connections to the Delaware River. Photo by the DRBC.