Over the past few months, DRBC staff had the opportunity to share their expertise with several Basin stakeholder groups that included students, non-profits and water resource management professionals.

The presentations given highlighted various Commission programs and ongoing studies, as well as provided information on how we all can help keep our waters clean and flowing today, tomorrow and in the future.

Outreach and education are important strategic goals of DRBC. Whether sharing information about the Basin and Commission programs at conferences, community events, in the classroom, online or otherwise with partners and peers, staff recognizes that connecting with our publics and stakeholders is vital to help share information about what we do and why it is important.

Interested in having DRBC staff present? Please contact us to learn more!

Connecting with Non-Profits

In January, DRBC's Director of External Affairs and Communications Beth Brown gave a virtual talk to members of the Delaware River Greenway Partnership.

This talk was part of their Delaware River Heritage Lecture Series.

During the presentation, Brown highlighted the DRBC's work managing and improving our shared water resources today, the state of our basin and the many stakeholder groups and partners who support its continued sustainability now and for future generations.

Learn more and view the video

Click here to view the presentation (pdf)

Connecting with Students

In March, DRBC's Director of External Affairs and Communications Beth Brown and Communications Specialist Kate Schmidt gave a virtual talk to students at The College of New Jersey.

The students were part of an Environmental Biology class for non-majors.

The presentation introduced the students to the Delaware River Basin, the river and the DRBC. The Commission's main programs were discussed, as well as the DRBC's outreach program Our Shared Waters.

At the conclusion of the talk, the students had a greater appreciation for what we do and a better understanding about the roles we all play in managing, protecting and improving our shared water resources.

Click here to view the presentation (pdf)

Staff also gave presentations in March at two career-focused events. DRBC's Schmidt and Anthony Preucil (PSU alum) spoke with Penn State Meteorology students, and DRBC's Michael Thompson, P.E., spoke on a career panel at his alma matter, Lafayette College. In April, DRBC's John Yagecic, P.E., and Elaine Panuccio (Rider alum) presented about the Commission to an Introduction to Sustainability class at Rider University.

Connecting with Stakeholders

Also in March, DRBC's Executive Director Steve Tambini, P.E., gave presentations to two stakeholder groups.

As part of Water Week, Tambini presented about the Delaware River Basin as a case study for drought resilience. This presentation was part of an event hosted by The Water Center at the University of Pennsylvania and the NYC Department of Environmental Protection.

The DRBC takes the lead on the drought operating program regulating river flows and reservoir releases. The DRBC's drought operating plans are implemented either basinwide or for the lower basin, based on storage available in several reservoirs. The DRBC's main objectives for drought management include preserving reservoir storage and managing the salt front. The DRBC's plans complement state drought management programs.

Click here to view the presentation (pdf)

On March 22, the DRBC hosted the New Jersey Section of the American Water Resources Association (NJ-AWRA)'s Annual Water Leadership Forum at its offices.

In addition to being a forum for NJ-AWRA members and past leadership to discuss the organization's activities, the Forum also featured a presentation by DRBC's Tambini on the Commission's ongoing effort to improve dissolved oxygen and aquatic life uses in the Delaware River Estuary.

This effort included five years of intensive study involving scientific and technical expertise across multiple disciplines. The purpose was to determine the attainability of improved dissolved oxygen levels in the Delaware River Estuary that will allow for the maintenance and propagation of fish species, including the endangered Atlantic sturgeon.

Learn more about the Aquatic Life Designated Use Study

Click here to view the presentation (pdf)

The NJ-AWRA has posted the video of Tambini's presentation: