From L to R: DRBC Federal alternate Commissioner Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Beeman, Pa. alternate Commissioner Bevin Buchheister, Del. alternate Commissioner Stephen Williams, N.Y. alternate Commissioner Ken Kosinski and DRBC Executive Director Steve Tambini. Photo by the DRBC.

Did You Know? Narrowsburg, N.Y., in the Town of Tusten, is not only home to the narrowest portion of the Delaware River - just upstream of the bridge - but it is also home to the Big Eddy, the deepest part of the Delaware River reaching 113 feet below the surface.

  • Check out this new map (pdf) of the "Big Eddy Narrows" by Lisa Glover and read her blog about its creation.

On June 5, 2024, the Delaware River Basin Commission, community organizations, government partners, invited guests and the public gathered at the Tusten Theatre in Narrowsburg to "go deep" for the DRBC's second-quarter business meeting and wraparound programming celebrating the nature and communities of the Upper Delaware in New York.

  • View information about the DRBC's June 5 Business Meeting

Before diving into its regular business, the DRBC's June 5 Business Meeting featured in-person remarks from Upper Delaware Council (UDC) Executive Director Laurie Ramie and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar, as well as video remarks from U.S. Representative Marc Molinaro (NY-19). Each welcomed folks to the meeting and discussed why the Upper Delaware region is unique and important to preserve and protect.

During his Executive Director's report, Steve Tambini welcomed up representatives from the three food pantry organizations that were the recipients of donations collected through the DRBC's Food Drive, thanking them for their efforts in their respective communities (see below for more on the food drive).

  • Narrowsburg Ecumenical Food Pantry: Elsa Grosser and Jennifer Maurizzio

  • Sullivan County Federation for the Homeless: Kathy Kreiter 

  • Wayne County Food Pantry Program: Kim McGinnis and Clarissa Wimmers

At the conclusion of the business meeting, a period of open public comment followed, allowing members of the community to address the Commissioners directly about issues important to them regarding water resources.

Afterward, the public was invited to stay at the theatre for a relaxed afternoon screening of Our Shared Waters: A Flight Along the Delaware and panel discussion about the Upper Delaware, moderated by Meg McGuire, Delaware Currents.

Panelists were Kerry Engelhardt, Resources & Land Use Specialist, Upper Delaware Council, Dan Corrigan, Owner, Northeast Wilderness Experience (NEWE) & Sawmill Cycles & Brent Gotsch, Technical Advisor, New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP). Each shared success stories and management challenges for the Upper Delaware River and discussed the opportunities available for businesses, governments, nonprofits and individuals to support its continued sustainability now and for future generations.

If one pervading message was apparent throughout our time in Narrowsburg, it was the power of partnership. When folks work together, be it through government, local groups or non-profit organizations, great things can be done for our communities and our environment.

The DRBC would like to express our gratitude to the Narrowsburg Community, the Upper Delaware Council and communities, the National Park Service and specifically to the staff of the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance for hosting this meeting.

Upper Delaware Council Executive Director Laurie Ramie (at podium) welcomes the DRBC and the public to Narrowsburg & the Tusten Theatre. Photo by the DRBC.	New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar (at podium) provides remarks to the audience. Photo by the DRBC.	U.S. Representative Marc Molinaro (NY-19) was unable to attend in person and provided video remarks (pictured on the large screen), which were shown to the audience. Photo by the DRBC.
DRBC staff stands surrounded by donations collected as part of the DRBC's distributed Food Drive. Photo by the DRBC.	DRBC staff hold representative boxes of donated items to give to the representatives of three local food pantries. Photo by the DRBC.	From L to R: DRBC's Elizabeth Brown, NYCDEP's Brent Gotsch, NEWE's Dan Corrigan, UDC's Kerry Engelhardt & Delaware Current's Meg McGuire sit at a table for the panel discussion. Photo by the DRBC.
DRBC Commissioners and staff grab a photo on the observation deck in town along the Delaware River. Photo by the DRBC.	DRBC Commissioners and staff got an introduction to fly fishing from Sweetwater Guide Service's Evan Padua. Photo by the DRBC.	Folks also got to hear from NPS Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River Superintendent Lindsay Kurnath about how the Park Service works to protect the river & its communities. Photo by the DRBC.

In addition to programming for our partners and the public, the DRBC also wanted to do something to give back to the local community. We know that food insecurity is a pressing challenge in many of the Upper Delaware River Basin's communities, so we chose to host a distributed food drive to support local partners.

  • View News Release (issued May 13, 2024)

Donations were collected at 22 different locations in the region, and at the DRBC's office in West Trenton, N.J., leading up to the June 5 business meeting. Representatives from the recipient food pantries attended the business meeting to pick up the donations and provide remarks about their organizations and the important work that they do.

Food Drive Recipients

  • Narrowsburg Ecumenical Food Pantry

  • Sullivan County Federation for the Homeless

  • Wayne County Food Pantry Program

THANK YOU to all our local partners who hosted a food donation box!

  • Delaware Valey Arts Alliance, 37 Main St, Narrowsburg, NY 12764

  • Upper Delaware Council, 211 Bridge St, Narrowsburg, NY 12764

  • Narrowsburg Union, 7 Erie Ave, Narrowsburg, NY 12764

  • Narrowsburg Fine Wine and Spirits, 44 Main St, Narrowsburg, NY 12764

  • Narrowsburg Proper to Go, 119 Kirk Rd, Narrowsburg, NY

  • Hotel Darby, 9 Manor Drive, Beach Lake, PA 18405

  • Wayne County Library, 1406 N Main Street, Honesdale, PA 18431

  • Sawmill Cycles and Northeast Wilderness Experience, 833 Main St, Honesdale, PA 18431

  • Delaware Highlands Conservancy, 571 Perkins Pond Rd, Beach Lake, PA 18405

  • Pete's Market, 120 Kirks Rd, Narrowsburg, NY 12764   

  • Western Sullivan Branch Public Library - Tusten-Cochecton Branch, 198 Bridge St, Narrowsburg, NY 12764

  • Town of Hancock, 661 W Main Street, Hancock, NY, 13783

  • Old Bat Factory, 593 West Main Street, Hancock, NY, 13783

  • Louise Adelia Read Memorial Library, 104 Read St, Hancock, NY 13783

  • All Sorts, 169 E Front St, Hancock, NY 13783

  • Town of Delaware, 104 Lower Main St, Hortonville, NY 12745

  • Town of Highland, 4 Proctor Rd, Eldred, NY 12732

  • Town of Deer Park, 420 US-209, Huguenot, NY 12746 

  • Callicoon Caffe, 23A Dorrer Dr, Callicoon, NY 12723

  • Callicoon Brewing Company, 15 Upper Main Street, Callicoon, NY 12723

  • Tusten Cup, 8 Main St, Narrowsburg, NY 12764

  • Barryville Farmers Market, 3405 NY-97, Barryville, NY 12719

  • Delaware River Basin Commission, 25 Cosey Rd., West Trenton, NJ 08628