Delaware • New Jersey • Pennsylvania
New York • United States of America
- The Salt Front: Current Location
- Learn More about the Salt Front
- Animated Graphics: See the Salt Front Move
The below graphic shows the current location of the salt front in relation to several other sites along the river. Estimates of the salt front are based on provisional data and subject to change if better data becomes available.
(RM= river mile)
Please note that the Reedy Island gage is not operational. During this time, the calculation of the salt front is not possible.
What is the Salt Front?
One important metric for understanding salinity concentrations in the Delaware Estuary (the tidal Delaware River & Bay) is the seven-day average location of the salt front, the 250 mg/L chloride concentration based on drinking water quality standards. Chloride concentrations indicate the degree to which ocean derived saltwater has moved into the upper portion of the estuary; freshwater flowing downstream from the non-tidal Delaware River helps repel, or flush back, the salt-laced water. While you cannot see the salt front, its location fluctuates in response to changing freshwater inflows, which either dilute or concentrate chlorides in the river.
DRBC has adopted criteria and monitors chlorides to ensure water quality in the upper estuary remains suitable as a source of drinking water and protective of aquatic life. Additionally, the location of the salt front is tracked by the Commission as part of its flow and drought management program, which focuses on controlling the upstream migration of salty water from the Delaware Bay during low-flow conditions. As salt-laced water moves upriver, it increases corrosion control costs for surface water users, particularly industry, and can raise the treatment costs for public water suppliers. The salt front is not tracked below RM 54.
A minimum flow objective at Trenton, N.J. has been established by the DRBC to ensure enough freshwater is flowing downstream to keep the salt front from advancing too far upstream. This flow objective is met by either natural flow or by releases from upstream reservoirs during dry conditions. DRBC has the primary responsibility to manage the salt front and meet the Trenton flow objective; this is accomplished through directed releases from water that is stored in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Blue Marsh and Beltzville reservoirs, located in Pennsylvania along the Schuylkill River in Berks County and the Lehigh River in Carbon County, respectively. While DRBC does not own these reservoirs, the Commission owns storage in them for flow management purposes. Three additional reservoirs, Pepacton, Neversink and Cannonsville, which are owned by New York City and located in the Delaware River's headwaters in the Catskill Mountains in New York State, also have storage that can be used to meet the Trenton flow objective.
Additional Resources
- Historical Salt Front Data (Updated Monthly)
- Hydrologic Conditions Dashboard for the DRB (Updated Daily)
- View Map of Farthest Recorded Upstream Location of Salt Front: Nov. 1964 (pdf)
- River Mileage System
- Potential Impacts of Sea Level Rise on Salinity in the Delaware Estuary (presentation given to the DRBC Advisory Committee on Climate Change, October 2022; pdf)
- A Fishable, Swimmable (and Drinkable) Delaware River Estuary (presentation given at the Delaware River Watershed Forum, Sept. 2020; pdf)
- History of the Salt Front (presentation given at the Delaware River Watershed Forum, Oct. 2019; pdf)
These graphics can also be viewed on our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/DelRivBasinComm/videos
1960s Drought
The drought of the 1960s is still considered the Basin's drought of record. DRBC was newly formed in 1961, and its experience managing the Basin's water resources during this drought helped form its flow management programs that are used today.
This animated graphic shows the movement of the salt front in the Delaware River Estuary during the months of July 1964 through January 1965. The Delaware River Basin was extremely dry during these months, allowing the salt front to travel upstream to river mile 102, just 8 miles south of Philadelphia's drinking water intakes on the Delaware River. River mile 102 was the highest recorded location of the salt front.
This animated graphic shows the movement of the salt front in the Delaware River Estuary during the months of July through November 1965. The Delaware River Basin was dry during these months, allowing the salt front to travel upstream to approx. river mile 95, just a few miles north of the Schuylkill River's confluence with the Delaware River.
2002 Drought
This animated graphic shows the movement of the salt front in the Delaware River Estuary during the months of July through November 2002. The Delaware River Basin was dry during these months, allowing the salt front to advance upstream to river mile 89 near the Philadelphia International Airport.
2017: Normal Hydrologic Conditions
This animated graphic shows the movement of the salt front in the Delaware River Estuary during the months of July through November 2017. The Delaware River Basin experienced normal hydrologic conditions during these months; the salt front never reaches the Commodore Barry Bridge, staying mostly within its median range.