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Building Watershed Resiliency in the Upper Delaware River Basin
Stephanie P. Dalke
June 7, 2017
Pinchot Institute for Conservation
“He was more than a forester, he was the father of American conservation. . . .It is far
more fitting and proper, rather than merely honor what he [Gifford Pinchot] did, to
dedicate this Institute to active work today. . .because we are reaching the limits of
our fundamental needs of water to drink, of fresh air to breathe, of open space to
enjoy, of abundant sources of energy to make life easier.” – John F. Kennedy, 1963
• Dedicated in 1963 at Grey Towers National Historic Site, Milford, PA
• Forges science-based & collaborative solutions to natural resource problems
• Serving the greatest good of the greatest number in the long run
• Non-profit and non-partisan conservation thought, policy, & action
Building Consensus for SustainabilityCatskill Forest AssociationDelaware Highlands ConservancyDelaware River Basin CommissionEnvironmental Protection AgencyLeague of Women Voters, PennsylvaniaMonroe County Conservation DistrictNational Audubon SocietyNational Fish and Wildlife FoundationNational Parks Conservation AssociationNational Park Service, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation
AreaNational Park Service, Rivers and Trails Conservation AssistanceNational Park Service, Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational
RiverNatural Lands TrustNatural Resources Conservation ServiceNew Jersey Forest ServiceNew Jersey Water Supply AuthorityNew York Department of Environmental ConservationOrange County, NY Department of PlanningPennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural ResourcesPennsylvania Environmental CouncilPike County Conservation DistrictPike County, PA Office of Community PlanningPinchot Institute for ConservationPocono Environmental Education CenterPocono Resource Conservation and Development Council
Sullivan County, NY Division of Planning and Environmental Management
Sussex County Soil Conservation DistrictSussex County, NJ Department of GIS ManagementSussex County, NJ Planning DivisionThe Nature Conservancy, National HeadquartersThe Nature Conservancy, New JerseyThe Nature Conservancy, PennsylvaniaUpper Delaware CouncilUpper Delaware River RoundtableUS Forest Service, Grey Towers National Historic SiteUS Forest Service, State and Private ForestryWayne Conservation District
Common Waters Partnership A regional partnership of public and non-profit organizations and agencies focused on supporting the development of sustainable communities and working landscapes in the Delaware River watershed upstream of the Delaware Water Gap.
Upper Basin (~4,500 sq mi)
• PA (Monroe, Pike, & Wayne)
• NY (Delaware, Orange, & Sullivan)
• NJ (Sussex & Warren)
Geographic Focus
Climate Adaptation
• Our plan: translate climate change information into local actions
– Agencies, natural resource managers, NGOs
– Local governments
– Landowners
Source: Nalat Phanit
Climate Adaptation - Takeaways
• Climate change impacts on local water resources & communities
• Strategies for reducing climate-related risks
– Local examples
• Resources and tools
What do you need?
• Existing threats
• Climate-related risks
• Strategies & action plan
• Build support & implement
A Plan for our Region
www.pinchot.org/adapt
• Predominantly rural
• Approx. 75% forested on average
• Overall excellent water quality
• Water supply for some 16 million
• Existing stressors
Healthy Forests = Clean Water
Source: NPS DWGNRA
Land Cover 2010 %
Agricultural 9.69%
Barren 0.10%
Coniferous Forest 0.10%
Deciduous Forest 71.33%
Developed 7.17%
Grassland 0.60%
Mixed Forest 3.49%
Open Water 2.46%
Riparian 3.10%
Wetland 1.97%
Current Conditions & Trends
Forests = insurance policy!
Observed Regional Climate Trends:Increasing average temperatures and precipitation across the region
• Spring has advanced by approx. 4 days
• Loss of snow pack / warmer winters
• Dates of river and lake ice melt have advanced by 1-2 weeks
• Less winter precipitation as snow & more as rain
• Earlier peak stream flows
Source: NOAA
Current Conditions & Trends
• Extreme storms are responsible for a larger percentage of annual precipitation
• Longer intervening dry spells
1948-2011Source: http://www.environmentamerica.org/reports/ame/when-it-rains-it-pours
Observed Regional Climate Trends:Increasing average temperatures and precipitation across the region
Current Conditions & Trends
• Extreme downpours happening more frequently
• Storms are getting bigger
Source: http://www.environmentamerica.org/reports/ame/when-it-rains-it-pours
Observed Regional Climate Trends:Increasing average temperatures and precipitation across the region
***Forest roads & trails, stream crossings
Current Conditions & Trends
• Stormwater runoff, nutrient & sediment loads from extreme precipitation events
• Streambank erosion, changes in channel morphology, habitat degradation
Source: Pike Co. Conservation District
Source: Pike Co. Conservation DistrictSource: Pike Co. Office of Community Planning
Climate Risks to Water Resources
• Seasonal drought
• Accelerated algae growth
• Increased evaporation from reservoirs
• Increased water uptake by trees & vegetation
• Sea level rise and salt intrusion downriver **
• More competition for less water
Source: NY DEC
Climate Risks to Water Resources
• Stream flow fluctuations
• Thermal stress to fish
• Declines in cold water fish and other sensitive species
Looking Ahead: Potential Loss of Stream Habitat for Trout & Salmon due
to Climate Change (2050-2100)
Source: EPA
Climate Risks to Water Resources
• Floodplain development
• Floodplain maps*
• Inadequate stormwater management
• Aging infrastructure
Source: USACE Livingston Manner, NY Interim Feasibility Report
Source: WBRE TVSource: Pike Co. Office of Community Planning
Existing Non-Climate Water Stressors
Existing Non-Climate Water Stressors
http://ashokanstreams.org/our-areas-of-focus/floodplain-management/
• Floodplains– Disconnected
– Altered flow regimes*
– Dysfunctional
– We’re missing out on the benefits they can provide
Existing Non-Climate Water Stressors
• National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)– Enables development where it shouldn’t happen
– Doesn’t reflect true cost
– False sense of security
– Example - Smarter Safer Coalition pressing for reforms
Existing Non-Climate Water Stressors
• Flood losses, property damages
• Municipal budget impacts
• Infrastructure damages
– High hazard dams
Economic Implications
Source: USACE
Source: WBRE TV
• Flow and water quality related impacts on tourism and recreation
• Weather-related power disruptions
• Small Business Losses (Reynolds, 2013)
Source: FUDR
Source: KittatinnyCanoes
Source: Pike Co. Office of Community Planning
Economic Implications
• Promote dialogue and information exchange about climate risks
• Maintain forest cover through land use & taxation policies that support forest conservation
• Provide landowner $$ and technical support to promote forest health
• Manage deer & invasives through cooperative efforts
• Implement strategic voluntary easement/land acquisition programs
Strategies for ReducingForest & Water Climate Risks
Source: Dave Soete
• Use watersheds as unit for planning
• Update floodplain management, riparian buffer and stormwater management standards*
• Improve infrastructure to accommodate changing precipitation patterns*
• Update underlying precipitation & flood frequency data
Source: DRBC
Strategies for ReducingForest & Water Climate Risks
• Landscape- or watershed-scale planning & implementation
– Best opportunities for multi-benefit projects & utilization of green infrastructure
– More challenging to coordinate
– Stream Corridor Management Plans (SCMP)
– River Management Plans
• Land use decisions matter
Strategies for ReducingForest & Water Climate Risks
• Landscape- or watershed-scale planning & implementation
• Land use decisions matter
Help is available!!
Strategies for ReducingForest & Water Climate Risks
• EPA’s Smart Growth program
January 2017 guide
Strategies for ReducingForest & Water Climate Risks
• Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM)
– Tons of resources and information
– www.floods.org
– National Flood Mitigation & FloodProofing Workshop in August in Iselin, NJ
Strategies for ReducingForest & Water Climate Risks
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)– Hazard & Flood Mitigation Programs
– *Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program*
– Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning (Risk MAP) -- provides communities with flood information and tools they can use to enhance their mitigation plans and take action to better protect their citizens.
– NFIP Community Rating System
– Agency-wide directive to integrate climate change (~2012)
– www.fema.gov/climate-change
Strategies for ReducingForest & Water Climate Risks
• DRBC
– Interstate Flood Mitigation Task Force (after ‘04, ‘05, ‘06)
– Flood Advisory Committee – recommendations (2009)• “The Committee determined that minimum floodplain management
regulations, administered by FEMA through the National Flood Insurance Program, do not adequately identify risk or prevent harm.”
– Meets 3-4 times/year
– All meeting summaries, presentations posted online:• http://www.nj.gov/drbc/about/advisory/FAC_index.html
• FEMA often presents there
Strategies for ReducingForest & Water Climate Risks
• Identify mutually beneficial, collaborative projects
• Focus on “no regrets” actions
Strategies for ReducingForest & Water Climate Risks
• Riparian buffers
• Shade
• Canopy closure
• Insects
• Streambank integrity
• Woody debris*
Strategies for ReducingForest & Water Climate Risks
• Demonstration project on Sands Creek in Delaware County, NY
• Workshops in 2017
Strategies for ReducingForest & Water Climate Risks
• Demonstration project on Sands Creek in Delaware County, NY
• Workshops in 2017
Strategies for ReducingForest & Water Climate Risks
Sands Creek improvements:Floodplain reconnection, woody debris / roughening
• Neversink River (NY) floodplain reconnection, reforestation, & modeling (TNC)
Strategies for ReducingForest & Water Climate Risks
Prioritization Tools• Riparian restoration• Stream crossings
Strategies for ReducingForest & Water Climate Risks
Strategies for ReducingForest & Water Climate Risks
“As the climate changes, well‐designed stream crossings will become even more important.”
Resources• The Nature Conservancy• Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture
Strategies for ReducingForest & Water Climate Risks
Resources• Trout Unlimited• National Wildlife Federation• American Rivers• USDA Forest Service
Strategies for ReducingForest & Water Climate Risks
Cost-Benefit Analyses
Strategies for ReducingForest & Water Climate Risks
Federal Highway Authority – guidance and resources
Strategies for ReducingForest & Water Climate Risks
Many other tools• Climate Resilience Toolkit
• https://toolkit.climate.gov/
• American Rivers• Floodplain restoration
framework
Source: NPS UDSRR
Contact:Stephanie P. DalkePinchot Institute for [email protected](202) 797-6530
Adaptation Plan www.pinchot.org/adapt
Resilience Guidewww.pinchot.org/resilience