What’s “Fair” in the State of the Estuary?

[To see the 2023 State of the Estuary in its entirety, visit www.DelawareDstuary.org/soe23]

Chances are you are one of the more than 13 million people whose water comes from the Delaware River Watershed. About 6 billion gallons of water is used daily in the watershed, which contains a network of rivers, streams and communities which contains a network of rivers, streams, and communities across 42 counties in Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York.

Every time you get a drink of water, fill your pet’s water dish, or wash your dishes, the water flowing out of the tap ultimately comes from the Delaware River or one of the many rivers and streams that feed it.

The Delaware Estuary Program’s 2023 State of the Estuary Report gives an overall “fair” health rating of the Delaware River Watershed, which includes the area defined as the Delaware Estuary.

“The State of the Estuary Report is a snapshot in time and overall assessment of the health of our estuary and targets a broad audience,” said Dorina Frizzera, co-chair of the Delaware Estuary Program’s Science and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC).

The Delaware River and Watershed have maintained a “fair” rating since 2012. But what does “fair” mean?

The “fair” rating is a composite result of ranking various indicators, from water quality to fish and wildlife abundance, to assess the watershed’s overall health. Some factors are getting better or holding steady, while others are getting worse. Put all these things together, and the overall result is “fair.”

Some studies show that oxygen levels in the Delaware River are improving due to stronger water quality protections. Conversely, with increased development and a growing population in the area, we’re losing forests and other natural spaces that will help filter water supplies and mitigate flooding now and in the future. Atlantic sturgeon numbers are rising, but the striped bass population remains a concern.

“A ‘fair’ overall assessment means people should be proud of all the accomplishments made to date, but know that their hard work isn’t over and more still needs to be done,” said STAC co-chair Gregory Lech.

This fair rating is notable in a time of unprecedented and overwhelming forces of environmental change. Despite growing impacts on our natural resources stemming from population growth, development pressure, and climate change, the fair rating reflects significant habitat protection and restoration efforts.

The 2023 State of the Estuary Report gets its information from the 2022 Technical Report for the Delaware Estuary and Basin (TREB), produced every five years. Data in the TREB helps scientists, land and resources managers, and the general public understand how the health of the Delaware Estuary and Basin is faring and where specific trends are headed. Armed with this information, we can collectively understand and plan how best to maintain the watershed’s health and what areas we might need to focus on next.

“The TREB tells the story of where we have come from, where we are today, and where we hope to be tomorrow,” Frizzera said. “The findings contained in the TREB are not only for informational purposes but also intended to inform technical and policy-level decisions.”

The State of the Estuary Report focuses on a subset of 14 of the 60-plus indicators evaluated in the TREB. Each section of the State of the Estuary reviews each subset indicator and provides links for readers to learn further information and what actions they can take to make a difference.

“The Delaware Estuary not only comprises the river, bay, and coastal areas and watersheds of three states, but it also interacts with the larger ocean system,” Frizzera said. “We cannot forget that this is a working estuary; it has many wonderful natural/biological resources; provides drinking water and recreational opportunities; and is the hub of social and economic drivers of the region, but it is also in an urban setting facing many challenges.”

PDE invites you to check out the full version of the State of the Estuary report, recently published on our website, www.delawareestuary.org/SOE23. For more details, the TREB is available at www.delawareestuary.org/data-and-reports/treb/.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP THE ESTUARY?

Want to help the Delaware Estuary but don’t know where to start? There are easy steps you can take to improve the health of our region’s waterways. These steps might seem small, but the cumulative effect could be enormous.

• Put trash in a trash can. Litter on the ground and around storm drains washes into our waterways.

• Pick up your dog’s waste off the street and in your yard. Like litter, stormwater carries pet waste into our waterways and pollutes them.

• Participate in local drug take-back programs or obtain drug disposal packets at the pharmacy instead of flushing prescription drugs down the toilet.

• Put food grease and oil in a separate container for trash disposal instead of pouring it down the drain.