Delaware River Basin Forum Delaware River Basin Forum Delaware River Basin Forum: Highlights Vicky Binetti US Environmental Protection Agency, Region III May 19, 2011

Delaware River Basin Forum Delaware River Basin Forum FORUM OBJECTIVES: Heighten awareness of issues and decisions affecting water resources—now and future—in the Delaware River Basin Connect basin-wide and local actors, issues and needs Create a framework for ongoing collaboration among officials, planners, water suppliers and other stakeholders and practitioners

Delaware River Basin Forum ABOUT THE FORUM: – Sponsored by the Source Water Collaborative – Staged by Local Planning Team – EPA Regions 2 & 3-- NJ DEP – DRBC-- NY DOH, NY DEC – DE DNREC & DE DHSS-- PA DEP – Concurrent, coordinated events at six locations Central event in Philadelphia Five “satellite” sites: DE, NJ, NY and PA (2)

Delaware River Basin Forum Delaware River Basin Forum ABOUT THE FORUM (cont’d): – “Green meeting” practices – minimize environmental footprint Travel reduced: attend nearest meeting to participate, or view where you are Website, electronic media used for communications Limited printing, “eco-junk” – >400 participants registered at 6 locations, scores viewing throughout the day

Delaware River Basin Forum Delaware River Basin Forum Sullivan County Community College Loch Sheldrake, NY Monroe County Public Center Stroudsburg, PA Reading Area Community College Reading, PA WHYY Public Media Commons Philadelphia, PA Rutgers Eco Complex Bordentown, NJ University of Delaware – Newark Newark, DE

Delaware River Basin Forum Delaware River Basin Forum Website:

Save-the-Date Flier

Delaware River Basin Forum Delaware River Basin Forum CENTRAL AGENDA FOCUSED ON BASIN-WIDE ISSUES

Delaware River Basin Forum Delaware River Basin Forum LOCAL AGENDAS Developed from local input – Survey of prospective participants – Solicitation of interests from registrants Local speakers Facilitated discussions to focus issues & needs, what works, & next steps Summary reports sent to Philadelphia for closeout

Delaware River Basin Forum Delaware River Basin Forum ISSUES Need integrated leadership Education-many levels, audiences Communication/coordination/ outreach Externalities: “True cost of water” Effectiveness of local planning Lack of funding Stormwater management Infrastructure needs Marcellus Shale development

Delaware River Basin Forum Delaware River Basin Forum ACTIONS/NEXT STEPS Build integrated leadership Education—many levels, audiences Use technology, social media tools Let officials know we care about water! Municipal water & wastewater forums Funding Measuring & implementation of monitoring results Enhanced government action— regulation, enforcement, transparency Collaboration

Delaware River Basin Forum POST-FORUM PLANS & GOALS: – Develop summary of Forum, including process, format, outcomes – Basin-wide and local issues, needs, actions and recommended next steps – “Proceedings” posted on website – Potential for States, DRBC, EPA, others to provide continued leadership/facilitation – Maintain collaboration with stakeholders – “Re-convene” for status check, summer 2011 – Website maintenance--depends on funding, support (meld into SWC site?)

Delaware River Basin Forum Delaware River Basin Forum HIGHLIGHTS – Accomplished Forum objectives : Heightened (& broadened) awareness of issues affecting water resources Connected basin-wide & local players & concerns Established expectation for further collaboration – Newer communications modes Electronic polling of participants’ concerns, issues Website for registration, agenda, evaluations, etc. “Marketing” included blogs, tweets, Podcasts (Google-Earth basin flyover; interviews) Live web-stream broadcast – Uncovered stakeholders’ need for action, leadership & collaboration

Delaware River Basin Forum Delaware River Basin Forum NEEDS /TO DO’s FOR SOURCE WATER COLLABORATIVE: Grow awareness among memberships that your organizations are part of a great national effort – Be bold about role/interest in drinking water protection – Give the SWC (and Forums) space in publications, websites – Advertise tools (e.g., AWWA SWP standard, planning approaches for water resource protection) – Consider collaboration on cross-jurisdictional aquifers Go Local – Encourage presence and partnerships at “local” level: State Collaboratives, watershed- or aquifer-based partnerships – Help us find your colleagues in the Delaware River Basin (and the Susquehanna, Potomac, Ohio, Salmon Falls…..)