The USGS is conducting a pilot study in the Delaware River Basin to support development of National and Regional Integrated Water Availability Assessments (IWAAs). The Delaware River Basin Pilot will be conducted with state and local partners with the support of USGS Cooperative Program Matching Funds and will focus on improving the data, tools, and information stakeholders need to make water-resource management decisions.
Delaware River Basin Pilot
USGS is working with basin stakeholders on the potential impacts of the drought of record under current supply and demand conditions. This workplan integrates four cooperative studies.
Development of model to predict daily water use for public supply
This study will develop a predictive model for daily public supply withdrawals in a subbasin of the DRB, output will be compared to disaggregated monthly data to assess model performance. This effort will support development of a National model to estimate daily withdrawals for public supply as part of the Water Budget Estimation and Evaluation Project (WBEEP).
Indentifying spatial and temporal driver to predict drought in the Delaware River Basin
This study will focus on improving predictions of streamflow during periods of drought within the DRB. Multiple factors in both space and time affect streamflow in the basin, and these factors will be evaluated to develop optimal models of streamflow under periods of drought, such as the drought of record in the mid-1960’s.
Simulation of water quality in tributaries to the Delaware Estuary
This study will develop watershed models of four large tributaries to the Delaware River Estuary: Crosswicks, Rancocas, Pennsauken, and Raccoon Creeks. The tributary models will assess water quality impairments and evaluate nutrient reduction scenarios. Additionally, this project will help inform the process with which we will incorporate water-quality into national and regional IWAAs.
Evaluation of national models to inform local water management
This study is designed to research the veracity and limitations of the full range of predicted flows for water supply availability within highly regulated basins of New Jersey. Performance of National extent models, such as the National Hydrologic Model, will be evaluated against existing DRB surface water models. This pilot will help to inform ongoing development of the National IWAAs as well as water prediction through the Water Prediction Work Program (2WP).
Related Science
Integrated Water Availability Assessments (IWAAs)
Next Generation Water Observing System: Delaware River Basin
Delaware River Basin
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Publications
Hydro-climatic drought in the Delaware River Basin
Water priorities for the Nation—USGS Integrated Water Science basins
Prioritizing river basins for intensive monitoring and assessment by the US Geological Survey
Estimated use of water in the Delaware River Basin in Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, 2010
Estimated ground-water availability in the Delaware River basin, 1997-2000
Water budgets for selected watersheds in the Delaware River basin, eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey
Hydrologic aspects of the 1998-99 drought in the Delaware River basin
Water resources of the Delaware River basin
Sensitivity of water resources in the Delaware River basin to climate variability and change
News
- Overview
The USGS is conducting a pilot study in the Delaware River Basin to support development of National and Regional Integrated Water Availability Assessments (IWAAs). The Delaware River Basin Pilot will be conducted with state and local partners with the support of USGS Cooperative Program Matching Funds and will focus on improving the data, tools, and information stakeholders need to make water-resource management decisions.
Delaware River Basin Pilot
USGS is working with basin stakeholders on the potential impacts of the drought of record under current supply and demand conditions. This workplan integrates four cooperative studies.
Development of model to predict daily water use for public supply
This study will develop a predictive model for daily public supply withdrawals in a subbasin of the DRB, output will be compared to disaggregated monthly data to assess model performance. This effort will support development of a National model to estimate daily withdrawals for public supply as part of the Water Budget Estimation and Evaluation Project (WBEEP).
Indentifying spatial and temporal driver to predict drought in the Delaware River Basin
This study will focus on improving predictions of streamflow during periods of drought within the DRB. Multiple factors in both space and time affect streamflow in the basin, and these factors will be evaluated to develop optimal models of streamflow under periods of drought, such as the drought of record in the mid-1960’s.
Simulation of water quality in tributaries to the Delaware Estuary
This study will develop watershed models of four large tributaries to the Delaware River Estuary: Crosswicks, Rancocas, Pennsauken, and Raccoon Creeks. The tributary models will assess water quality impairments and evaluate nutrient reduction scenarios. Additionally, this project will help inform the process with which we will incorporate water-quality into national and regional IWAAs.
Evaluation of national models to inform local water management
This study is designed to research the veracity and limitations of the full range of predicted flows for water supply availability within highly regulated basins of New Jersey. Performance of National extent models, such as the National Hydrologic Model, will be evaluated against existing DRB surface water models. This pilot will help to inform ongoing development of the National IWAAs as well as water prediction through the Water Prediction Work Program (2WP).
- Science
Related Science
Integrated Water Availability Assessments (IWAAs)
The USGS Integrated Water Availability Assessments (IWAAs) are a multi-extent, stakeholder driven, near real-time census and prediction of water availability for both human and ecological uses at regional and national extents.Next Generation Water Observing System: Delaware River Basin
The USGS Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS) provides high-fidelity, real-time data on water quantity and quality necessary to support modern water prediction and decision support systems for water emergencies and daily water operations. The Delaware River Basin was the first NGWOS basin, providing an opportunity to implement the program in a nationally important, complex interstate...Delaware River Basin
In Pennsylvania, the USGS's water-resources roots date back to the late 1800's, with the initiation of streamflow gaging on the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers and assessments of groundwater resources near Philadelphia. The USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center continues to provide scientific information about the water resources of the Delaware River Basin, in cooperation with regional and local... - Multimedia
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
- Publications
Publications
Hydro-climatic drought in the Delaware River Basin
The Delaware River Basin (DRB) supplies water to approximately 15 million people and is essential to agriculture and industry. In this study, a monthly water balance model is used to compute monthly water balance components (i.e., potential evapotranspiration, actual evapotranspiration, and runoff [R]) for the DRB for the 1901 through 2015 period. Water‐year R is used to identify drought periods iAuthorsGregory J. McCabe, David M. WolockWater priorities for the Nation—USGS Integrated Water Science basins
The United States faces growing challenges to its water supply, infrastructure, and aquatic ecosystems because of population growth, climate change, floods, and droughts. To help address these challenges, the U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Mission Area is integrating recent advances in monitoring, research, and modeling to improve assessments of water availability throughout the United StaAuthorsMark P. Miller, Sandra M. Eberts, Lori A. SpraguePrioritizing river basins for intensive monitoring and assessment by the US Geological Survey
The US Geological Survey (USGS) is currently (2020) integrating its water science programs to better address the nation’s greatest water resource challenges now and into the future. This integration will rely, in part, on data from 10 or more intensively monitored river basins from across the USA. A team of USGS scientists was convened to develop a systematic, quantitative approach to prioritize cAuthorsPeter C. Van Metre, Sharon Qi, Jeffrey R. Deacon, Cheryl A. Dieter, Jessica M. Driscoll, Michael N. Fienen, Terry A. Kenney, Patrick M. Lambert, David P. Lesmes, Christopher Allen Mason, Anke Mueller-Solger, MaryLynn Musgrove, Jaime A. Painter, Donald O. Rosenberry, Lori A. Sprague, Anthony J. Tesoriero, Lisamarie Windham-Myers, David M. WolockEstimated use of water in the Delaware River Basin in Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, 2010
The Delaware River Basin (DRB) was selected as a Focus Area Study in 2011 by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as part of the USGS National Water Census. The National Water Census is a USGS research program that focuses on national water availability and use and then develops new water accounting tools and assesses water availability at both the regional and national scales. One of the water managAuthorsSusan S. Hutson, Kristin S. Linsey, Russell A. Ludlow, Betzaida Reyes, Jennifer L. ShourdsEstimated ground-water availability in the Delaware River basin, 1997-2000
Ground-water availability using a watershed-based approach was estimated for the 147 watersheds that make up the Delaware River Basin. This study, conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), supports the DRBC's Water Resources Plan for the Delaware River Basin. Different procedures were used to estimate ground-water availability for the rAuthorsRonald A. Sloto, Debra E. BuxtonWater budgets for selected watersheds in the Delaware River basin, eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey
This pilot study, done by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Delaware River Basin Commission, developed annual water budgets using available data for five watersheds in the Delaware River Basin with different degrees of urbanization and different geological settings. A basin water budget and a water-use budget were developed for each watershed. The basin water budget describes inpuAuthorsRonald A. Sloto, Debra E. BuxtonHydrologic aspects of the 1998-99 drought in the Delaware River basin
A notable drought in the Delaware River Basin during late 1998 and most of 1999 had a major effect on surface and subsurface components of the hydrologic system. The drought conditions resulted from anomalous patterns in the general atmospheric circulation that diverted Gulf and subtropical Atlantic moisture away from the basin. From September 1998 to August 1999, the accumulated precipitation defAuthorsGary N. Paulachok, Bruce E. Krejmas, Heidi L. SodenWater resources of the Delaware River basin
AuthorsGarald G. Parker, A. G. Hely, Walter B. Keighton, F. H. OlmstedSensitivity of water resources in the Delaware River basin to climate variability and change
Because of the greenhouse effect, projected increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels might cause global warming, which in turn could result in changes in precipitation patterns and evapotranspiration and in increases in sea level. This report describes the greenhouse effect; discusses the problems and uncertainties associated with the detection, prediction, and effects of climate change; andAuthorsMark A. Ayers, David M. Wolock, Gregory J. McCabe, Lauren E. Hay, Gary D. Tasker - News
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