As one of several National Focus Area Studies within the USGS National Water Census (NWC), the USGS completed a 3-year study of water availability and use in the Delaware River Basin.
National Water Census • Delaware River Basin • Process-Based Streamflow • Statistical Streamflow • Water Use • Ecological Flow
The Delaware River Basin covers 13,500 square miles in parts of four States, including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The population in the basin is approximately 7.3 million people. The basin has the largest interbasin withdrawal of water east of the Mississippi River and provides water to over 15 million people. After a history of litigation, many of the water management decisions on the river system are now coordinated through the interstate Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC).
The National Water Census Focus Area Study in the Delaware Basin concentrated on providing information to stakeholders in the basin, and on contributing to science needs outlined in the DRBC water management strategy. Among the needs identified by over 60 stakeholder groups, including Federal, State, local, nongovernmental organizations, academics, and others was the importance of improving the integration of water-use and water supply data. Stakeholders also pointed out the need for a scientific approach to defining relations between streamflow processes and the responses of aquatic organisms in tributary streams. Finally, stakeholders recognized the usefulness of a hydrologic watershed model to evaluate water stressors such as growth of population centers, the effects of land-use change, and the effects of climate variability and change on water resources in the basin.
Incorporating this input from the stakeholders, the efforts of the Delaware River Basin Focus Area Study were organized under three topics:
- Water availability streamflow modeling
- Water use
- Ecological-flow science
National Water Census • Delaware River Basin • Process-Based Streamflow • Statistical Streamflow • Water Use • Ecological Flow
Below are other science components of the Delaware River Basin Focus Area Study.
National Water Census
Delaware River Basin Focus Area Study: Process-Based Streamflow Modeling
Delaware River Basin Focus Area Study: Statistical Streamflow Modeling
Delaware River Basin Focus Area Study: Water Use
Delaware River Basin Focus Area Study: Ecological Flow Science
- Overview
As one of several National Focus Area Studies within the USGS National Water Census (NWC), the USGS completed a 3-year study of water availability and use in the Delaware River Basin.
National Water Census • Delaware River Basin • Process-Based Streamflow • Statistical Streamflow • Water Use • Ecological Flow
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Map of the Delaware River Basin The Delaware River Basin covers 13,500 square miles in parts of four States, including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The population in the basin is approximately 7.3 million people. The basin has the largest interbasin withdrawal of water east of the Mississippi River and provides water to over 15 million people. After a history of litigation, many of the water management decisions on the river system are now coordinated through the interstate Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC).
The National Water Census Focus Area Study in the Delaware Basin concentrated on providing information to stakeholders in the basin, and on contributing to science needs outlined in the DRBC water management strategy. Among the needs identified by over 60 stakeholder groups, including Federal, State, local, nongovernmental organizations, academics, and others was the importance of improving the integration of water-use and water supply data. Stakeholders also pointed out the need for a scientific approach to defining relations between streamflow processes and the responses of aquatic organisms in tributary streams. Finally, stakeholders recognized the usefulness of a hydrologic watershed model to evaluate water stressors such as growth of population centers, the effects of land-use change, and the effects of climate variability and change on water resources in the basin.
Incorporating this input from the stakeholders, the efforts of the Delaware River Basin Focus Area Study were organized under three topics:
- Water availability streamflow modeling
- Water use
- Ecological-flow science
National Water Census • Delaware River Basin • Process-Based Streamflow • Statistical Streamflow • Water Use • Ecological Flow
- Science
Below are other science components of the Delaware River Basin Focus Area Study.
National Water Census
The National Water Census will deliver routinely updated water availability information in the United States.Delaware River Basin Focus Area Study: Process-Based Streamflow Modeling
The Water Availability Tool for Environmental Resources provides a decision support system to examine different land-cover forecasts and climate projections using physical aspects of the basin that will remain unchanged, like topography and soil properties, to estimate streamflow for ungaged streams.Delaware River Basin Focus Area Study: Statistical Streamflow Modeling
The Delaware River Basin Streamflow Estimator Tool (DRB-SET) uses historical records of streamflow to estimate daily mean streamflow at any stream location within the Delaware River Basin for the period 1960-2010, incorporating basin characteristics such as drainage size, soil, geology, and seasonal precipitation.Delaware River Basin Focus Area Study: Water Use
Water-use data were compiled or estimated for 8-digit and 12-digit Hydrologic Unit Code watersheds for 2010. Water withdrawal, interbasin transfers, return flow, and hydroelectric power generation release data were compiled for 11 water-use categories.Delaware River Basin Focus Area Study: Ecological Flow Science
The Riverine Environmental Flow Decision Support System (REFDSS), models of river temperature, and evaluation of methods of determining Habitat Suitability Criteria were all products of the ecological-flow science component of the Delaware Focus Area Study. - Publications