The State of the Delaware River Basin and Estuary: 400 years from Henry Hudson to JFK

The State of the Delaware River Basin and Estuary: 400 years from Henry Hudson to JFK

600 A.D.- Lenni Lenape fish in pristine waters. 1609 Henry Hudson sails to Capes. 1638 Swedes sail to Christinakill. 1682 William Penn founder of Philadelphia. 1776 Declaration of Independence signed. 1802 DuPont found mills along Brandywine.

1880 Drinking water causes cholera. 1887 22 million lb oysters harvested from bay. 1896 14 million lb of shad caught in river. 1900 Oyster, shad, sturgeon fishery begin to collapse. WWI Industries dump raw sewage in Clyde of America. 1931 Supreme Court OKs NYC diversion of 400 mgd. 1936 DE, NJ, NY, and PA create INCODEL. Trenton only city with sewage treatment.

1940 Delaware River one of most grossly polluted in world. WWII Pilots comment on rotten egg smell. Navy ships turn to color of rainbow. 1952 - Delaware River outstanding example of destruction of bass habitat by industrial and domestic pollution. 1959 236 towns have wastewater plants. 1955, Hurricanes Connie and Diane hammered the Delaware Basin causing killer floods and leaving an oily film of silt and a terrible stench an aroma of feces and rotting flesh. 1960 Only 100,000 bushels of oysters harvested due to MSX disease.

1961 JFK signs Delaware River Basin Compact. 1968 DRBC issues waste load allocations. 1970 Earth Day. Richard Nixon creates USEPA. 1971 - gross pollution of tidal freshwater had extirpated the striped bass from its historical chief spawning and nursery areas in the Delaware River 1972 Richard Nixon signs Clean Water Act. 1973 USEPA official says Delaware River/Bay will never meet fishable standards. 1973 NY bans phosphate detergent. 1974 - Water quality in the tidal Delaware River improving but still poor, extirpation of the remnant (shad) runs is distinct possibility.

1985 Over $1.5 billion spent on wastewater treatment. 1988 Delaware River and Bay observed best water quality in 50 years. 1993 - Increased shad, striped bass, and white perch coincide with improved water quality. 1996 States form Delaware Estuary Program. Over 90% of Delaware Estuary meet fishable and swimmable goals. 2000 American shad/striped bass return to river/bay. 2005 DO at Ben Franklin Bridge exceeds 4 ppm.

100 80 Dissolved Oxygen during High Water Slack Delaware River (Sep 15, 1958) DO Saturation (%) 60 40 20 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Miles above Delaware Bay

8 DO and NH3 Profile Delaware River and Bay (July 1967) 6 mg/l 4 2 0 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 River Mile Dissolved Oxygen NH3

CBOD Loading along the Delaware Estuary 1.0 0.8 CBOD (M lb) 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 Municipal Industrial

1.5 Summer Ammonium N and Total Phosphorus Delaware River at Marcus Hook, PA July 4-year moving average 1.0 0.5 0.0 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 Total Phosphorus Ammonium N

Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l) 10 8 6 4 2 0 Mean Annual Dissolved Oxygen Delaware River and Bay 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 1967 1980 2003 River Mile

30 25 Water Quality Trends along Penna. Streams in the Delaware River Basin No. of Streams 20 15 10 5 0 Nitrite + Nitrate Total P Improving Constant Degrading

14 Dissolved Oxygen Delaware River at Ben Franklin Bridge, Philadelphia USGS 01467200 12 10 DO (mg/l) 8 6 4 2 0 J-60 J-70 J-80 J-90 J-00 J-10

20 Dissolved Oxygen Lehigh River at Easton, PA USGS 1454720 15 DO 10 (mg/l) 5 0 J-60 J-70 J-80 J-90 J-00 J-10

20 Dissolved Oxygen Schuylkill River at Linwood, PA USGS 1472104 15 DO 10 (mg/l) 5 0 J-80 J-90 J-00 J-10

20 Dissolved Oxygen Brandywine Creek at Chadds Ford, PA USGS 1481000 15 DO (mg/l) 10 5 0 J-70 J-80 J-90 J-00 J-10

0.5 Total Phosphorus Delaware River at Trenton, N. J. 0.4 (mg/l) 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 J-70 J-75 J-80 J-85 J-90 J-95 J-00 J-05

Total Phosphorus Lehigh River at Glendon, PA 0.5 0.4 (mg/l) 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 J-70 J-75 J-80 J-85 J-90 J-95 J-00 J-05

1.0 Total Phosphorus Schuylkill River at Philadelphia, PA 0.8 0.6 (mg/l) 0.4 0.2 0.0 J-70 J-75 J-80 J-85 J-90 J-95 J-00 J-05

0.5 Total Phosphorus Brandywine River above Wilmington, DE 0.4 (mg/l) 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 J-80 J-85 J-90 J-95 J-00 J-05

50 Total Suspended Sediment Schuylkill River at Philadelphia, PA 40 (mg/l) 30 20 10 0 J-70 J-75 J-80 J-85 J-90 J-95 J-00 J-05

9,000,000 Population Delaware River Basin 8,000,000 7,000,000 6,000,000 5,000,000 4,000,000 3,000,000 2,000,000 1,000,000 0 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

1930 Land Use Delaware River Basin 386 386 2001 Land Use Delaware River Basin 568 1860 4117 3342 7980 7044 Developed Agriculture Forest Water/Wetlands Developed Agriculture Forest Water/Wetlands

Land Use Change in the Delaware River Basin 1996-2001 80 Developed 60 40 20 sq mi. 0-20 Agriculture Water/Wetlands Barren -40-60 Forest -80 sq mi Land Use Transition in the Delaware River Basin 1996-2001 8000 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 7093 7045 3361 3342 1790 1860 572 568 Developed Agriculture Forest WaterWetland 1996 2001

LE 2 DB 2 DB 1 1100 1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Land Use, 2001 Delaware River Basin LE 3 LE 1 UE 2 UE 1 SV 3 SV 2 SV 1 LC 1 UC 2 UC 1 LV 3 LV 2 LV 1 NM 1 LW 1 EW 3 EW 2 EW 1 Forest Agriculture WaterWetland Developed Barren/Bare Square Miles

Change in Land Use Area in the Delaware River Basin 1996-2001 15 10 5 (sq mi) 0 EW 1 EW 2 EW 3 LW 1 NM 1 LV 1 LV 2 LV 3 UC 1 UC 2 LC 1 SV 1 SV 2 SV 3 UE 1 UE 2 LE 1 LE 3 LE 2 DB 2 DB 1-5 -10-15 Developed Agriculture Forest Water/Wetlands

1.5 1.0 0.5 (sq mi) 0.0-0.5-1.0-1.5 Change in Water plus Wetlands, 1996-2001 Delaware River Basin EW 1 EW 2 EW 3 LW 1 NM 1 LV 1 LV 2 LV 3 UC 1 UC 2 LC 1 SV 1 SV 2 SV 3 UE 1 UE 2 LE 1 LE 3 LE 2 DB 2 DB 1 Subwatersheds

Forest Change in the Delaware River Basin, 1996-2001 EW 1 EW 2 EW 3 LW 1 NM 1 LV 1 LV 2 LV 3 UC 1 UC 2 LC 1 SV 1 SV 2 SV 3 UE 1 UE 2 LE 1 LE 3 LE 2 DB 2 DB 1 (sq mi) 10.0 8.0 6.0 4.0 2.0 0.0-2.0-4.0-6.0-8.0-10.0

Superfund Sites by DRBC Subwatershed 414 # of EPA CERLIS Sites 4 6 4 5 12 34 53 4 33 78 37 31 60 262 300 164 29 19 78 77 EW 1 EW 2 EW 3 LW 1 NM 1 UC 1 UC 2 LV 1 LV 2 LV 3 LC 1 SV 1 SV 2 SV 3 UE 1 UE 2 LE 1 LE 2 LE 3 DB 1 DB 2 Subwatershed

Schuylkill River at Philadelphia, PA (SV3) 1.0 Total Phosphorus (mg/l) 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 J-70 J-75 J-80 J-85 J-90 J-95 J-00 J-05

Dissolved Oxygen (5-yr Median) Delaware River and Bay 15 DO (mg/l) 10 5 0 RM 304 RM 253 RM 246 RM 175 RM 134 RM 100 RM 82 RM 55 RM 22 Callicoon NY Port Jervis NY Montague NJ Riegelsville NJ Trenton NJ Ben Franklin Bridge Chester PA Reedy Island DE Egg Island, NJ 1970-75 1996-2000 2001-05 DRBC DO Standard

Total Phosphorus (5-yr Median) Delaware River and Bay 0.2 Total P (mg/l) 0.15 0.1 0.05 0 RM 304 RM 253 RM 246 RM 175 RM 134 RM 100 RM 55 RM 22 Callicoon NY Port Jervis NY Montague NJ Riegelsville NJ Trenton NJ Ben Franklin Bridge Reedy Island DE Egg Island NJ 1971-75 1996-00 2001-05 DRBC Total P Standard

Nitrate + Nitrite N (5-yr Median) Delaware River and Bay 2 N (mg/l) 1.5 1 0.5 0 RM 22 RM 55 RM 100 RM 134 RM 175 RM 246 RM 253 RM 304 Egg Island NJ Reedy Island DE Ben Franklin Bridge Trenton, NJ Riegelsville NJ Montague NJ Port Jervis NY Callicoon NY 1971-1975 1991-1995 2001-2005 DRBC N Standard

Total Susp. Sediment, (10-Yr Median) Delaware River and Bay 60 TSS (mg/l) 50 40 30 20 10 0 304 253 246 175 134 100 55 22 0 Callicoon NY Port Jervis NY Montague NJ Riegelsville NJ Trenton NJ Ben Franklin Bridge, PA Reedy Island DE Egg Island NJ Mouth of Bay 1970-1980 1991-2000 2001-2005 DRBC TSS Standard

20 Cooper River at Haddonfield, NJ 10 Cooper River at Haddonfield, NJ Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l) 15 10 5 Total Nitrogen (mg/l) 8 6 4 2 0 J-70 J-75 J-80 J-85 J-90 J-95 J-00 J-05 0 J-70 J-75 J-80 J-85 J-90 J-95 J-00 J-05 1.0 Cooper River at Haddonfield, NJ Phosphorus (mg/l) 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 J-70 J-75 J-80 J-85 J-90 J-95 J-00 J-05

Median Atrazine Concentrations Surface Water in the Delaware River Basin 1.0 Median Atrazine (ug/l) 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.233 0.158 0.111 0.080 0.063 0.002 0.002 0.006 0.005 0.003 0.000 0.011 0.047 0.030 0.004 0.008 0.013 EW 1 EW 2 EW 3 LW 1 NM 1 UC 1 UC 2 LV1 LV 2 LV 3 LC 1 SV 2 SV 3 LE 1 UE 1 UE 2 DB 2 Subwatershed

40 Water Temperature Delaware River at Trenton, NJ 35 Water Temperature (deg C) 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 Year Yearly Median Summer Median Summer Max 5 per. Mov. Avg.

40 Water Temperature Delaware River at Reedy Island, DE 35 Water Temperature (deg C) 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 Year Yearly Median Summer Median Max Temp 5 per. Mov. Avg.

Delaware River and Bay Salt Line 115 110 Salt Line Upstream Location of Salt Line (River Mile) 105 100 95 90 85 80 75 70 65 C & D Canal Del Mem Bridge Mouth of Christina River DE / PA State Line Chester, PA Mouth of Schuylkill Ben Franklin Bridge 60 55 50 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 Year Farthest Recorded Upstream Location* Phila Torresdale Water Intake

1895 1900 1905 1910 1915 1920 1925 1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 60 58 56 54 52 50 48 46 Mean Annual Temperature at Wilmington Airport, DE (1895-2006) 1895-1970 mean: 54.0 1971-2000 mean: 54.6 Year 2001-2006 mean: 54.9 Temperature (

64 60 56 52 48 44 40 36 32 28 24 20 Precipitation at Wilmington Airport, DE (1895-2006) 1895 1900 1905 1910 1915 1920 1925 1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 1895-1970 mean: 43.29" 2001-2006 mean: 45.89" 1971-2000 mean: 42.35" Year Precipitation (inch

Maximum Peak and Minimum Daily Flow Delaware River at Trenton, NJ, USGS Gage 1463500 100 10 cfs/sq mi 1 0 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 Year Peak Flow Minimum Flow 5 per. Mov. Avg.

Dec 1-15 Dec 16-31 Oct 1-15 Oct 16-31 Nov 1-15 Nov 16-30 18000000 16000000 14000000 12000000 10000000 8000000 6000000 4000000 2000000 0 Total Runoff Delaware River at Trenton Feb 16-29 Mar 1-15 March 16-31 Apr 1-15 Apr 16-30 May 1-15 May 16-31 Jun 1-15 Jun 16-30 Jul 1-15 Jul 16-31 Aug 1-15 Aug 16-30 Sep 1-15 Sep 16-30 1921-1960 1961-2000 Jan 1-15 Jan 16-31 Feb 1-15 Total runoff (cubic feet)

35 Oyster Landings in the Delaware Estuary 30 25 Million lb 20 15 10 5 0 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000

5 1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Delaware Bay Oyster Seed Beds 61 63 65 67 69 71 73 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 1 3 Year Oyster Spat Mean Oyster Mean Spat 59 57 55 53 Average number per bushel

Horseshoe Crab Spawning Activity Delaware and New Jersey 1.6 Index of Spawning Activity 1.4 1.2 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Delaware New Jersey

500,000 Commercial Horseshoe Crab Landings in the Delaware Bay 400,000 Crabs 300,000 200,000 100,000 0 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 DE NJ

Synthesized Blue Crab Harvest in the Delaware Estuary 10 9 8 7 Million lb 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 Year

3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 Blue Crab Landings 1978-2005 Delaware Estuary Blue Crab Landings (in 1000s kg) 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 NJ DE

Catch per Haul (95% C. I.) Delaware River from C & D Canal to Trenton 45 40 35 30 Catch 25 20 15 10 5 0 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 American Shad White Perch Striped Bass

20,000,000 American Shad Harvest Delaware River Estuary Synthesized Harvest (lb) 15,000,000 10,000,000 5,000,000 0 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000

1,000,000 American Shad Spawning Population Delaware River at Lambertville, NJ Shad Population 800,000 600,000 400,000 200,000 0 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 Petersen Hydroacustics

45000 Recreational Striped Bass Harvest Delaware Estuary 40000 35000 Striped Bass Harvest 30000 25000 20000 15000 10000 5000 0 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

35 Annual Catch Rates of Atlantic Sturgeon Delaware River 30 Altantic Sturgeon Catch (number/net hour) 25 20 15 10 5 0 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Mean Weakfish Abundance 1990-2005 Delaware Estaury 350 Mean Weakfish Abundance No. per Nautical Mile 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

50 Bald Eagle Nesting Pairs in the Delaware River Basin 40 Nesting Pairs 30 20 10 0 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 Delaware New Jersey New York Pennsylvania

2002 2003 2004 2005 4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 Black Bear Harvest Delaware River Basin States 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 New York Pennsylvania New Jersey 1989 1988 1987 1986 No. of Harvested Black Bears