Clean and healthy water in our rivers and streams is critical for the ecosystems, the wildlife, and the communities of the Delaware River region. The Delaware Riverkeeper Network (DRN) works to protect the Delaware from pollution discharges, whether they be small spills or major catastrophic events.

When there is a pollution discharge, every moment counts. It is critical that agencies are alerted immediately; that clean-up efforts are identified and undertaken and when they are failing that the problem is identified and corrected; and that every injured animal and habitat is assisted and documented to ensure their greatest survival and to ensure that the polluters are held fully accountable for the harm.

The Delaware River Safe Water Action Team (DR SWAT) is a proactive initiative that includes the creation of a structured, permanent, and ongoing catastrophic response program, including a DRN Emergency Response Command Center that can kick into high gear at a moment’s notice.

DR SWAT will:

• supply agency approved protocols and trained volunteers at the ready in the wake of a catastrophic pollution event;
• coordinate and interact with agency emergency responders in order to inform and expand the success of their effort;
• inform press, public, and decision-makers of ongoing pollution incidents;
• inform the government natural resource damage assessment process;
• effectively engage the public which is energized and concerned in the wake of a catastrophe; and
• document the added resources that a volunteer network can bring in the event of a catastrophic pollution incident, in order to encourage the use of this model in other watersheds and communities.

Ecosystem Services Provided:

Water Protection, Filtration & Control: Water quality- protection of headwaters, wetlands protection

Biological Diversity: Habitat- federal threatened species habitat protection, protection of aquatic habitat; Ecosystem restoration- cleanup of catastrophic pollution event

Outreach, Recreation & Aesthetics: Environmental education- volunteer training, providing public with information

Total Project Cost: $88,000

In 2008, CRI awarded $3000 to this project through its Franklin Parker Small Grants program.

Status:

Learning from their experience with the Athos I oil spill and other smaller spills and emergencies that have happened since, the DRN has updated its pollution hotline contacts, increased outreach, and begun staffing the hotline so weekend and evening emergencies are quickly addressed. The Delaware Riverkeeper also serves and is a voting member on the Delaware River and Bay Oil Spill Advisory Committee (DRBOSAC) to “provide advice, recommendations, and a ranking of priorities for measures to improve the prevention and response to future oil spills in the Delaware River and Delaware Bay.”

If you would like further information about this project, please contact Conservation Resources Inc.