Exploring Regional Exploring Regional ManagementManagement

NGA Ocean Policy NGA Ocean Policy ConferenceConference

September 2003September 2003

Ocean Governance Ocean Governance FindingsFindings

Lacks vertical coordination among different Lacks vertical coordination among different levels of government;levels of government;

Lacks horizontal coordination among Lacks horizontal coordination among agencies within the federal government;agencies within the federal government;

Is based on political and jurisdictional Is based on political and jurisdictional boundaries and does not take into account boundaries and does not take into account comprehensive planning and comprehensive planning and implementation to address ecosystem implementation to address ecosystem needs, and performance;needs, and performance;

Continues to be dominated by stove-pipe Continues to be dominated by stove-pipe single resource management programs; andsingle resource management programs; and

Is disconnected from land and water Is disconnected from land and water governance structures.governance structures.

Management SilosManagement Silos

LawsLawsAgenciesAgenciesProgramsProgramsProcess DrivenProcess Driven

Regional Commission Regional Commission ModelModel

Manageable environmental problemManageable environmental problem Shared Resource/Shared Sense of Shared Resource/Shared Sense of

RegionRegion Transboundary/Transjurisdictional Transboundary/Transjurisdictional

ManagementManagement Governmental expertise applied Governmental expertise applied

within a matrix of local participation within a matrix of local participation & initiative& initiative

““Toolbox” of technical and financial Toolbox” of technical and financial assistanceassistance

Think and Act Like a Think and Act Like a RegionRegion

Regional Collaboration…Regional Collaboration…

Involves people and organizations with Involves people and organizations with diverse viewpoints diverse viewpoints working across working across political and jurisdictional boundaries,political and jurisdictional boundaries, public and private sectorspublic and private sectors, and multiple , and multiple disciplines to sustain social, economic, disciplines to sustain social, economic, and environmental values of and environmental values of particular particular places.places.

(from Lincoln Institute of Land Policy)(from Lincoln Institute of Land Policy)

Regional GovernanceRegional Governance

No one right answerNo one right answer Customize to particular placesCustomize to particular places Key feature is strong regional Key feature is strong regional

partnershipspartnerships Public and Private SectorsPublic and Private Sectors Principles/Goals/Plans/OutcomesPrinciples/Goals/Plans/Outcomes Link regional effort to established Link regional effort to established

decision-making systemsdecision-making systems

Management Themes and Management Themes and PrinciplesPrinciples

Integrated ManagementIntegrated Management

Manage ground and surface water as an Manage ground and surface water as an integrated system, by hydrologic units, integrated system, by hydrologic units, including both quality and quantity and including both quality and quantity and considering all phases of the water cycle. considering all phases of the water cycle. (Need to protect headwaters to protect the (Need to protect headwaters to protect the ocean/Solutions transcend political boundaries)ocean/Solutions transcend political boundaries)

Integrated management is crucial to improving Integrated management is crucial to improving outcomes.outcomes.

Improved land management is essential for Improved land management is essential for enhanced water quality and hydrologic enhanced water quality and hydrologic integrity.integrity.

Management Themes and Management Themes and PrinciplesPrinciples

Adaptive ManagementAdaptive Management

Decision frameworks should be flexible to Decision frameworks should be flexible to accommodate innovations and adapt to new accommodate innovations and adapt to new knowledge.knowledge.

Measure environmental performance by Measure environmental performance by results results and outcomes.and outcomes.

Sound decision making must be based on the Sound decision making must be based on the best available scientific understanding.best available scientific understanding.

Management Themes and Management Themes and PrinciplesPrinciples

Pollution PreventionPollution PreventionThe most effective way to eliminate pollution is The most effective way to eliminate pollution is

to prevent it from occurring.to prevent it from occurring.

Markets Before MandatesMarkets Before MandatesUse economic and other incentives, where Use economic and other incentives, where

feasible, to achieve resource management feasible, to achieve resource management objectives.objectives.

Public-private partnershipsPublic-private partnershipsPublic-partnerships and enhanced cooperation Public-partnerships and enhanced cooperation

are necessary for improved are necessary for improved outcomesoutcomes..

Results Based ManagementResults Based Management

Goal Setting (Objective Driven)Goal Setting (Objective Driven)

Establish Establish measurable targetsmeasurable targets for assessing for assessing environmental progressenvironmental progress

Quantify baseline (current conditions) and Quantify baseline (current conditions) and monitor trends (are conditions improving or monitor trends (are conditions improving or worsening)worsening)

Reporting: An informed public is critical to an Reporting: An informed public is critical to an improved environmental future.improved environmental future.

Case StudiesCase Studies

The Chesapeake Bay ProgramThe Chesapeake Bay Program

- Gubernatorial Executive Council Model- Gubernatorial Executive Council Model

The Great Lakes CommissionThe Great Lakes Commission

- Bi-national: State/Federal Compact Model- Bi-national: State/Federal Compact Model

The Delaware River Basin CommissionThe Delaware River Basin Commission

- State/Federal Legislative Compact Model- State/Federal Legislative Compact Model

Basin Facts

● Largest un-dammed river east of the Mississippi – 330 miles

● 13,539 square mile drainage

● 17 million water users

● Port complex, including Philadelphia, Camden and Wilmington, is the largest freshwater port in the world

●Three reaches included in National Wild and Scenic River System

●World class trout fishery in the tailwaters of the NYC reservoirs

● Tremendous economic significance for the region.

Why the DRBC was Why the DRBC was created:created:

Water supply shortages and Water supply shortages and disputes over the apportionment of disputes over the apportionment of the basin’s waters;the basin’s waters;

Severe pollution in the Delaware Severe pollution in the Delaware River and its major tributaries; and River and its major tributaries; and

Serious flooding.Serious flooding.

Delaware River Basin Delaware River Basin CommissionCommission

Signatory Parties:Signatory Parties: State of DelawareState of Delaware State of New JerseyState of New Jersey State of New YorkState of New York Commonwealth of PennsylvaniaCommonwealth of Pennsylvania United StatesUnited States

General PowersGeneral Powers

CoordinationCoordination Planning Planning RegulationRegulation ManagementManagement DevelopmentDevelopment

Functional ResponsibilitiesFunctional Responsibilities

Water SupplyWater Supply Pollution ControlPollution Control Flood ProtectionFlood Protection Watershed ManagementWatershed Management RecreationRecreation

Responsibilities and Responsibilities and ActivitiesActivities

Conduct StudiesConduct Studies Prepare and adopt plans, including Prepare and adopt plans, including

Comprehensive PlanComprehensive Plan Declare droughts and impose Declare droughts and impose

restrictionsrestrictions Designate areas for special Designate areas for special

protectionprotection Regulate water quality and quantityRegulate water quality and quantity Sponsor and fund water projectsSponsor and fund water projects

Advisory CoAdvisory Commmitteesmittees

Water Quality CommitteeWater Quality Committee Flood CommitteeFlood Committee Flow Management CommitteeFlow Management Committee Information Management Information Management

CommitteeCommittee Monitoring CommitteeMonitoring Committee Toxics CommitteeToxics Committee Watershed CouncilWatershed Council

DRBC Water Quality Program

• Planning, Monitoring, and Assessment

• Standards and Regulations• Basinwide Water Quality Standards• Wasteload Allocations• TMDLs

• Interstate Toxics Management

• Special Protection Waters Program

Special Protection Waters

Delaware EstuaryDelaware Estuary

andand

Delaware BayDelaware Bay

FECAL IS WAY

D

O

W

N

DISSOLVED OXYGEN UP FROM 2 TO

7

Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey have fish advisories for PCBs in the have fish advisories for PCBs in the Delaware River.Delaware River.

XWARNING

FishContaminated

DO NOT EAT

Estimated Penta PCB Load by Estimated Penta PCB Load by ZoneZonefor All Source Categories for All Source Categories Sept. 1, 2001 – March 31, 2003Sept. 1, 2001 – March 31, 2003

6.85

8.62

16.04

9.97

4.91

0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

10.00

12.00

14.00

16.00

18.00

2 3 4 5 6

Zone

Pe

nta

PC

B L

oa

d (

kg

)

Estimated Penta PCB LoadEstimated Penta PCB Loadby Source Categoryby Source CategorySept. 1, 2001 – March 31, 2003Sept. 1, 2001 – March 31, 2003

15.82

9.22

6.79 6.56

3.973.47

2.822.34 2.19

0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

10.00

12.00

14.00

16.00

18.00

Source Category

Pe

nta

PC

B L

oa

d (

kg

)

Adopting the TMDLsAdopting the TMDLs

An unprecedented level of coordination An unprecedented level of coordination among regulators has been required. among regulators has been required.

EPA will promulgate the TMDLs for all three EPA will promulgate the TMDLs for all three states. Advantages include:states. Advantages include: Simultaneous process – one set of Simultaneous process – one set of

comments, one set of responses, one set of comments, one set of responses, one set of revisions.revisions.

One venue for legal challenges.One venue for legal challenges. Reasonable assurances can be provided in Reasonable assurances can be provided in

each state only if the TMDL is also each state only if the TMDL is also promulgated in the other two.promulgated in the other two.

TMDL ImplementationTMDL ImplementationAdvisory CommitteeAdvisory Committee

DRBC believes TMDLs cannot be DRBC believes TMDLs cannot be implemented without active implemented without active stakeholder participation.stakeholder participation.

Will convene IAC in September 2003 Will convene IAC in September 2003 and continue for two years. and continue for two years. Composition:Composition: Regulatory agencies (6)Regulatory agencies (6) Industrial Dischargers (4)Industrial Dischargers (4) Large Municipal Dischargers (3)Large Municipal Dischargers (3) Small Municipal Dischargers (2)Small Municipal Dischargers (2) Wildlife & Fishery Interests/Env. Groups (5)Wildlife & Fishery Interests/Env. Groups (5)

Members include: Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection New York Department of Environmental Conservation Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection New York City Department of Environmental Protection Delaware Emergency Management Agency New Jersey Office of Emergency Management New York Office of Emergency Management Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Federal Emergency Management Agency U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service U.S. Geological Survey National Weather Service U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Park Service Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission Hydroelectric Industry Water Resources Agency – University of Delaware

The flood warning recommendations The flood warning recommendations were developed through the were developed through the

DRBC Flood Advisory Committee.DRBC Flood Advisory Committee.

RECOMMENDED FLOOD WARNING IMPROVEMENTSRECOMMENDED FLOOD WARNING IMPROVEMENTS Endorsed by the DRBC Flood Advisory CommitteeEndorsed by the DRBC Flood Advisory Committee

RAIN GAGE UPGRADES

NEW RAIN GAGES TO BE ADDED

POTENTIAL FLOOD STAGE MAP PROTOTYPES

PROPOSED STREAM GAGE TELEMETRY UPGRADESPOTENTIAL FLOOD

STAGE MAP PROTOTYPE

PROPOSED STREAM GAGE TELEMETRY UPGRADES

AHPS APPLICATION BASIN WIDE

PROTOTYPE AHPS FLASH FLOOD GRAPHICS APPLICATION USING GIS AND DOPPLER RADAR

NOTE: Depictedlocations of new raingages are approximate.

HydrologicForecastServices

Radar Data

River Gauge Data Weather Observations

Snow Cover/Melt Data

PrecipitationForecasts

Climate PredictionsReservoirReleases

PrecipitationEstimates

Satellite Data

Slide provided by the National Weather ServiceSlide provided by the National Weather Service

Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS)Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS)

Neshaminy Creek Floodplain – Bucks County, PASource: www.HazardMaps.gov FEMA’s on-line multihazard mapping center

On-line flood hazard assessment is a developing tool in flood mitigation planning

Governance for Sustainable Governance for Sustainable SeasSeas

Proven regional governance conceptsProven regional governance concepts-Measurable goals and standards-Measurable goals and standards-Regional institutions capable of -Regional institutions capable of carrying out policycarrying out policy-Special protection areas-Special protection areas-Permanent advisory committees-Permanent advisory committees-Need for planning, management -Need for planning, management andand regulatory powersregulatory powers-Need for dedicated funding, investment -Need for dedicated funding, investment and other incentivesand other incentives

Governance For Sustainable Governance For Sustainable SeasSeas

Yet to proven governance conceptsYet to proven governance concepts

- Regional Ocean Ecosystem Councils- Regional Ocean Ecosystem Councils

- Independent National Oceans Agency- Independent National Oceans Agency

- Permanent Interagency Oceans Council- Permanent Interagency Oceans Council

(Need to invest in existing institutions and (Need to invest in existing institutions and link to established decision making link to established decision making systems)systems)

Improving Effectiveness of Improving Effectiveness of Ocean/Coastal GovernanceOcean/Coastal Governance National Ocean Policy Act- measurable goals and National Ocean Policy Act- measurable goals and

standards standards Need to enhance governance, in partnership with Need to enhance governance, in partnership with

the states and territories, to address ecosystem the states and territories, to address ecosystem management at the regional, state and watershed management at the regional, state and watershed scalesscales

Need to link to existing decision-making systems Need to link to existing decision-making systems and connect land and water governance structures and connect land and water governance structures (CZMPs; NEPs; RBCs; Fishery Commissions)(CZMPs; NEPs; RBCs; Fishery Commissions)

Need to support sustained and dedicated funding, Need to support sustained and dedicated funding, investment, and other incentives for state and investment, and other incentives for state and local governments efforts to address priority local governments efforts to address priority coastal and ecosystem management problems.coastal and ecosystem management problems.