Protecting SEPA's Water Resources

The Delaware River Basin, the largest undammed river east of the Mississippi, supplies water to millions from New York to Philadelphia, and supports a diverse industrial, service, and farming economy. With so many people living in the region, our watersheds become increasingly urbanized and our limited amount of open space experiences intense development pressure. Many urban communities are extensively paved, and are served by storm systems that discharge water directly into streams with few, if any, water quality or quantity controls.

New research shows that sustainable natural resource management and conservation cannot be achieved by technical, scientific solutions alone. Conservation efforts, especially in developed areas where people represent a significant element of the ecosystem must emphasize social revitalization alongside environmental restoration. This long-term effort will have to incorporate, understand, and utilize urban ecological forces in order to improve water quality, revitalize older, inner ring suburb communities, and improve the quality of life for the residents who live, work, play, and invest in these communities.

The Council's role has been to facilitate change as new federal stormwater regulations begin to impact municipalities throughout the Commonwealth. The Council's water resources initiative is focused on partnership-building, demonstration projects, developing solutions to current policy initiatives, and promoting a collaborative and comprehensive approach to water resource management.