Delaware Watershed Research Conference 11.29.2018

Auditorium

Live Science

BEES Classroom BEES

Street Entrance

th 19 Commons Library

Page | 1 Watershed Research Conference 11.29.2018 Agenda 8:30 – 9:00 Registration 19th Street Entrance Poster Set-up Commons Breakfast and Coffee Science Live

9:00 – 9:30 Welcome and Opening Remarks Auditorium Scott Cooper, President and CEO, Academy of Natural Sciences Roland Wall, Director, Patrick Center for Environmental Research, ANS

9:30-10:00 Keynote Presentation by Dr. Laura Craig Auditorium Promoting and Protecting the Use of Science in Freshwater Conservation

10:00 – 10:30 Morning Break, Breakfast and Coffee Science Live

10:30 - 12:00 Concurrent Session 1A: Tools and Modeling BEES Classroom

10:30-10:45 Modeling Effects of Changing Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition and Forest Tree Species Composition on Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling in the Upper Delaware Basin - Colin Fuss

10:45-11:00 Development of Fine-Scale Temperature Models in the : Application to Predictive Temperature Modeling, Decision Support Tools, And Ecosystem Services - Heather Galbraith

11:00-11:15 Studying Past Stream Restorations to Inform Future Action - Hayley Oakland

11:15-11:30 The Impact of Future Climate Variability on the Hydrology of the Delaware River Basin - Timothy Hawkins

11:30-11:45 Multi-scale Assessment of Potential Climate Change Impacts to Eastern U.S. Tree Species - Claire Jantz

11:45-12:00 Speaker Panel led by Scott Haag, Environmental Data Science Lead ANS

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10:30 – 12:00 Concurrent Session 1B: Freshwater Status and Trends I Library

10:30-10:45 Revisiting the Musconetcong River after Ten Years - Meiyin Wu

10:45-11:00 Point and Non-Point Sources of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds and the Potential Effects on Fish and Frogs in the New Jersey Pinelands - John Bunnell

11:00-11:15 Comparing Illumina MiSeq and PacBio SMRT Sequencing of Fecal Samples from Various Animal Sources Potentially Contributing to Microbial Contamination of the Delaware River Watershed - Tyler Bradley

11:15-11:30 The Impact of Agricultural Land Use on Streams in the Brandywine/ Christina, Middle Schuylkill And Schuylkill Highland Clusters - Jan Battle

11:30-11:45 Water Quality Trends in the Brandywine Christina Cluster Along the Arc Boundary of Delaware - Gerald Kauffman

11:45-12:00 Speaker Panel led by Stefanie Kroll, Watershed Ecology Section Lead ANS

12:00 – 1:30 Networking Lunch and Poster Session Commons

1:30 – 3:00 Concurrent Session 2A: Urban Systems and Effects BEES Class

1:30-1:45 Responsive Urban Environments: Looking at Philadelphia Through the Lens of Ecosystem Management - Eugenia Ellis

1:45-2:00 Evaluating Biological Responses to Modern Stormwater Control Measures: Preliminary Results and Project Update - Stanley Kemp

2:00-2:15 Precipitation Events, Source Water Conditions, and Risk of Gastrointestinal Illness in Philadelphia - Anneclaire J. De Roos

2:15-2:30 Reducing Household Nutrient Run-Off: Power of Testimonials, Adoption and Sustained Maintenance of Best Management Practices - Olesya Savchenko

2:30-2:45 Modeling Eutrophication Processes in the Delaware Estuary to Link Watershed Efforts to Control Nutrient Impacts - Namsoo Suk

2:45-3:00 Speaker Panel led by Richard Horwitz, Fisheries Section Lead ANS Page | 3 Delaware Watershed Research Conference 11.29.2018

1:30 – 3:00 Concurrent Session 2B: Freshwater Status and Trends II Library

1:30-1:45 Assessing the Effectiveness of Riparian Buffers at Removing Nutrients and Sediment from Runoff - Elizabeth Rielly-Carroll

1:45-2:00 Quantifying Sediment Processes in the Watershed: Preliminary Assessment - James Pizzuto

2:00-2:15 Monitoring Stream Geometry at the Headwaters and Downstream in Chrome Run - James Kugel

2:15-2:30 Adding Up Floodplain Benefits - Kristina Hopkins

2:30-2:45 Characterization of the Organic Matter Found in the Suspended Solids of the Musconetcong River, NJ, Using Pyrolysis – GC/MS - Kevin Olsen

2:45-3:00 Speaker Panel led by Marie Kurz, Biogeochemistry Section Lead ANS

3:00 – 3:30 Afternoon Break, Coffee and Snacks Science Live

3:30 – 5:00 Final Session: Social and Economic Perspectives Auditorium

3:30-3:45 The Brandywine Christina Healthy Water Fund - Jennifer Egan

3:45-4:00 Local Involvement and Social Elements in Bacterial Management along the Musconetcong River - Jessica Miller

4:00-4:15 Municipal Code and Ordinance Reviews to Evaluate Forest Protection in the Delaware River Basin - Julie Schneider and JeanMarie Hartman

4:15-4:30 Evaluation of the Technical, Economic, and Social Impacts Associated with Updating Major Wastewater Treatment Infrastructure to Address Aquatic Life Uses and Values for the Delaware Estuary - John Yagecic

4:30-4:45 Economic Value of Restoring the Delaware Estuary - Erik Silldorff

4:45-5:00 Speaker Panel led by Roland Wall, Director, Patrick Center for Environmental Research ANS

5:00 Closing Remarks Auditorium Roland Wall, Director, Patrick Center for Environmental Research ANS

Page | 4 Delaware Watershed Research Conference 11.29.2018 Poster Presentations

Calibration and Validation of Soil Moisture Sensors Installed in Rain Gardens – Matina Shakya

Evaluating the Flashiness of Small Streams - Lesmes Alejandro Mora Jerez

Habitat Suitability for the American Shad (Alosa Sapidissima) Through the Determination of Aquatic Organism Passage and Water Quality in the Musconetcong River, NJ - Kevin Zerbe

A Comparative Analysis of the Watershed Resources Registry Using GIS to Evaluate Restoration Practices in the White Clay Creek National Wild and Scenic River Watershed - Jillian Young

The Impact of Ecological Restoration on Chironomidae Genera Abundance and Diversity in the Lower Delaware River Basin - Brendan Marencin

New Measures of Aquatic Habitat for Assessing Restoration Resilience - Hayley Oakland

Sediment and Nutrient Concentrations in Stormwater Runoff in Three Suburban Philadelphia Stream Catchments - Elizabeth M. Cushman

Modeling the Effects of Delaware River on Land Evolution in Darby Creek, PA - Hossein Hosseiny

Evaluating Point Source Nutrient Effects on Metabolic Activity in an Urban Stream - Marie Kurz, Sarah Ledford, Laura Toran

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Keynote Presentation

Laura Craig, Ph.D. Director of Science & Economics, American Rivers

Promoting and protecting the use of science in freshwater conservation

Aldo Leopold wrote that “we use science to ensure that we have the knowledge and perspective to be the best we can be at protecting and restoring rivers.” Science provides the information needed to develop and support policy advocacy positions, allows us to make predictions about the outcomes of proposed efforts, and helps us pursue opportunities that are likely to have the greatest conservation benefits. In this talk, I will discuss the important relationship between science and conservation; highlight how this relationship provides opportunities to expand scientific understanding and improve conservation practice; address a few of the challenges faced by scientists and managers working to protect and restore rivers (including the need to protect the use of science in conservation policy); and provide practical suggestions for improving the application of science to policy and practice.

Dr. Laura Craig is the Director of Science & Economics at American Rivers, a national conservation non-profit whose mission is to protect wild rivers, restore damaged rivers, and conserve clean water for people and nature. Laura works to ensure that American Rivers’ work is informed by the best available science; advance river conservation science by identifying and addressing research needs; and improve the application of existing science to conservation policy and practice. She has been honored as an Emerging Leader in a New Jersey Non-Profit by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and an Environmental Leadership Program Eastern Region Fellow. She serves on the Board of Advisors for the Tookany-Tacony Frankford Watershed Partnership, the Science and Technical Advisory Board of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, and the Scientific Review Committee of the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center. Laura has a BS in Biology from Susquehanna University and a PhD in Aquatic Ecology from the University of -College Park.

Page | 6 Delaware Watershed Research Conference 11.29.2018 Presentation Abstracts (Alphabetical by Presenter Last Name)

J.M. Battle1,* J.K. Jackson1, M. Erhart1, S. Kroll2, M.J. Kurz2, and M. Bullard3 1Stroud Water Research Center, Avondale PA 2Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel, Phila. PA 3Green Valley Watershed Association, Pottstown PA The impact of agricultural land use on streams in the Brandywine/Christina, Middle Schuylkill and Schuylkill Highland clusters Agriculture is a common cause of stream degradation in the Delaware River Watershed, resulting from field, barnyard, and in stream activities. From 2013-2018, we sampled water chemistry and macroinvertebrates at 152 sites that represented a wide gradient of agricultural conditions in the Brandywine/Christina (BC), Middle Schuylkill (MS) and Schuylkill Highland (SH) clusters. The proportion of agriculture upstream of sampling sites ranged from 0% to 85%, with greater agricultural land cover at the BC sites (average 41% of the watershed was farmed) than MS (38%) and SH (22%) sites. Results indicated macroinvertebrate assemblages differed based on agricultural intensity: sites with high agricultural land use were dominated by chironomids and worms while low agricultural sites were characterized by stoneflies (nemourids, capniids, perlids) and mayflies (ephemerellids and heptageniids). Restoration efforts are underway in these clusters with the goal of improving water quality and stream condition. Comparisons with a restoration project suggest statistically significant improvements in stream condition can take several (e.g., 15+) years, although small, preliminary improvements may appear earlier (e.g., 5 yr).

Tyler Bradley*1, Jacob R. Price1, & Christopher M. Sales1 1 Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, Drexel University Comparing Illumina MiSeq and PacBio SMRT sequencing of fecal samples from various animal sources potentially contributing to microbial contamination of the Delaware River watershed Next generation sequencing technologies allow for vast amounts of information to be collected about microbial communities in order to better understand their structure and function. There are several sequencing technologies available that allow for different amounts of DNA or RNA to be sequenced. The different approaches and chemistry used by sequencing instrument manufacturers results in large differences in total sequencing yield, read length limitations, and sequence data accuracy. For example, a typical run on one of the most popular sequencing technologies, Illumina MiSeq, may produce 25 million high quality paired end 300 bp reads (2 x 300 bp). Conversely, the new Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) Sequel platform can produce reads of significantly longer lengths (averaging 10-14 kb) at a sacrifice in total yield (~ 365,000 reads) and higher error rates.

Investigators researching microbiomes are faced with the challenge of selecting between technologies and chemistry to maximize the utility of the sequencing data. This can be particularly difficult as significant tradeoffs exist between the additional information that may be contained in longer reads or the negative effects of higher error rates or differences in sequencing depth, as well as their ultimate costs. To investigate these effects, these two technologies were employed to sequence 32 fecal samples targeting the 16S rRNA gene of bacteria. The Illumina MiSeq run targeted the V4-V5 hyper-variable regions (~300-350 bp) while the PacBio Sequel run targeted the full length 16S rRNA gene (~1500 bp). This study examines how closely the taxonomic assignments for these different technologies matched. It was investigated whether restricting sequence length to specific hyper-variable regions resulted in misclassification or overconfidence in taxonomic classification.

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Overall, both of these technologies resulted in similar taxonomic assignments with 46.4% of matches OTU's being classified identically to the genus level. Only 1.9% of MiSeq OTUs were matched with a SMRT OTU where both OTUs were assigned differently at the genus level. In addition, these fecal samples, from 9 different animal sources, were used in conjunction with water samples taken from waterways in the Delaware watershed to see what impact on river microbiome these different animals may have. Differential abundances were used to identify genera that are unique to specific animals, in order to determine how these sources may be affecting river water quality. The results from this study will allow us to determine the pros and cons of using short-read vs. long-read sequencing for microbial community analyses and for microbial source tracking.

John Bunnell*, Kelly Smalling, Vicki Blazer, and Heather Walsh NJ Pinelands Commission Point and non-point sources of endocrine disrupting compounds And the potential effects on fish and frogs in the New Jersey Pinelands The endocrine system is a collection of tissues in animals that produce hormones to regulate essential life processes, such as reproduction and development. A large group of natural and synthetic chemicals are known to disrupt endocrine function. Examples include plant hormones, plastic components, flame retardants, surfactants, fragrances, pesticides, etc. Endocrine disrupting chemicals, or EDCs, have been linked to reproductive and developmental abnormalities in fish and amphibians, and are a global environmental problem. Surface-water discharge of municipal wastewater has been identified as a major point source of EDCs to aquatic systems. On-site septic systems and chemical use associated with development and agriculture have been reported to represent non-point sources of EDCs. We are sampling surface water, fish, and green frogs at on- stream and off-stream sites with potential point and non-point sources of EDCs and will compare these results to minimally impacted reference sites. Animals are being assessed histologically for measures of endocrine disruption, such as intersex, as well as the presence of parasites and other pathology. Surface water is being analyzed for hormone activity and a large number of known or suspected EDCs. To date, we collected green frogs from eleven off-stream sites, including three stormwater basins and seven ponds with surrounding developed and agricultural land uses and one reference pond surrounded by forest. We completed four rounds of water chemistry sampling at seven off-stream sites, one round of chemistry sampling at six off-stream sites, and one round of chemistry sampling at all eight on-stream sites. We also completed reconnaissance of some of the on-stream sites to determine the species of fish that will likely be available for sampling in 2019. Preliminary histological and water chemistry results will be discussed.

Elizabeth M. Cushman*, Laura Toran, and Sarah Beganskas Temple University Sediment and nutrient concentrations in stormwater runoff in three suburban Philadelphia stream catchments We sampled stormwater runoff in three urban watersheds to evaluate the ability of stormwater control measures to improve water quality. We sampled during storm events to measure sediment, salt (Cl), and nutrient (NO3 and P) concentrations entering and exiting two bioretention basins, one along Jenkintown Creek and one in an unnamed tributary on Pennypack Creek. We also sampled stormwater runoff in a flood-prone area that is scheduled for future installment of infiltration trenches to evaluate water quality before and after this remediation. First flush stormwater samples were collected in bottles suspended from storm grates, buried underground in flow channels, and installed at basin outlets. The stormwater sample bottles were instrumented with temperature

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loggers to record the bottle filling time. Samples from storms collected in the late spring and summer 2018 were analyzed for NO3, total dissolved P, total P (dissolved plus on sediment), and suspended sediment concentration (SSC). Samples from a storm grate receiving stormwater runoff from a catchment containing a major roadway had higher SSC and NO3 concentrations than samples from a storm grate receiving stormwater runoff from a catchment with a higher percentage of residential land cover. Samples from a street also had higher SSC than samples from an adjacent parking lot. Samples collected from the basin outlets generally contained lower SSC, but sometimes higher Cl concentrations, than samples flowing into the basins. The higher Cl concentrations point to the multiple sources of stored Cl in urban soils. Changes in nutrient concentrations between the basin inlets and outlets were variable: during some storms, nutrient concentrations were reduced at the outlet, but during others, there was little change or an increase in nutrients. These findings indicate that major roads are a significant source of sediment and nutrients to urban streams and that bioretention basins are effective in reducing sediment concentrations, though they do not consistently reduce or dilute nutrients during storms. Understanding the effectiveness of green infrastructure is important for managing stormwater and budgeting mitigation.

Anneclaire J. De Roos*, PhD, MPH Associate Professor, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health Precipitation events, source water conditions, and risk of gastrointestinal illness in Philadelphia Runoff from heavy precipitation events can lead to microbiological contamination of source water for public water supplies. Multiple studies have found an association between heavy precipitation and risk of acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI), including in U.S. cities in compliance with drinking water standards; nevertheless, the epidemiologic results have been inconsistent. Philadelphia is a region of interest for a study of waterborne AGI because of its combined sewer systems leading to frequent overflows. We conducted a time-series analysis of the association between heavy precipitation and AGI incidence within the Delaware River Watershed, specifically in the city of Philadelphia, served by source water from the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. AGI cases on each day during the study period (2015-2017) were captured through syndromic surveillance of patients’ chief complaint upon presentation at local emergency departments. Daily precipitation was represented by several different sources of data, as well as proxies such as stream flow rate. We evaluated the association using distributed lag nonlinear models, assuming a quasi-Poisson distribution of the outcome variable and with adjustment for potential confounding by time trends, season, ambient temperature, day-of-week, and major holidays. There were no significant associations of precipitation with risk of AGI when considering precipitation based on measurement data from the National Weather Service monitor located at the Philadelphia International Airport, nor with total precipitation summed from gridded precipitation data within the delineated Delaware River watershed, upstream of intakes for the Philadelphia public water supply. However, flow rate of the source waters (either Schuylkill River or Delaware River, or average flow rate of the two rivers) was positively associated with AGI incidence, with notable peaks occurring around 8-10 days and 28 days after the flow rate measurement. For example, on lag day 8, there was an estimated 1.8% increase in AGI per 1 m3/s increase in Schuylkill River flow rate, when modeling a linear relationship (95% CI: 0.05%, 3.0%). In additional analyses, we evaluate non-linear associations, as well as relationships by source water (Schuylkill vs. Delaware Rivers), season, and age group. In our study, river flow rate variables were significant predictors of AGI incidence, whereas precipitation metrics were not. It is possible that flow rate is more indicative than rainfall itself, of runoff events leading to drinking water source contamination in Philadelphia. Page | 9 Delaware Watershed Research Conference 11.29.2018

Jennifer Egan, P.G. Ph.D. Principal Scientist – Skelly and Loy, Inc. The Brandywine Christina Healthy Water Fund Water funds are used throughout the world as a way to secure ecological services from upstream watershed areas that improve water quality and quantity for downstream users. They serve as a vehicle for the transfer of resources: downstream water users pay upstream land holders for restoration and preservation. The framework, function, and ecosystem service delivery are all unique to a watershed’s social, environmental, economic, and geographic conditions. Over the past five years, the William Penn Foundation, and more recently USDA National Resource Conservation Service through a Conservation Innovation Grant, has provided support for the development and implementation of a water fund for the Brandywine-Christina Delaware River Watershed Initiative Cluster. The goal of the Brandywine-Christina Healthy Water Fund (BCHWF) is to create a sustainable fund that assists in meeting US Environmental Protection Agency water quality targets. To attain sustainable funding, the BCHWF has a novel two prong approach 1) establish service lines and 2) cultivate future restoration investment. Project selection, prioritization, and deployment will utilize existing channels to leverage on-the-ground funding and community relationships. In full implementation, philanthropic investment will be transitioned to meet the demand of payors who reap benefits from fund services, and attract additional private capital, enabling the fund’s expansion of services. This presentation will provide a model of the BCHWF which can be used to supplement municipal strategies for water quality improvement based on NPDES/MS4 permit requirements.

Eugenia Ellis Drexel University Responsive Urban Environments: Looking at Philadelphia through the Lens of Ecosystem Management The Responsive Urban Environment (RUE) looks at the city through the lens of ecosystem management. Ecosystems themselves are complex adaptive systems that require flexibility and the capacity to respond to environmental feedback to cope with change and uncertainty. RUE considers the city as a complex network of interrelated systems that rely on each other to maintain system balance. A dialogue of hardscape to landscape, city infrastructure is comprised of buildings, roads and bridges with respect to green public space, waterways and food access – home to humans, plants and animals, the glue of its ecosystem is crossed by issues related to public health, the watershed and biodiversity. Developing strategies for the RUE is critical to ensure a low-carbon future for our planet. The proportion of the world’s population living in cities has steadily increased over the past century from 14 percent in the year 1900 to 50/50 in 2007. While more people are living in cities than in the countryside today, an estimated 70 percent of people are expected to be urbanites by the year 2050 – which is why RUE research is imperative today. Cities developed within a watershed, such as the Delaware River Basin, are especially vital for the RUE. Health of the watershed ensures health of the urban ecosystem. The well-tempered RUE is a low-energy sustainable city.

Colin B. Fuss1*, Gary M. Lovett1, Katherine F. Crowley1,2 1Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, New York 2Unity College, Unity, Maine Modeling effects of changing atmospheric nitrogen deposition and forest tree species composition on carbon and nitrogen cycling in the upper Delaware Basin

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The forests of the Delaware River Basin (DRB) are expected to experience multiple stressors over the coming decades, including atmospheric pollutant deposition, the introduction and spread of invasive pests and pathogens that are likely to reduce or eliminate certain tree species, and climate change. The effects of these changes on ecosystem processes such as carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling are uncertain. We used a species-specific, dynamic forest ecosystem model (Spe-CN) to investigate how future scenarios of atmospheric N deposition and species changes affect C and N cycling in representative forest stands in the upper DRB. The Spe-CN model allows the user to input scenarios of future N deposition, while varying tree species composition due to pest invasions or climate conditions. We found the magnitude and sensitivity of the response of C and N cycling to changes in N deposition are variable and are dependent on forest tree species composition. Increased N deposition increases N leaching for all species, but different species reach thresholds of elevated N leaching at different deposition levels. Tree species change will alter the ability of forest stands to retain atmospheric N deposition; for instance replacement of hemlock with hardwood species such as maple is likely to result in higher nitrate leaching from forests, especially under scenarios of stable or increasing N deposition. Overall, the Spe-CN model indicates that N deposition effects on N leaching and forest productivity depend on the tree species present in the watershed, and that predictions of transport from the forested watershed to the surface waters should take into account the changing tree species composition. Further parameterization of the model, including the incorporation of daily climate data, is ongoing. The model can be a powerful tool for predicting future ecosystem functioning in the forests of the DRB.

Heather S. Galbraith*, Carrie J. Blakeslee, Jeffrey C. Cole US Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, Northern Appalachian Research Laboratory Development of fine-scale temperature models in the Delaware River: Application to predictive temperature modeling, decision support tools, and ecosystem services Temperature is a primary driver of biological processes, directly or indirectly related to nearly all aspects of riverine ecology. However, large-scale, high resolution temperature models are scarce, especially for large river systems. Similarly, thorough understanding of the thermal biology of key aquatic species is lacking. Combined, this lack of information on thermal habitat makes it difficult to adequately predict or manage for changing thermal conditions associated with climate change and water management practices. The goal of our research is to 1) test available technology for collecting site-specific high-resolution temperature data within the upper Delaware Basin; 2) develop predictive high-resolution temperature models for multiple sites; 3) determine thermal tolerances for key aquatic species; 4) determine relationships between temperature and key ecosystem services; and 5) incorporate these findings into a decision support tool for use by resource managers. To date, we have collected in-stream temperature data at 3 sites (mainstem, East Branch, Neversink River) in the Delaware River Basin from October 2017 to October 2018 using 4 different technologies: fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing (DTS) cable, individual temperature loggers, a UAV-mounted thermal imaging system, and a boat-mounted sonar system. We have also collected critical thermal maximum data for 2 of 3 species of interest in the basin, specifically the American eel, American shad, and the eastern elliptio mussel (not yet tested). Additional data to be collected includes: field thermal data during hot, low-flow conditions (not experienced in summer 2018) and thermal response variables for all species including respiration rate, thermal preference, and swimming performance. The final phase of this study will be to develop and compare thermal models using the various data collection methods and integrate these findings into the Riverine Environmental Flows Decision Support System (REFDSS).

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Timothy W. Hawkins Department of Geography and Earth Science Center for Land Use and Sustainability Shippensburg University The impact of future climate variability on the hydrology of the Delaware River Basin A gridded model was developed to simulate the hydrology of the Delaware River Basin. CMIP5 climate projections, downscaled to 12 km resolution, were used to drive the model to assess changes in streamflow and watershed-wide hydrology. Evaluation statistics indicated good model performance. Annual average temperature basin-wide is projected to increase by the end of the century. Correspondingly, snowfall and snowpack are projected to decrease with the greatest changes seen in higher elevation and more northerly locations. A novel technique for more accurately representing potential evapotranspiration was employed and produced increases in potential and therefore also, actual evapotranspiration. Annual total precipitation is projected to increase. Due to warmer conditions and increased evapotranspiration, subsurface moisture is projected to decrease during the warmer months and the time to fully recharge increases and in some cases, never actually occurs. Streamflow, as an integration of all the hydrologic components over the entire basin is projected to increase slightly to moderately by the end of the century. In addition to better understanding the future general hydrology of the Delaware River Basin, results from this project are being used to help forecast future flood potential and forest ecosystem health for the basin.

Kristina Hopkins*, Gregory Noe, Samuel Lamont, Peter Claggett, Dianna Hogan, Emily Pindilli USGS Adding up floodplain benefits Retention of sediments and nutrients in floodplain areas provides critical ecosystem services to downstream communities. Lidar mapping, field data collection, and modeling were integrated to quantify the ecosystem service of sediment and nutrient retention that floodplains provide in the Delaware River watershed. The mapping component of this project resulted in the development of the Floodplain and Channel Evaluation Toolkit (FACET) to identify features and calculate key metrics describing channel and floodplain geometry from high-resolution bare-earth elevation data in the Delaware River watershed. Field data collection employed dendrogeomorphic techniques to estimate rates of stream bank erosion and floodplain sediment deposition at fifteen sites in the watershed. These two datasets were combined to develop predictive models estimating sediment trapping and export for each stream reach within the non-tidal portion of Delaware River watershed. This assessment of floodplain net sediment flux and associated ecosystem services will help identify areas for targeted management to maintain areas with high ecosystem service values, and to restore areas that could provide the most ecosystem service benefits.

Hossein Hosseiny Modeling the effects of Delaware River on land evolution in Darby Creek, PA Like many fully-urban watersheds, Darby Creek, PA, a tributary to the Delaware River, is highly flood- prone. This watershed in western Metro-Philadelphia is one of the most flood-prone in the US. And, like many coastal urban watersheds, this watershed is subject to backwater hydraulics, complicating flood modeling and geomorphic predictions. Its confluence with the Delaware River imposes a backwater hydraulic regime on Darby Creek. Although most of the world’s population live along the coast lines where backwater conditions take place, the engineering and scientific communities’

Page | 12 Delaware Watershed Research Conference 11.29.2018 understanding of the hydraulic condition and associated sediment transport is limited. This research predicts the spatial gradient of erosion and deposition in backwater conditions, providing a deeper understanding of channel and floodplain evolution in backwater conditions. To do that, an iterative methodology was developed that integrates different models and data. First, estimates of the water surface profile are created for a) a backwater zone with a gradually varied flow, b) a quasi-normal zone with a gravitational flow, and c) a transitional zone between quasi-normal and backwater zones for a specific discharge. For a quasi-normal zone, International River Interface Cooperative (iRIC) software is used to estimate the water surface profile along with 2D shear stresses. For a backwater zone, a 1D backwater profile is developed to generate the water surface profile. The water surface profile in the transitional zone, is obtained by linear adjustment between water surface profiles in the quasi-normal and backwater zones. The complete 1D water surface profile is used to generate a 2D water surface for the domain (inundation map). Based on adjusted water surface elevations, the 2D shear stresses for backwater and transitional zones are estimated. Shear stress domain is finally used to estimate geomorphological alterations over the domain through simulation time, creating a new land surface topographic to reflect the geomorphic adjustment. This is repeated iteratively for floods resulting in substantial geomorphic change. For this case study peak annual discharges were considered from 2006 through 2012. The results of this research provide a means to understand the dynamics of the floodplain evolution in Darby Creek and are applicable to river management and sustainable development.

Patrick Jantz, Claire Jantz*, Tim Hawkins Shippensburg University Multi-scale Assessment of Potential Climate Change Impacts to Eastern U.S. Tree Species The temperate forests of the eastern U.S. host a rich variety of tree species arrayed across broad temperature and precipitation gradients. Millions of people depend on these forests for ecosystem services, the delivery of which may be disrupted by rapid climate change. Species distribution models that link species observations to current or recent historical climate conditions have emerged as useful tools for understanding potential species responses to future climate change. Spatial scale, modeling approach, and input variables may influence model outputs and therefore our assessments of species vulnerability to climate change. Here we describe a modeling exercise using two climate datasets to model the distributions of several important eastern tree species at multiple scales. In addition, we used a hydrologic model to investigate the combined influence of temperature and precipitation on species distributions. Preliminary results indicate similar driving variables at 800 m and 12 km but with differences in correlation strength and importance in models. For some species, moisture availability variables showed promise for enhancing model performance.

Gerald J. Kauffman Director, Water Resources Center, Institute for public Administration School of Public Policy and Administration Water Quality Trends in the Brandywine Christina Cluster along the Arc Boundary of Delaware Over the last two decades, water quality has mostly improved in the four main streams of the Brandywine Christina Cluster along William Penn's 1682 arc boundary between Delaware and . Since 1995, water quality sampled by the State of Delaware at 14 of 20 monitoring stations have improved, 5 have remained constant, and 1 has degraded for levels of dissolved oxygen, enterococcus bacteria, nitrogen, phosphorus, and total suspended sediment. The full

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weight of investment in watershed restoration in the headwaters by public, private, and nonprofit partners seems to be paying off and with continued attention the fishable and swimmable goals of the Clean Water Act along several streams are just a few years from being achieved.

Stanley J. Kemp*, Emily Carambelas, James Kugel, Dustin Koller, Mustafa Sayyed, Andrea Welker University of Baltimore, Villanova University Evaluating Biological Responses to Modern Stormwater Control Measures: Preliminary Results and Project Update Understanding and quantifying the comprehensive impact of stream and watershed restoration is a key in the design of effective strategies for restoration. Since 2016, an impacted stream (Chrome Run) has been monitored to quantify the response to new stormwater control measures (SCMs) associated with the proposed Promenade at Granite Run project. The new SCMs are part of the site redevelopment requirements of the former 1970s era Granite Run mall in Media, PA, and are in contrast to the previous direct hydraulic connection of 66 impervious acres to Chrome Run, a tributary to Chester Creek. Since summer 2016, the physical, chemical and biological properties of two sites on Chrome Run (Headwaters, Downstream) and three other area streams (Dismal Run, Rocky Run, and Dicks Run) have been monitored. Evaluation of the impacts of the SCMs at redevelopment site will be possible through a BACI design. This presentation will detail preliminary results of the study with respect to monitoring fish and invertebrate communities. Significant differences existed in fish species richness between streams prior to and during SCM construction (RM One-Way ANOVA; df=3; P<0.0001). According to a Holm-Sidak post hoc analysis, mean species richness was significantly greater in Rocky Run and Dismal Run (mean=7.0 and 6.0, respectively) than that found at Chrome Run (Downstream), Chrome Run (Headwaters), or Dicks Run (mean=4.0, 1.5, and 3.0 respectively). Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) and fish biomass estimates will be compared between sites. Species located in Dismal Run not found in Chrome Run included brown trout, cutlips minnow, and tessellated darter. Species absence in monitored streams will be discussed in light of monitored physical conditions. Analysis of benthic invertebrate data revealed significant differences between the streams in terms of EPT indices (RM One-Way ANOVA; df=3; P=0.023), with Dismal Run having significantly greater EPT (Mean=6.3) than those for Chrome Run (Headwaters) and Dicks Run (Mean=1.7 and 2.3, respectively). The results of the completed study, and their implications, will improve our understanding of the impact watershed restoration has on stream biological communities in the context of stream physical and chemical processes. In turn, this will improve implementation of SCMs, as well as the evaluation and monitoring of the impacts of these activities.

James D. Kugel*, Emily E. Carambelas, Andrea L. Welker, Ph.D, P.E., and Stanley J. Kemp, Ph.D. Villanova University Monitoring Stream Geometry at the Headwaters and Downstream in Chrome Run Stream bank erosion is a naturally occurring process that is known to be affected by the increased runoff volumes and peak flows associated with dense urban development. The observed widened channel and undercut stream banks near the headwaters of the Chrome Run, located in Middletown Township, Pennsylvania, suggest the development within the watershed has accelerated the rate of bank erosion. As part of a robust before after control impact study, the stream geometry of the Chrome Run (at the headwaters and downstream) and two additional streams were monitored to assess rates of erosion and accumulation. Bank pins and channel cross-section surveys were used to document changes to the stream geometry. This presentation provides documented changes in

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stream geometry from four different monitoring sites observed between October 2017 and October 2018. Bank erosion occurred at each of the sites during the monitoring period; however, as expected, the rate of bank erosion within the more densely developed watersheds was greater than the rate of bank erosion within the less developed watershed.

Marie Kurz1*, Sarah Ledford2,3, Laura Toran2 1 Academy of Natural Science of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 2 Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 3 Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA Evaluating Point Source Nutrient Effects on Metabolic Activity in an Urban Stream Anthropogenic inputs of nutrients to streams, including effluent from waste water treatment plants (WWTP), are a major driver of impaired water quality and altered ecosystem functioning in streams worldwide. We evaluated in-stream metabolic activity along two 1.5- 2 km-long reaches of the Wissahickon Creek directly below the outfalls of two WWTPs using multiple methods: the metabolic tracer Raz-Rru and the diel oxygen method. Our goal was to evaluate if and how aerobic respiration and nutrient retention efficiency varied below different WWTP effluent outfalls in an urban stream. We were especially interested in capturing sub-daily variations in respiration that may be caused by changes in effluent quantity or quality, which would be captured by the Raz-Rru method but missed with the daily diel method of calculation. Approximately 150 samples were collected over 5 – 6 hour injections at each site and analyzed for Raz, Rru, fluorescein, chloride, and nitrate concentrations. 15- minute dissolved oxygen time-series were used to calculate ecosystem respiration using the StreamMetabolizer R code. The methods showed very different results in in-stream respiration for the two sites and for different methods. The uptake velocity of Raz was on the order of 0.7 mm/min below Upper Gwynedd, the headwater WWTP, and negligible (<0.01 mm/min) below Amber, the lower WWTP. These values are amongst the lowest reported in the literature, indicating that respiration determined by this method is low to non-existent at these sites. In contrast, diel DO modeling showed respiration rates of -6.4 g O2 m-2 d-1 below Upper Gwynedd and -7.5 g O2 m-2 d-1 below Ambler, both of which are respiration rates that are on the higher end of rates reported using diel DO modeling, but not unheard of in urban streams. This disconnect between Raz-Rru and DO values of respiration may indicate that the diurnal DO method misses important heterogeneity of respiration rates in high nutrient urban streams that can only be seen by integrating over distance (tracer tests) rather than taking point measurements (logger site). This is supported by the fact that, at the sub-daily time scale, both sites showed a decrease in Raz uptake velocity over the afternoon of sampling, indicative of changes in respiration rates through time. We also found that, for the Raz- Rru method, we see very different in-stream responses of metabolism below different WWTPs, indicating that response to the nutrient loads in these streams are not uniform.

Brendan Marencin*, Meghan J. O’Donnell, Stefanie A. Kroll Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University The Impact of Ecological Restoration on Chironomidae Genera Abundance and Diversity in the Lower Delaware River Basin Restoring an ecosystem to accelerate recovery is a widely accepted practice in aquatic ecology to improve biological communities and ecosystem functioning. Despite the growing number of projects, there is a lack of research and monitoring that demonstrate their effectiveness. The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University’s “Past Restoration: Success or Failure?” project, funded through the Growing Greener Program by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, is a two-year study on biological indicators upstream and downstream of restoration

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efforts performed four to fifteen years prior to determine effectiveness. We sampled aquatic macroinvertebrates within fourteen stream habitats where restorations were implemented within the lower Delaware River Basin. Genus-level analyses are being used to determine the distributions of Chironomidae taxa along gradients of impairment in an effort to assess the success of the restoration projects. One important component of these analyses is the composition and diversity of genera in the family Chironomidae found in the studied area. High diversity within this family and presence within a wide variety of stream habitats (especially in regard to pollution tolerance levels), makes Chironomidae an important family to study. Abundance and diversity metrics show that pollutant tolerant Chironomidae genera are the dominant taxa in lower quality, more polluted streams found at the Growing Greener sites; more sensitive genera tend to be greatly reduced or completely lost due to organic pollution.

Jessica Miller*, Meiyin Wu, Nancy Lawlor, Alan Hunt Montclair University Local Involvement and Social Elements in Bacterial Management along the Musconetcong River As part of an interdisciplinary project to assess the bacterial levels in the Musconetcong River, this work is centered on understanding management questions concerning best practices along this tributary to the Delaware River. For this portion of the work, we will be conducting focus groups and interviews with individuals who all have some influence on the bacteria levels in the Musconetcong River through land-based activities or public health implications. Understanding the limitations and motivations landowners have towards changing their landscapes will guide future land management practices along the river. Interviews with public health officials will allow us to discuss management of bacteria in local waterways, and an upcoming focus group with wildlife managers will encourage a conversation that may impact understanding how wildlife managers work towards managing bacterial sources from wildlife near waterways. These perspectives will allow us to assess the challenges to reducing bacterial contamination in the river, and work with community partners to reduce this contamination.

Lesmes Mora Jerez*, Hailey Brockett, Andrea Welker, and Stanley Kemp. Villanova University Evaluating the Flashiness of Small Streams Five monitoring sites have been established to evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation of large-scale stormwater controls at the headwaters of a watershed. The Before-After-Control- Impact approach is being used to assess all aspects of the functional stream pyramid. There are two monitoring sites on the study stream (Chrome Run): GRM02 and GRM01, which correspond to headwaters and downstream. In addition, there are two references sites, Dicks Run (GRM04) and Rocky Run (GRM05), as well as one control site, Dismal Run (GRM03). It is well established that impervious surfaces due to development contribute significantly to increased runoff volume and discharge which result in a flashy hydrologic response in receiving water bodies. While the concept of a flashiness index is well understood for larger streams, there is scant research on using this type of index for smaller streams. The flashiness index is a method for ranking the frequency and rapidity of short-term stream flow fluctuations from a storm. The flow rate and amount of precipitation for each monitoring site were examined for each of the five locations from July through September 2018 to calculate the flashiness index. The Richards Pathlength equation was employed to obtain the flashiness index by using the amount of rainfall and measured flow at five minute increments for evaluated storms from the studied time period. Results from this study

Page | 16 Delaware Watershed Research Conference 11.29.2018 demonstrate the association between high flashiness indices with high percentages of impervious land cover in the watersheds. Hayley Oakland*, Dr. Matthew Baker, Dr. Stefanie Kroll University of Baltimore, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University New measures of aquatic habitat for assessing restoration resilience Stream channel restoration projects often assume that modifications to physical habitat can positively influence local stream ecosystem integrity. However, conventional field surveys of stream habitat rely on either low-resolution data over large scales, or high-resolution data on small scales extended to the sampling reach. Thus, habitat modification in the restoration process may not be fully understood by traditional measures. Recent technological advances in aerial surveying methods may dramatically improve measures of stream habitat while lowering costs and time in the field. Our research compares field and aerial surveys of aquatic habitat, and tests for effects of habitat alteration on biotic responses following stream restorations in the Piedmont physiographic province of Maryland and Pennsylvania. Field and aerial surveys of channel habitat allow for comparison of the relative quality of both measures, and assessment relative to biotic responses. Taxonomic and functional diversity of aquatic insects will allow us to examine if and how restoration has altered the capacity of these local communities to remain resilient to ongoing perturbation. Our research will be among the first to test the ability of drones to measure fluvial landscapes, and bring new perspectives to the role of physical habitat in contributing to the restoration of stream ecosystems.

Hayley C. Oakland*, Stefanie A. Kroll Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Studying past stream restorations to inform future action Stream restoration projects have become a common practice in watershed management. These projects are employed to meet a variety of goals, but one goal that can be particularly hard to predict is ecological improvement. Aquatic ecosystems respond to restoration on varying time scales, but often require longer to respond to restoration than what is allowed by short-term post-project monitoring. The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University studied 17 stream restoration projects that were completed at least five years prior to the start of our study. We assessed physical and ecological components of the affected stream system, with the goal of understanding how similar restoration projects might fare in the longer term. Results can be placed in the context of local conditions, such as location in the watershed, receiving stream characteristics, and surrounding land use, as well as project conditions, such as design and maintenance. Analyzing the physical and ecological outcomes in the context of these conditions will help us to inform setting realistic ecological goals for future projects.

Kevin K. Olsen1*, Jennifer Aguilar2, David Hse1, Alessandra Rossi1, Kevin W. Zerbe1, and Meiyin S. Wu1 Passaic River Institute, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ1 Academy for Enrichment and Advancement, Union City, NJ2 Characterization of the organic matter found in the suspended solids of the Musconetcong River, NJ, using Pyrolysis – GC/MS The organic matter associated with the solids suspended in river water can be traced back to vascular plants, algae, bacteria and soil. Knowing the composition of these organic solids can provide insights to their sources and enhance data-driven management decisions. The present study Page | 17 Delaware Watershed Research Conference 11.29.2018

combines the Total Suspended Solids (TSS) determination with Pyrolysis – Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (Pyro-GC/MS). Since many pyrolysis products can serve as markers for different types of organic materials we can use them to determine the sources and composition of the organic matter in the suspended solids. We hypothesize that the composition of the organic compounds will vary according to the sample point in the watershed. The study area encompasses approximately 12 kilometers of the Musconetcong River of western New Jersey starting at the town of Hampton. Samples were taken from points on the river’s main stem and several tributaries. The results of the study found there were no substantial shifts in the composition of the organic matter between the upstream start of the study area and its western boundary. However there were differences detected between organic solid compositions of the main stem sites and the tributary sites. The vascular plant contribution at the main stem was 60% higher than the composition at the tributary sample points. The compositions at tributary sties had increased amounts of microbial pyrolysis markers indicating higher microbial densities. The tributary sites also had slightly less of the 3- & 4-methyl phenols that can be markers for grass lignins. The results indicate that there is a substantial vascular plant and humic/fulvic acid contribution to the organic matter suspended in the main stem water column.

James Pizzuto1*, R. LeBivic1, K. McCarthy1, N. Sturchio1, M. Sherif1, M. O’Neal1, Z. Cannon1, D. Karwan2, L. Rose2, J. Pipala1, S. Stotts3 1 Dept. of Geological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark,DE 2 Dept. of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 3 Wesley College, Dover, DE Quantifying Sediment Processes in the White Clay Creek Watershed: Preliminary Assessment Upland hillslopes and gullies are potentially significant sources of sediment to the White Clay Creek. Our field observations suggest, however, that many gullies are not actively eroding. Sediment eroded from upland hillslopes and gullies only reaches the stream channel during the largest storms. During storms with low to moderate magnitude, within-channel biogeochemical processes are the primary source of suspended material. Eroding banks supply a significant portion of the sediment carried by the White Clay Creek, and some sediments may have been waiting in deposits for more than 10,000 years before being eroded. The locations of eroding banks are controlled by outcrops of bedrock and colluvium, the presence of engineering structures such as former railroad embankments, stream centerline curvature, and proximity to former mill dams. Forested riparian areas have lower rates of bank erosion (6.2  3.5 cm/yr) than non-forested areas (19.1  8.8 cm/yr). Networks of temperature sensors installed in eroding banks and high-resolution topographic monitoring illustrate how freeze-thaw processes influence rates and patterns of bank retreat. Sediment is stored on floodplains at rates that average ~1 cm/yr in low slope areas. As slope increases, however, floodplain deposition rates decline towards zero, indicating that overbank sediment storage is unimportant along localized steep gorges of the White Clay Creek. These data can be used to develop a quantitative sediment budget for the White Clay Creek, and when combined with estimates of the ages of eroding sediments, the movement of sediment through the watershed on decadal and centennial timescales can be assessed. Initial sediment dating suggests that some sediments may require thousands of years to travel through the watershed of the White Clay Creek.

Elizabeth Rielly-Carroll*, PhD and Dian He, PhD Holy Family University Assessing the effectiveness of riparian buffers at removing nutrients and sediment from runoff

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Continuing land conversion, together with a changing climate that is predicted to increase the intensity and frequency of storms, will increase the export of excess nutrients to streams in the Delaware River Basin via overland flow. The vegetation present in a riparian buffer slows down water flow, filters sediment, and uptakes excess nutrients before they can be deposited in a stream. We aim to establish whether suites of certain plant species or plant functional traits optimize nutrient and sediment removal from overland flow, and therefore are more effective at protecting streams from pollutants in runoff. We are currently using specialized storm water collecting devices at Glen Foerd on the Delaware which we deploy at the upper and lower edges of the riparian zone to collect overland flow. After a rainfall event, the samples are returned to the lab where they are analyzed for their total suspended solids, nitrate, and phosphate content. While still preliminary, our findings so far suggest that a restored riparian buffer receives less nutrients in overland flow than an unrestored buffer, and the restored buffer is more effective at reducing nitrate concentrations. The outcomes of this work will elucidate the relationship between riparian plant diversity and nutrient uptake. Ultimately, these findings can be applied to riparian restoration/augmentation efforts along fragmented sections of the Delaware basin to ensure optimal nutrient management by riparian buffer zones.

Rubait Rahman, Leah Palm-Forster, Olesya Savchenko*, Kent D. Messer Rubait Rahman: Graduate student, Department of Applied Economics and Statistics, University of Delaware. Leah Palm-Forster: Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Economics and Statistics, University of Delaware. *Olesya Savchenko (presenter): Postdoctoral researcher, Department of Applied Economics and Statistics, University of Delaware. Kent D. Messer: Professor, Department of Applied Economics and Statistics, University of Delaware. Reducing Household Nutrient Run-off: Power of Testimonials, Adoption and Sustained Maintenance of Best Management Practices Nutrient runoff is a major contributor to nonpoint source pollution, a leading cause of water quality degradation in the U.S. Individual homeowners’ decisions can affect water quality through adoption of various lawn care best management practices (BMPs) that can reduce runoff from residential lawns. In this study we design an incentive-compatible framed field experiment to examine homeowners’ decisions to adopt BMPs in response to different program delivery approaches that “nudge” greater adoption of environmentally-beneficial behavior sustained over time. Specifically, we experimentally test the impact of individual testimonials on homeowners’ adoption and willingness to pay for native plants, framed as an environmental beneficial technology. We also evaluate the effectiveness of giving away the product for free compared to offering the product at a discounted rate or with a cost-share, both in the number of products distributed and in sustained maintenance of the products through monitoring after the product is distributed.

Julie Schneider*, JeanMarie Hartman*, Karen Cappiella, Stephanie P. Dalke, Will Price Municipal Code and Ordinance Reviews to Evaluate Forest Protection in the Delaware River Basin Our first year of study focused on forest distribution and protection patterns in the Delaware River Basin. Based on our analysis and input from our Advisory Group, we focused on two physiographic regions at the center of the Basin, the valley and ridge and highlands regions. During the second year of our forest protection study, we completed a detailed review of municipal ordinances for 53 randomly selected municipalities in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The purpose of the review was to answer the research question: How do forest protection regulations in the study area compare to established benchmarks and how do they vary across municipalities? The results will be used to

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guide where and how future ordinance work occurs in the basin, improve future land use forecasting models and improve our understanding of what makes forest protection regulations effective. The questions used for the code review were compiled from the Center for Watershed Protection’s recently revised Code and Ordinances Worksheet (COW), a tool developed in 1998 to help communities evaluate and improve their local development regulations so they reduce impervious cover, conserve natural areas and reduce stormwater pollution. COW questions that relate to forest protection were selected for inclusion in our checklist. The checklist allows an in-depth review of a community’s codes and ordinances in terms of their ability to protect forests from direct and indirect impacts during development. It is not intended to evaluate how well these regulations are actually implemented and enforced, or to evaluate the ability of land use plans, programs, or institutional frameworks to protect forest land.

The checklist included 36 questions organized around six topic areas: Zoning, Buffers, Clearing and Grading, Forest Conservation, Floodplain and Wetland Protection, and Open Space Design and Management. Of the 53 municipalities whose codes were reviewed, the average total score was 33%, with a range of 0% to 79%. Currently, we are studying the results for significant patterns, for instance the three Bucks county municipalities had values ranging from 58 to 79% while the five Lehigh County municipalities had values ranging from 6 to 42% - indicating that county programs may have a significant influence on municipal ordinances.

During the upcoming year we will be integrating the COW results with GIS data such as impervious surface, riparian buffer land use characteristics, and water quality data in order to see whether and how these factors are correlated with the local regulations.

Matina Shakya*, Ph.D. Candidate1, Robert Traver, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, F.EWRI, F.ASCE2, Bridget Wadzuk, Ph.D., A.M.ASCE3 Calibration and validation of soil moisture sensors installed in rain gardens Soil moisture content profile are studied for various storm events during 2017/2018 along rain gardens constructed at the Girard Avenue, PA of Interstate-95. The soil profile analyses are the results of the data obtained through soil moisture sensors, which are buried vertically at distinct depths in a rain garden soil setting. The moisture content profile varied for distinct depths and are highly dependent on rainfall volume, intensity and duration. A comparative study is carried out between the field data, the simulated data and the laboratory data to verify the results obtain through the sensors. In addition, further study is being carried out to quantify the volume of storm water captured by these rain garden for the individual rain events and are modeled in GIFMOD to establish a relationship between rainfall and moisture content.

Erik L. Silldorff1*, Carolyn Alkire2, Spencer R. Phillips2, and Sonia Wang2 1 – Delaware Riverkeeper Network 2 – Key-Log Economics, LLC Economic Value of Restoring the Delaware Estuary Efforts to complete the restoration of the Delaware Estuary dissolved oxygen sag have failed in recent decades for numerous reasons, and the repeated failures warn that renewed efforts likewise face serious challenges. Key among these challenges is addressing the multiple public policy components of the decision-making process. To help balance the public discourse and to enable what economists would call rational and efficient decisions going forward, we are quantifying, in economic terms, the benefits of efforts to restore dissolved oxygen (D.O.) in the Delaware River

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Estuary. In this presentation, we will describe our efforts from both ecological and economic perspectives, and provide updates on the current status of this research effort.

Namsoo Suk, Li Zheng and Tom Fikslin Delaware River Basin Commission Modeling Eutrophication Processes in the Delaware Estuary to Link Watershed Efforts to Control Nutrient Impacts The goal of this project is to develop and calibrate a hydrodynamic and water quality model of eutrophication processes in the Delaware Estuary and Bay. This model will be utilized to evaluate the loadings of nutrients from various sources on water quality and ecological endpoints established for the Delaware Estuary. This project will link the Delaware River Watershed Initiative effort to address nutrient issues in tributaries to the current efforts of the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) to address dissolved oxygen and nutrient-related impacts in the estuary. During the second year of the project, efforts were invested into two major areas; the collection and analysis of data, and model development. Nutrients and auxiliary water quality parameters have been collected from point and nonpoint sources and ambient waters of the estuary to identify important processes. Data collection will continue through 2018 and 2019 in support of the model development. Two and three- dimensional hydrodynamic models for the Delaware estuary were developed for the two-year period of 2012 and 2013. Simulation results from both models are being evaluated through comparison with available observed data. Development of a model(s) is an iterative process and uncertainty of model performance is reduced as more observed data becomes available.

Meiyin Wu1*, T. David Hsu1, Alessandra Rossi1, Kevin Olsen1, Kevin W. Zerbe1, Molly Hillenbrand1, Edward Wong1, Lee Lee1, Christa Reeves2 and Nancy Lawler2 1.Passaic River Institute, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 2.Musconetcong Watershed Association, Asbury, NJ. Revisiting the Musconetcong River after Ten Years The Musconetcong River, a major tributary of the Delaware River, is impaired due to the high abundance of fecal coliforms. With financial support from the Delaware Watershed Research Fund, Montclair State University and Musconetcong Watershed Association conducted a water quality and quantity assessment project monitoring pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, stream width, stream depth, stream velocity, discharge, ammonia-N, nitrate-N, nitrite-N, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, dissolved orthophosphate phosphorus, total suspended solids, total coliform and E. coli from May to October 2018. The goal of the project is to understand the trends in water quality and quantity by comparing the 2018 results with the assessment results collected in 2007.

Between 2007 and 2018, various best management practices (BMPs) were implemented for water quality enhancement, and including limiting access to streams by improving manure management, and increasing riparian buffer size, a septic outreach program for citizens, etc. Water quality and quantity data will be coupled with restoration efforts in order to evaluate the effectiveness of various BMPs techniques on reduction of fecal contamination. Additionally, Microbial Source Tracking will be performed to determine the origins of fecal contamination. The results of this study will provide recommendations for future BMPs and for revising the existing Total Maximum Daily Load for fecal coliform.

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John Yagecic*, Namsoo Suk, Tim Bradley Delaware River Basin Commission, Kleinfelder Evaluation of the technical, economic, and social impacts associated with updating major wastewater treatment infrastructure to address aquatic life uses and values for the Delaware Estuary Over the past 50 years, Delaware Estuary water quality has changed dramatically reflecting scientific study, environmental regulation, and investment in enhanced water pollution control. Next steps on the path of continued water quality improvement include attainment of dissolved oxygen levels capable of supporting robust fish and shellfish populations in the Estuary. The Delaware River Basin Commission along with the basin states of Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, and federal partners, are undertaking a series of studies to determine the water quality criteria necessary to support higher aquatic life uses for the Estuary and the nutrient load reductions from point and non-point sources needed to attain supportive dissolved oxygen concentrations. One key component of this effort is a study to examine enhancements to wastewater treatment to meet specific effluent quality targets for ammonia and total nitrogen and assess resulting economic and social benefits and costs. In July 2018, DRBC entered into a contract with Kleinfelder to perform engineering evaluation and cost analysis of nutrient treatment practices and technologies of the top twelve wastewater treatment facilities in the Delaware Estuary. Under this project Kleinfelder will develop technology recommendations for ammonia and total nitrogen removal, develop capital and O&M cost estimates for several levels of treatment, and prepare cost curves. Work under this contract is expected to be completed by 2020. This presentation will describe the technical methodology of the engineering evaluation and cost estimate and put that project in the larger context of the dissolved oxygen criteria effort.

Jillian Young Water Science and Policy Water Resources Center, University of Delaware A Comparative Analysis of the Watershed Resources Registry Using GIS to Evaluate Restoration Practices in the White Clay Creek National Wild and Scenic River Watershed The Watershed Resources Registry (WRR) is a new interactive online mapping tool, created by federal, state, and local partners. The tool prioritizes areas for preservation and restoration in different landscapes across an entire state. The WRR uses a variety of absolute and relative criteria to rank potential restoration and preservation areas from one to five stars. The State of Delaware launched its WRR in 2017. Potential applications of the WRR are promising; however, few studies have been completed to assess the validity of the WRR in Delaware. The Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit Program (MS4), under the US EPA’s Clean Water Act, requires New Castle, Delaware to develop Water Quality Improvement Plans (WQIPs) for two watersheds over the next year. A viable option is for the county to develop a WQIP for the White Clay Creek watershed, which provides 20% of the drinking water supply to 200,000 people in Delaware and is designated a National Wild and Scenic River watershed. This study assesses the accuracy of the WRR and determines whether it will prove to be an effective project selection tool and useful in the development of the White Clay Creek watershed’s WQIP. In this study, ArcGIS Pro is used for the comparative analysis. Statistics are computed based on preservation and restoration site selection using the WRR and using a previously developed WQIP in an adjacent watershed prior to the launch of the WRR. The goal is to indicate whether the WRR's selections align with previously chosen restoration sites. Preliminary results compare site selection

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within the adjacent Christina River watershed since a WQIP has not yet been created for the White Clay Creek watershed. Preliminary data support the application of the WRR in the White Clay Creek watershed. Results show the WRR aligning best with stormwater restoration practice selections in two, four, and five-star categories. Wetland restoration practice selections have poor alignment in two through five-star categories. While research is still ongoing, the WRR has already proven to be a valuable tool and has widespread application for developing future WQIPs not only in Delaware, but the surrounding Mid-Atlantic States.

Kevin W. Zerbe1*, T. David Hsu1, Alessandra Rossi1, Kevin Olsen1, Nancy Lawler2, and Meiyin S. Wu1 Passaic River Institute, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ1 Musconetcong Watershed Association, Asbury, NJ2 Habitat suitability for the American shad (Alosa sapidissima) through the determination of aquatic organism passage and water quality in the Musconetcong River, NJ American shad’s (Alosa sapidissima) reappearance in the Musconetcong River of western New Jersey in 2017 marked the first recorded observation of American shad in the Musconetcong watershed for more than 150 years. While dam removal is projected to continue along the Musconetcong River, possibly opening up new migration corridors for anadromous fishes, road- stream crossings could potentially influence the full recolonization of fish populations by acting as barriers to migration and/or spawning. Water quality and quantity were monitored at five bridge sites within a 10.5 km stretch of the Musconetcong River from May to October 2018. The results were coupled with aquatic organism passage (AOP) scores at each site to determine if the study area was a suitable migratory and spawning habitat for the American shad. Stream crossings at all five sites provided full AOP according the protocol developed by the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative, suggesting that the physical dimensions of each crossing, as well as their influence on stream dynamics, did not restrict the migrations of anadromous species such as American shad. Many measurements of water quality (temperature, pH, suspended sediment, dissolved oxygen) were within the shad's preferences for optimal spawning habitat at each site during the shad's typical spawning period (late spring through summer). Stream depth at each site was the only parameter that did not fall within the shad’s optimal range for spawning (1.5+ m), and stream velocities approach the intolerable range (>1 m/sec) at some sites. Only one site was deemed intolerable spawning habitat due to shallowness. Our analysis suggests that AOP and water quality in this stretch of the Musconetcong River is adequate enough for shad migration, but shallow stream depths and potentially high stream velocities may preclude spawning activity in this area.

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