The health of the Delaware River is a work in progress. The river is a lot cleaner than it was in the mid-20th century when discharges from wastewater treatment plants turned it into an “open sewer,” in the words of the Delaware River Basin Commission. Since then, tougher regulation on discharges has boosted oxygen levels in the river, allowing fish such as shad to return and breed in areas that previously supported little or no aquatic life, while improving water quality for drinking and recreation.

But now the gains are threatened by the Trump administration’s final rollback of the Waters of the U.S. Rule that protects smaller wetlands and seasonal streams from pollution or development. Since those sources feed larger waterways like the Delaware River - whose watershed supplies drinking water to some 13 million people - the measure could set back years of progress, advocates say.

Our panelists will address the progress that has been made in the Delaware River watershed over the last half-century, and examine the factors that could slow or reverse it. Please join us for this NJ Spotlight roundtable event.

Panelists:

Carol R. Collier, Senior Advisor, Watershed Management and Policy, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

Dr. Alan Hunt, Executive Director, Musconetcong Watershed Association

Doug O'Malley, Director, Environment New Jersey

Additional panelists to be announced.

Moderator:

Jon Hurdle, Environment Reporter, NJ Spotlight

Free parking available on site.