Our purpose.
Our purpose in developing the Upper Delaware River (UDR) Network Action Agenda (UDR Action Agenda) is to create a 5-year plan that provides a framework and blueprint for watershed stakeholders to use as a guide for the future management of UDR water resources.
The UDR Action Agenda priorities are aligned with those of the federal Delaware River Basin Restoration Program which addresses flooding, water quality, habitat, and recreational opportunities throughout the basin.
In the Spring of 2023 a Steering Committee and a Technical Advisory Committee (“the committees”) were formed to provide guidance and technical assistance to project leaders. Committee membership included some of the most active and knowledgeable watershed practitioners across New York's UDR Watershed.
Throughout 2023 into 2024, project leaders implemented a comprehensive public outreach program that engaged a wide diversity of stake-holders, interviewed dozens of local elected officials and agency personnel, and researched existing sub-watershed plans that predated this effort.
Through this effort the most pressing threats, the most important projects requiring implementation, the most challenging impediments to conservation initiatives, and the most available opportunities to ensure conservation advancements were identified.
Through the extensive one on one and small group conversations we had with community leaders, three common themes emerged:
Climate Change – The frequency and intensity of storm events is on the rise due to changing weather patterns resulting in water quality and habitat impacts. Increased flooding that threatens human life, property, public safety, and public infrastructure is another damaging outcome of climate change and is a pressing concern in almost every municipality in the watershed.
Existing High Quality Natural Resources - Much of the lands and waters in the UDR Watershed are widely regarded as healthy, clean and relatively free of serious pollution or degradation problems. This means the UDR Action Agenda can emphasize preventive protection approaches that are often easier and more affordable than restorative measures.
Funding for Watershed Protection – The availability of funding to support projects was consistently recognized as both an encouraging story but also an urgent need. While public and private funding sources for watershed protection have notably increased over the decades, there is still a dramatic gap between available funding and demonstrated need.
