River Basin Management, An Interstate Approach

A description is given of the organization and powers of the Delaware River Basin Commission, established by a Federal-interstate Compact to manage and coordinate comprehensive planning for development of the water resources of the Basin. Some of the major coordinative problems and the handling of a drought emergency are described. Unless plans are made either for subregional diversions of waste to consolidated plants, or substantial low flow augmentation capability is introduced together with further in-stream treatment, the streams themselves will become almost totally effluent carriers during low-flow periods, and the value for other purposes—such as recreation, fishing, water supply below certain points and general esthetics—will be seriously impaired, if not completely destroyed. It is concluded that management of a river basin has to be done as a constant development of a system, and must be managed on a day-to-day basis by an agency cognizant of the various requirements and representative of many interests.