Water Quality Trading in the Lower Delaware River Basin: A ...

There are many other organizations in the LDR Basin who could be instrumental in
promoting water quality trading. The following list, while not intended to be exhaustive,
represents a sampling of some of the key organizations.
• Delaware River Port Authority—The DRPA “invests in the economic growth of
Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey” (www.drpa.org) and can
promote the trading concepts with its members.
• Delaware River and Bay Authority – DRBA, created by Compact in 1962,
promotes transportation links between Delaware and four counties in NJ. It also
promotes economic development in the region (www.drba.net/about/about).
• Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission—DVRPC, created in 1965,
“provides continuing, comprehensive, and coordinated planning” in five
Pennsylvania counties and four New Jersey counties (www.dvrpc.org). They are
directed by an 18-member Board and have over 100 full- time employees who
work on a broad spectrum of planning issues, including environment,
transportation, housing, land use, and air quality.
• Other state agencies – Each state has other governmental organizations that relate
to the environment. These include organizations that deal with natural resources,
recreation, and farming to name a few.
• US Army Corps of Engineers --- USACE is involved in many engineering and
technical projects involving navigation, the environment, and other issues. Their
Philadelphia District has responsibility for the Delaware River Basin
(www.nap.usace.army.mil).
• National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, USGS, and other federal
agencies also may have important roles to play depending on how a trading
program is structured.
In addition to government agencies there are many other organizations that can
play important leadership role in developing water quality trading programs in the LDR
Basin. These include:
• Watershed Associations and Environmental Groups—there are numerous groups
in each state who throughout the years have been very influential in promoting
innovative ways to protect the environment. These groups have demonstrated
leadership, extensive local knowledge, expertise, and interest in finding solutions
that will protect water quality in a cost- effective way. These organizations
should be especially valuable in identifying local off-set opportunities. In the
Christina River Basin there have been many active organizations such as the
Brandywine Valley Association (www.brandywinewatershed.org). Depending on
the area covered by a trading program, the appropriate groups should be involved
as full partners at the earliest possible time.
• Colleges and Universities—The LDR Basin has one of the highest concentrations
of institutions of higher education in the US. These organizations offer an
extraordinary range of expertise needed to advance multi-disciplinary efforts such
as water quality trading. They also offer the opportunity to train the current and
future leaders in progressive ideas in environmental management. Some colleges
and universities also have extensive experience in specific watersheds. For
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