River Ecosystem

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service the Delaware River Basin encompasses over 13,500 square miles of land across Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York. Covering a large swath of land, the Delaware River Basin provides drinking water to nearly 5% of the population of the United States, and is an ecosystem of great biodiversity. As the Delaware River runs through natural landscapes as well as many cities and urban areas, there are a large variety of shorelines along the river including bulkheads, breakwaters, or solely natural vegetation. The diverse environment of each region of the Delaware River Basin contributes to both its natural uniqueness and economic importance.

Living Shorelines

A living shoreline is a broad term used to describe methods of stabilizing a shoreline within estuaries, bays, tributaries, or in this case along the Delaware River Basin in Phoenix Park.

Benefits of Living Shoreline

Defends against erosion
Improves water quality
Captures carbon dioxide
Provides habitat for animals and vegetation
More resilient to storms than bulkheads

Components of a Living Shoreline

Vegetation (marshes) that can intake carbon emissions and tidal sediments
Mussels and Oysters which form large clusters and bind to the roots of the marshes, keeping the vegetation in place
Shorelines that are high in coastal energy may need to incorporate rock sills and natural wood structures to keep the marshes in place
15 feet of natural barriers created by the marshes and oyster reefs can absorb 50% of incoming wave energy

Living Shorelines vs Coastal Structures

Inhabitants

Flora and Fauna

The Delaware River is home to over 60 species of fish and 1,100 species of flora
The Uplands are home to 50 species of mammals and 200 avian species
Some of the most well known animals to inhabit the region are trout, sturgeon, turkey, owls, bobcats and otters

Water Quality

Upper Delaware River is undammed for 330 miles
The water quality is among the highest for a river on the east coast
Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) monitors and maintains the water quality
DRBC is ran by officials from Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York
DRBC's Biomonitoring Program samples the water chemistry, sediment, and aquatic life to provide a comprehensive review of water quality and quality of biodiversity

Economics

The Delaware River is responsible for $22 billion in economic movement.

This activity includes:

Shale Gas Extraction
- $425 million in economic activity
- The Marcellus Shale Gas formation covers 36% of the Delaware River Basin
Fish/Wildlife
- Contributes $1.5 billion
- Commercial Fishing in the basin includes blue crab, summer flounder, Atlantic menhaden, eastern oyster, striped bass, and American eel.
Agriculture
- 27% of farm products supplied to Delaware, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania
Water Supply
- The river supplies 5% of the US drinking water
Provides 600,000 direct and indirect jobs

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