Water Snapshot

Nearly 18 million people rely on the Delaware River system for water. The main stem of the Delaware extends 330 miles from the confluence of its East and West branches near the Catskill Mountain town of Hancock, NY to the mouth of the Delaware Bay. In all, the basin comprises 13,539 square miles, draining parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Delaware. In order to monitor the water quality of the river basin, water samples must be collected and analyzed. A segment of those collection and analysis responsibilities falls to school children involved in the annual Water Snapshot program.

This program was devised to allow students to get a "snapshot" of the health of the Delaware River basin and learn how they can make a difference in their own back yard. This program instills in the students who participate an awareness of the importance of the watershed of the Upper Delaware River Valley and the valuable role it plays in all of our lives. Students are also provided with the opportunity to learn some lessons in the field while collecting water samples to be analyzed for nitrate and phosphate levels, dissolved oxygen, pH levels, turbidity, and water temperature.

If you are interested in receiving more information about this program or in scheduling this program for your students please contact Jamie Myers by phone 570-685-4871 ext 6604 or email.

Upper Delaware Water Snapshot Reports

Upper Delaware Snapshot Reports for years 2001 through 2009 are available on the Delaware River Basin Commission website.If you are interested in seeing more recent reports please send an email requesting which year(s) you would like to receive.