The Christina River Basin lies within the greater Delaware River Basin. The Christina River Basin, or Watershed, consists of the Brandywine Creek, the White Clay Creek, the Red Clay Creek, and the Christina River watersheds. These four major streams drain a 565 square mile area and provide more than 100 million gallons of water a day for more than half a million people in three states.  The Christina River Basin provides 75% of the water supply for residents in New Castle County, Delaware, and more than 40% of the water supply for residents in Chester County, Pennsylvania.  The upper two-thirds of the basin is situated in southeast Pennsylvania, while the downstream one-third is situated in northern Delaware.  In Delaware the basin feeds HoopesReservoir, which serves heavily urbanized and industrialized Wilmington and surrounding areas.  The basin includes 5 counties and sixty municipalities in the States of Delaware and Pennsylvania and a small portion of Maryland.  The Christina Basin's percentage of land use/land cover is roughly the same for agricultural, impervious (generalized with urban), and wooded types.  However, maps demonstrate that distribution of these types is not equal in spatial distribution.  The character of the watershed varies from urban areas such as Newark and Wilmington in the south, to primarily agricultural lands in the midwest, and a mixture of mostly wooded and agricultural areas to the north. 

         In addition to providing significant water supplies, these streams also provide natural beauty and recreational opportunities, as well as important habitats for wildlife, aquatic organisms, and plant species.  Nature lovers can bask in captivating landscapes and in the many dividends the Christina Basin streams bequeath.  Shimmering waters alive with Rainbow and Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass, and White Perch lure fishermen, while hikers, canoeists, and people from all walks of life drink in the natural beauty that includes an abundance of wildlife from wood ducks to bog turtles, to the graceful Great Blue Heron.  However, because municipal, industrial, and recreational use is so intense, the water quality and overall health of the Christina Basin is less than optimal.

        Clean, safe water is necessary to sustain a high quality of life for residents and businesses in the watershed.  High levels of contaminants make fish caught in some areas of the Christina Basin streams unsafe to eat.  Other areas have such poor habitat that aquatic life is at risk, while other areas are considered unsafe for swimming.  These streams are impaired by point and non-point sources of pollution.  Point source pollutants can be traced to the ends of pipes, sewer overflows, and municipal and industrial wastewater discharges.  Non-point pollutants stem from storm water runoff, including that from construction sites, roads, agriculture, and eroding stream banks.  The Christina Basin Water Management Strategy is working to identify and eliminate these pollutants.

         Water Suppliers that are dependent on Christina Basin streams include:

In Delaware:
  Artesian Water Company
  City of Newark
  City of Wilmington
  United Water Delaware

 In Pennsylvania:
  Avondale Borough
  Borough of Downingtown
  City of Coatesville Authority
  Philadelphia Suburban Water Company
  West Grove Borough
  West Whiteland Municipal Borough

      The Christina Basin Water Resources Committee is addressing point and non-point source water quality problems through a two-part strategy.

Point Source Pollutants

         Part 1 was initiated in 1994 and consists of a five year stream monitoring and watershed modeling program aimed at controlling point sources of pollutants such as end-of-pipe wastewater discharges.  This point source program is being conducted for the first three years by collecting stream water-quality data at over 30 monitoring stations in Pennsylvania and Delaware.  Using data from the three year stream monitoring effort, a water quality and hydrodynamic model will be developed to define point source loading.  Based on results from the stream monitoring effort and models, point-source reduction programs will be developed which may include modifying effluent limits and/or improvements to wastewater treatment plants.

Non-Point Source Pollutants

         Part 2 consists of identifying non-point source pollutants such as urban and rural runoff.  The contribution of the non-point source pollutants will be identified by collection of land use and soil data, and establishing an event-based storm water monitoring program.  A non-point source pollutant load model will be developed to provide loading allocations to the receiving water quality model developed in Part 1.  Using results from the Christina Basin non-point source load model and other techniques, subwatersheds will be prioritized for water quality improvements.  Non-point source programs may include best management practices (BMP's) such as public education, ground water infiltration systems, reforestation, agricultural modifications, and riparian stream buffers to control storm water runoff and reduce water quality impacts.

         Several local non-profit groups are also included in the Christina Basin Water Quality Management Strategy.  To help support the plan, contact one of these groups:

  Brandywine Conservancy
  Brandywine Valley Association (BVA)
  Christina Conservancy
  Delaware Nature Society
  Red Clay Valley Association
  White Clay Watershed Association
  Wilmington River - City Steering Committee

         The Christina Basin Watershed Management Committee consists of the following organizations:

  Chester County Conservation District
  Chester County Planning Commission
  Chester County Water Resources Authority
  Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
  Delaware River Basin Commission
  New Castle Conservation District
  Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III
  U.S. Geological Survey
  U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service
  University of Delaware Water Resources Agency (WRA)

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Mission statement
 
 
 
 
 
 

What is a
watershed and why should I care?  Public participation.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Committee news & reports, report card, zoning, more
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Characteristics and sample GIS maps
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

How to take act to preserve and restore watersheds and mitigate conflict
 
 
 
 
 
 

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