This April, DRBC staff participated in several outreach events throughout the Delaware River Basin. Staff enjoys engaging with our publics and stakeholders, educating about clean water and how we work to manage, protect and improve the Basin's shared water resources.

Connecting with folks throughout the Basin is important, not just to inform about what we do, but to talk about what they too can do to help keep our waters healthy and sustainable.

The DRBC & the Lewis Fishery tabled together at Shad Fest. Photo by the DRBC.

DRBC staff returned to the historic Lambertville Shad Fest to celebrate its 41st year!

This annual arts, music and environmental festival has been held along the Delaware River each spring to time with the return of the American shad, an anadromous fish that returns "home" each year to reproduce in the river in which it was born.

Our team was graciously hosted by the Lewis Fishery, the last N.J. commercial shad fishery on the non-tidal river. William Lewis established the fishery in 1888; his son Fred Lewis took over the family business. Upon Fred's passing in 2004, grandson Steve Meserve took the helm and carries on the family tradition to this day.  

Staff led an educational demonstration that taught about the importance of macroinvertebrates ("macros" or aquatic insects) as indicators of water quality. Visitors of all ages had the opportunity to examine living macros that were collected that morning at Yardley's Buck Creek, a Delaware River tributary. The hands-on lesson explained that the type and amount of bugs found in a waterway can help tell how healthy the river is. Some bugs, for example mayflies, stoneflies and dragonflies, are sensitive to pollution; others, such as scuds, crayfish and aquatic worms, are more pollution tolerant. Finding more pollution sensitive species, as well as a wide variety, are positive indicators of a waterway's health.

Unfortunately, the river's high flows kept the Lewis Fishery from demonstrating how they fish for shad using traditional techniques, but folks who stopped by were still able to learn from the crew and their display featuring photos, articles and videos spanning over a century. The fishery seines for shad throughout the spring spawning run, which is typically from April to ~mid-May. In addition to selling to the local community, the data they collect on shad and other fish in the river are shared with state fisheries biologists, providing a vital, century-long dataset on overall shad numbers, males vs. females and more.

DRBC has been participating in Shad Fest for roughly 30 years, and we look forward to next year's celebration!

The DRBC table at the Lambertville Shad Fest. Photo by the DRBC.	An American shad (frozen) caught from the Delaware River. Photo by the DRBC.

The inaugural EcoFair was held at the Cherry St. Pier in Philadelphia. Photo by the DRBC.

The first-ever EcoFair, hosted by Green Philly, was held in late April at Philadelphia's Cherry Street Pier, owned by the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC). This is a great event space along the Delaware River.

The EcoFair offered attendees information and opportunities to learn about how to be more "green" at home and what others in the community are doing. In addition to providing space for local groups and organizations to highlight their activities, the EcoFair featured vendors of green products, from reusable bottles to composting tools.

Another highlight was a great series of panel discussions, including one on climate change in the Delaware River Basin that featured DRBC's Director of External Affairs and Communications Elizabeth Brown.

Kudos to Green Philly for hosting - hope to be a part of the 2nd Annual EcoFair next year!

From L to R: DRBC's Elizabeth Brown, DRWC's Sarah Eberle and Green Philly's Julie Hancher. Photo by the DRBC.	The EcoFair at the Cherry St. Pier featured vendors and other exhibitors all talking about the importance of environmental awareness and protection. Photo by the DRBC.

Birds of a feather are flocking outside! Part of the day featured rehabbing TTF's large bird murals in the park. Photo by the DRBC.

The Tookany-Tacony/Frankford Watershed Partnership's (TTF) Birds of a Feather event was held in late April in observance of Celebrate Trails and Earth Day.

The event was held in Philadelphia's Tacony Creek Park and brought together artists, educators, local leaders and community members for an afternoon of family-friendly art and crafts and other environmentally friendly activities connecting art and science.

Local artists worked to spruce up a series of bird murals in the park, and DRBC staff was on-hand with a macroinvertebrates craft activity, which taught about water quality health of the nearby Tacony Creek. Attendees also got to learn from the Sustainable Business Network, which led a Tacony Creek Stream Restoration Project Tour that highlighted the important topics of reducing stormwater runoff and increasing urban green space accessibility.

Thanks to TTF for having us and for another great event!

TTF's Birds of a Feather event celebrated art and nature. Photo by the DRBC.	One of the murals in Tacony Creek Park is of a Peregrine Falcon. Photo by the DRBC.