Christina Basin Trends,1995-2010
• Population• Land Use• Water Quality• Water Temperature• Streamflow
Compiled by A. Homsey, S. Chatterson, E. McVey.S. Mack, M. Narvaez, and G. Kauffman (University of Delaware)
Christina Basin Clean Water PartnershipPolicy Committee
DRBC, USEPA, Del. DNREC, Pa. DEP
Coordinating CommitteeDel. Co-coordinator: DNS, WRA
Pa. Co-coordinator: CCWRA, CCCD
Task ForceChair: BVA
Interstate• Brandywine Conservancy• Brandywine Valley Association (BVA)• Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC)• Partnership for the Delaware Estuary• Red Clay Valley Association (RCVA)• United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
• United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
• United States Geological Survey (USGS)• United States National Park Service (NPS)• White Clay Creek Watershed Association• White Clay Creek Wild and Scenic
Watershed Management Committee
Pennsylvania• Chester County Conservation
District (CCCD)• Chester County Health
Department• Chester County Planning
Commission• Chester County Water Resources
Authority (CCWRA)• Pennsylvania Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources (Pa. DCNR)
• Pennsyvlania Department of the Environment (Pa. DEP)
Delaware• Christina Conservancy• City of Newark• City of Wilmington• Delaware Department of
Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC)
• Delaware Nature Society (DNS)• New Castle Conservation
District• New Castle County Dept. of
Special Services• University of Delaware, Institute
for Public Administration, Water Resources Agency (WRA)
Partner Organizations
Ad Hoc Committees (as needed)
Christina Basin Population
Source: U. S. Census
Christina Basin Population, 2010
Brandywine Cr.246,702, 42%
White Clay Cr. 123,506, 21%
Red Clay Cr. 46,893, 8%
Christina R. 174,196, 29%
Christina BasinPopulation Change, 2000-2010
10,723
31,091
4260
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
Delaware Pennsylvania Maryland
Popu
latio
n ch
ange
Christina BasinPopulation Change, 2000-2010
25,289
7,7614,263 4,927
42,240
05,000
10,00015,00020,00025,00030,00035,00040,00045,000
BrandywineCreek
ChristinaRiver
Red ClayCreek
White ClayCreek
ChristinaBasin
Popu
latio
n ch
ange
Christina BasinPopulation Change, 2000-2010
3,3393,2285,782
7,204
1,035426131
-855
21,950
-5,000
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
Whi
te C
lay (D
E)Ch
ristin
a (PA
)Ch
ristin
a (M
D)
Red
Clay
(DE)
Red
Clay
(PA)
Bran
dywi
ne (D
E)W
hite
Clay
(PA)
Chris
tina (
DE)
Bran
dywi
ne (P
A)
-3,500
-2,500-1,500
-500
5001,5002,5003,500
C6 Tida
l Chri
stina
R.
W5 Mill C
reek
R5 belo
w Woo
ddale
C2 Mud
dy R
un
R4 abo
ve W
oodd
ale
W8 abov
e New
arkB6 D
oe Run
W10 Tida
l Whit
e Clay
Cr.
R3 Burro
ughs
Run
B7 Broa
d Cree
k
B1 WB H
oney B
rook
B5 Buc
k Run
R2 East
Branch
R4 abo
ve W
oodd
ale
W2 Midd
le Bran
ch
B3 WB C
oates
ville
B17 th
rough
Wilm
ington
W6 Pike C
reek
W4 EB below
Avond
ale
R1 Wes
t Bran
ch
C2 Mud
dy R
un
B12 Bea
ver C
reek
B14 ab
ove C
hadd
s Ford
B13 Vall
ey C
reek
Christina BasinPopulation Change, 2000-2010
Christina Basin Land Use
Source: NOAA CSC
Christina BasinLand Use, 2005
Urban/Suburban
28%Forest/Wetland
33%
Ag38%
Water1%
Brandywine CreekLand Use 2005
Urban/Suburban
18%
Agriculture
46%
Forest/Wetland
36%
Water1%
Red Clay CreekLand Use 2005
Urban/Suburban
27%
Water1%
Agriculture
39%
Forest/Wetland
33%
White Clay Creek Land Use 2005
Urban/Suburban
34%
Agriculture
36%
Forest/Wetland,
30%
Water0%
Christina RiverLand Use 2005
Urban/Suburban
58%
Agriculture15%
Forest/Wetland
26%
Water1%
Christina BasinLand Use Change, 1996 - 2005
9.61
- 3.06
- 6.7210
864202468
10
Are
a (s
q m
i)
Urban/Suburban Agriculture Forest/Wetland
Christina BasinLand Use Change, 1995 - 2010
5
43
2
10
1
2
34
5
Brandywine Christina Red Clay White Clay
Are
a (s
q m
i)
Urban/Suburban Agriculture Forest/Wetland
Christina Basin Land Useby State and Watershed, 2005
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
Brandywine DEBrandywine PAChristina DEChristina MDChristina PARed Clay DERed Clay PAW
hite Clay DEW
hite Clay PAA
rea
(sq
mi)
Urban/Suburban Agriculture Forest/Wetland
Christina Basin Water Quality
• Dissolved Oxygen• Total Suspended Sediment• Enterococcus Bacteria• Nitrogen• Phosphorus
Source: DNREC STORET Monitoring Stations
Brandywine Cr. at Footbridge (104011)Red Clay Cr. at Stanton (103011)White Clay Cr. at Old Rte 7 Br. (105071)Christina R. at Wilmington (106291)
Water Temperature
Streamflow
• Annual Low Flow (Drought)• Annual Peak Flow (Flood)
Brandywine Creek at Wilmington Annual Low Streamflow
52
121
98
121
52
137
90
119
204
90
124
94 98
198
35
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
220
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Stre
amflo
w (c
fs)
7Q10
1%
10%
Red Clay Creek at StantonAnnual Low Streamflow
7
39
17
12
8
18
14
7
28
40
18
24
16 17
21
0
10
20
30
40
5019
95
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Stre
amflo
w (c
fs)
7Q10
Red Clay Creek at StantonAnnual Peak Streamflow
1,850
5,330
1,370
8,260
4,2003,140
864
17,400
10,900
3,780
5,000
3,0502,170
800
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,00019
95
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Stre
amflo
w (c
fs)
10%
1%
White Clay Creek near NewarkAnnual Low Streamflow
8.5
54
23 22
9.3
30
21
5.4
44
86
2530
18 18
42
0102030405060708090
100
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Stre
amflo
w (c
fs)
7Q10
White Clay Creek near NewarkAnnual Peak Streamflow
9,150
5,540
2,050
7,130
4,970
1,270
13,900
5,6004,630 4,390
5,090
1,9202,8703,160
19,500
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,00019
95
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Stre
amflo
w (c
fs) 1%
10%
Christina River at Coochs BridgeAnnual Low Flow
1.6
8.3
3.7
2.4
1.1
3.7
1.41
3.4
12
3.4
5.9
2.12.5
5.9
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
1419
95
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Stre
amflo
w (c
fs)
7Q10
Christina River at Coochs BridgeAnnual Peak Streamflow
1,790 1,910 1,8401,500
7,050
2,1302,350
629
2,340
5,430
1,910 1,9901,770
1,0801,330
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
8,00019
95
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Stre
amflo
w (c
fs)
1%
10%
Summary
• Water quality improvements are congruent with 15-year contributions of CBCWP.
• Water quality has improved even with 42,000 increase in population (2000-2010) and 9 mi2 increase in urban/suburban land (1996-2005).
• Nitrogen levels are degrading probably due to atmospheric deposition (not good) and/or conversion of ammonia to forms of N with rising DO levels (a good thing!).
• No low flows since drought of 2002.