Regional Economy

The communities along upper Delaware River are highly dependent on tourism. An economic study titled "The Economic Impact of Trout Fishing on the Delaware River Tailwaters in New York" was funded by American Sportfishing Association and Trout Unlimited. A 1996 economic study determined that trout fishing on the West Branch, East Branch and main stem Delaware Rivers downstream of the New York City dams resulted in $17.7 million in direct expenditures in local business revenue, and generated $29.98 million of local economic activity. Analysis of data from similar destination fishing rivers suggested that improved water release strategies on the Delaware River would increase economic benefits to local communities along the river in terms of jobs, wages and local tax revenues.

If the report had incorporated real estate values related to trout or shad fishing-related tourism or angling benefits in Pike and Wayne Counties in Pennsylvania and nearby Sullivan County, New York, this $30 million figure undoubtedly would have been higher.

The coalition's Adaptive Release Policy is superior to the flow plan that is currently proposed by the DRBC in terms of its benefits to the regional economy. Click here to download the proposed DRBC plan.

Analysis of the USGS aquatic habitat model created specifically for the Delaware River demonstrates that the coalition's Adaptive Release Policy provides the following benefits compared to the DRBC's proposed plan:

Trout Benefits - Coalition Policy Vs. DRBC Proposed Plan

• Protects this multi-million dollar recreational industry in wet and dry years.
• Creates more than 225% more trout habitat on the main stem Delaware River between July and September from Hancock to Lordville in some decades.
• Creates more than 100% additional trout habitat in April, May and June on the main stem Delaware River from Hancock to Hankins in some decades.
• Increases trout habitat by 30% in the West Branch Delaware River along the village of Deposit in spring and summer, and increases fall spawning habitat by as much as 75%.
• Increases trout habitat in the upper East Branch and Neversink Rivers in the spring, and protects trout habitat in the summer.

• Enhances the multi-million dollar shad fishing industry in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey by increasing the shad's premier spawning grounds.
• Increases shad spawning habitat by over 100% in the main stem Delaware River from Lordville to Hankins in some decades.
• Increases juvenile shad habitat as much as 250% in some decades.
• Protects shad spawning habitat on the Neversink River and the East Branch Delaware River.
• Greatly improves the ability of this critical part of the food chain to sustain the recovering multi-million dollar striped bass fishery along the entire Delaware River.

• Reducing spills over the dams tends to reduce the number of high flow days where the river would be unsafe for boating.
• More consistent releases allow for safer, more enjoyable boating days on the rivers.
• More consistent releases allow for better vacation planning for potential river users.