Good news out of Washington?

H’mmm. Well, on Tuesday the Environmental Protection Agency sent a press release that surprised me.

With all the cutting and dismantling going on in Washington, I gave little faith in the June 2025 deadline for the EPA to promulgate new rules for dissolved oxygen in the Delaware River.

Lo and behold, it seems to be agreeing to finalize the rules by the deadline. 

The EPA said in its release:

“As part of my Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative to provide clean water for all Americans, EPA is committed to issuing updated water quality standards for this portion of the Delaware River,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. “When finalized, this action will protect two species of endangered sturgeon and prove to be a boon for commercial and local fishing by also protecting American shad, striped bass and yellow perch.”

Here’s our story about these rules from back in December 2023. To be honest, the new rules are really complicated and we just touch on them in that story.

If you want more details, check out the EPA’s page on Water Quality Standards for the Delaware River.

Let’s take a moment to congratulate the scientists and engineers at the Delaware River Basin Commission who completed the scientific studies that the EPA said it was using to build the new rules and also to Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper, who has kept her focus on improving dissolved oxygen conditions in the urban corridor of the Delaware River for over a dozen years.

But these days there needs to be a “but.”

I’m a little concerned about a paragraph at the end of the EPA press release:

“EPA is continuing to review and consider all the comments as the agency drafts the final rule. EPA will provide responses to all public comments when the final rule is issued. EPA intends to comply with all applicable and relevant Executive Orders when issuing this rule.”

I’m a little concerned about that last phrase, about “relevant Executive Orders.” That seems to offer some risk that there could still be interference with the rules and with the deadline from the Oval Office.

We’ll have to see.

For an expert perspective and a deep dive into the challenges facing the Delaware River Basin, check out our “Big Think” interview with Steve Tambini, the former executive director of the DRBC.

Even here in the wilds of Northeastern Pennsylvania, we are seeing signs of spring!

It looks like there will be several days of rain in the days ahead. Granted, mostly showers, (and I’m sorry if you have plans that this rain will ruin) but any rain will help the basin recover from the ongoing drought.

Lastly, another sign of spring: Lewes Fishery is once again hauling nets to catch shad, which are running upriver to reproduce.

As Steve Meserve said in his email announcing their first run, “not too many yet,” but the fun builds in April.

And you can join in at the Lambertville Shad Fest, which will be April 26-27. Its website boasts of “hand-crafted art, jewelry, home goods, a variety of delectable food, music, and fun for the whole family.”

But my favorite is being down by the river, helping to haul in the nets that catch the shad. Check out that website to learn how you can partake of this annual tradition.

Happy spring