On a hot summer weekend, Philadelphians rush across the Ben Franklin and Walt Whitman bridges to the Jersey Shore while paying scant attention to the water flowing below them. Because from a quick glance over the side of the bridges the Delaware River appears to some as a permanent fixture, it is easy to take the river for granted.
But on a more leisurely day, most Philadelphians appreciate at least some of the benefits that the Delaware River provides to the region. The river and its tributaries supply drinking water to 15 million people. They provide habitat for aquatic species, including endangered species such as the shortnose sturgeon. Riparian lands host parks and offer recreational opportunities. Imagine Philadelphia without tall ships, festivals at Penn’s Landing, the greenway, duck boats or celebratory fireworks launched from vessels on the river.
