Abstract: This report summarizes trends in the Christina Basin from 1995-2010 for (1) population, (2) land
use, (3) water quality, (4) population/water quality vs. land use, (5) water temperature, and (6)
streamflow. The Christina River Basin, the second largest tributary to the Delaware Estuary, lies in Chester
County, Pa., and New Castle County, Del., with a small sliver in Cecil County, Md. The Christina
Basin has unique interstate coordination challenges, as it is the only watershed in the entire
Delaware Basin that includes more than one state. Since 1994, Delaware, Pennsylvania, the
EPA, and the Delaware River Basin Commission have been working together to restore the
Brandywine, Red Clay, and White Clay Creeks and Christina River to fishable, swimmable,
and potable status (as per the Federal Clean Water Act) and state surface-water quality standards
through a phased watershed-restoration approach.
