ABSTRACT:Modem management concepts were used to increase the efficiency and productivity of a large and complex water resource study conducted on two Delaware River components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The study analyzed the hydraulics of a 120 mile reach of the river using Rhodamine WT dye injected under medium‐flow, low‐flow steady‐state, and low‐flow‐surge wave flow conditions. The study benefited from a decentralized management structure that used informal teams to attain quality control objectives, to overcome study difficulties, to secure substantial interagency cooperation, and to maximize limited financial and staffing