The Coalition’s steering committee convened with the Delaware River Watershed as part of Hill week in March 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Meagan Schaefer, Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, 609-330-4883
One Hundred Two Organizations Send Letter to Congressional Leaders and Appropriation Committees in Support of $13.5 million in Restoration Funding for the Delaware River Watershed
(Bernardsville, NJ) - 102 organizations of the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed sent a letter to congressional leaders and appropriation committees declaring their support for $13.5 million in investments for a federal program designed to protect the drinking water of more than 13 million residents.
This increased investment in the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program (DRBRP) would fund on-the-ground restoration and conservation efforts in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware that help combat climate change and protect clean water for the 13.3 million people that rely on the Delaware River Basin.
Members of the Coalition advocate for DRBRP appropriations in Washington DC
When Congress passed the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act (DRBCA) with bipartisan support in 2016, it established the DRBRP: a framework for federal, state, and local governments, and regional organizations, to come together to identify, prioritize, and implement restoration activities within the watershed. Non-regulatory in nature, it empowers the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to coordinate conservation and restoration activities among partners to improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of existing and future work. Established in 2018, the cornerstone of the DRBRP is a grant funding mechanism, the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund (DWCF), which to date has funded 159 projects, totaling $40.4 million in grants and leveraging an additional $59.7 million in matching funds that provide vital support to fish and wildlife, help support economic vitality, and contribute to quality of life through public access and outdoor recreation opportunities.
"As Co-Chair of the Congressional Delaware River Watershed Caucus, I have long advocated for federal funding for the Delaware River Watershed to improve the lives of our communities and our natural habitats," said Congressman Fitzpatrick. "It is critical that we continue to invest in conservation efforts and improving environmental policies through American innovation will maintain our Basin and grow our economy. This new funding would allow for significant advancements in protection and restoration in Pennsylvania and throughout the entire Delaware River Basin.”
“Continued investment in the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program (DRBRP) is key to helping us preserve our waterways, support wildlife, and restore water quality in communities across the Delaware River Basin,” said Rep. Blunt Rochester, Co-Chair of the Congressional Delaware River Watershed Caucus. “In order to protect Delaware’s rich and historic natural heritage — and that of the states that make up the Watershed — increased support is needed. As co-chair of the Congressional Delaware River Watershed Caucus, I’m proud to join a broad coalition of support comprised of 100 organizations calling for increased funding for the DRBRP for FY 2023. I’m committed to working with my co-chair, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Penn.), and my colleagues in Congress to better support our environment, our economy, and our public health.”
“We appreciate that the DRBRP was funded at $10.5 million for FY 2022, and we hope to continue this strong support with an increase in FY 2023 to $13.5 million,” said Kelly Knutson, Director at the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed. “These critical dollars go a long way toward tackling pressing environmental concerns, such as stormwater runoff, flooding, and loss of wildlife habitat. An increase in funding will further protect one of the most precious natural resources in the nation.”
“Increased federal funding for the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program is critical to clean water in Delaware,” said Jen Adkins, Executive Director for the Delaware Nature Society. “More than seventy percent of Delawareans live in the Delaware River Watershed and most of the rivers and streams here are polluted. Restoring these waters to health for people, fish and wildlife takes a tremendous amount of work and increased DRBRP funding will accelerate that work.”
“The DRBRP makes on-the-ground investments that are restoring migratory fish passage for species like American Shad, fixing eroding stream banks to protect popular trout fishing waters, partnering with municipalities to utilize green infrastructure to clean stormwater runoff, and promoting heritage tourism linkages between recreation and culture, including partnerships with Native American tribes,” said Alan Hunt, Director of Policy and Grants at the Musconetcong Watershed Association in rural Asbury, NJ. “For a rural community like ours, the DRBRP catalyzes public-private partnerships to restore Delaware River tributaries that otherwise would be overlooked.”
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The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed was formed in 2012 to protect and restore the land and waters in the Delaware River Basin. We amplify the collective power of 180 member organizations and other stakeholders as we advocate for a healthy and protected watershed with an inclusive, unified voice. The Coalition convenes member and non-member organizations, builds capacity, coordinates communications, and advances policy at the federal and state levels. For more information, please visit www.delriverwatershed.org.