Wildlife

Five Ways a Bipartisan Bill Would Help Wildlife in the Delaware River Watershed

For thousands of years, the Delaware River watershed has been a natural haven for people and wildlife alike. But human development continues to put significant pressure on our native animals and plants. While meaningful progress has been made in recent years, through tactics like dam removals and stronger pollution control, far more needs to be done to stabilize population levels for at-risk species.

Fortunately, there’s a federal bill on the table that would do just that. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA), which has strong bipartisan support in Congress and among the American public, would invest $1.4 billion annually to support wildlife conservation led by states and tribes. Here are five key ways RAWA could have a lasting impact on the health of our watershed.

Fitzpatrick Announces Grant to Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund

Fitzpatrick Announces Grant to Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund

LANGHORNE, PA – Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) joined conservation leaders yesterday at Tyler State Park to announce a 2023 grant slate to the Delaware River Watershed Conservation Fund, totaling $14.9 million. In addition to the historic announcement, Congressman Fitzpatrick was joined by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff on a tour of the Spring Garden Dam Removal project at Tyler State Park. The Dam Removal project was funded through the 2022 Delaware River Watershed Conservation Fund and is currently in its construction phase.

Faith Will Plant Pollinator Gardens: Sacred Grounds Wilmington Grows a Pollinator Corridor in the Christina Basin

The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed has advocated for federal funding for the Delaware River Watershed for years. With funding through The Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund, Sacred Grounds Wilmington is putting those federal dollars to work building a closely-clustered pollinator corridor.

House Passes Recovering America’s Wildlife Act

In a 231-190 vote on June 14, 2022, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA).

This legislation will dedicate $1.4 billion annually to proactive, locally-led efforts to recover thousands of at-risk wildlife species, while creating jobs and prioritizing the outdoor recreation economy at a time when our country and planet are facing a biodiversity crisis.

New Jersey Audubon and Partners Expand Successful Collaboration in the Protection of the Bog Turtle

New Jersey Audubon, the Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service continue their collaborative mission to save New Jersey’s official state reptile: the bog turtle. The bog turtle was once abundant in New Jersey but are now listed as endangered and are currently only located in the southern and northwestern areas of the state.

Wildlife in the Watershed: 7 Species that Call the Delaware River Watershed Home

April 4th - April 8th, 2022 is National Wildlife Week - a time to celebrate the colorful and fascinating animals that inhibit environments across the country and to inspire continued protection by advocating for conservation legislation, such as the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. To raise awareness for wildlife conservation within the Delaware River Basin states, CDRW is highlighting seven endangered or threatened species that are native to the watershed. These species, and many more, all play a role in creating a harmonized ecosystem that is vital to a healthy watershed.

Bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Introduced in Senate Will Be a Game Changer for At-Risk Species

U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) introduced legislation that will dedicate $1.4 billion annually to proactive, locally-led efforts to recover thousands of at-risk wildlife species, while creating jobs and prioritizing the outdoor recreation economy.