Bethlehem, PA — The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed (CDRW) held its 12th Annual Delaware River Watershed Forum in Bethlehem, PA on Thursday, September 26th and Friday, September 27th. Over 200 people attended, bringing together organizations and individuals spanning the four Delaware River Watershed states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and New York, to collaborate and build capacity for environmental conservation. The Delaware River Watershed provides drinking water to 14.2 million people (about 4% of the U.S. population), including 5.7 million Pennsylvanians.
Preserving Our Watershed: Highlights from the 12th Annual Forum
The Delaware River Watershed continues to thrive, thanks to the collective efforts of conservation leaders, stakeholders, and advocates who came together for the 12th Annual Delaware River Watershed Forum. This year’s event, held in Bethlehem, PA, brought fresh energy, innovative ideas, and a renewed focus on partnership-building. Hosted by the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed in collaboration with the National Wildlife Federation, the forum highlighted the shared commitment to preserving this vital waterway.
Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed Celebrates $17 million in Grants to Improve the Health of the Delaware River Watershed
Grants were awarded through the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund (DWCF), a program administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and funded by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
September 18, 2024 – The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced 45 Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund awards totaling more than $17 million, which includes more than $4.7 million in funds made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Grantees have committed nearly $20.7 million in match, for a total conservation impact of $38 million that will restore and protect our land and water resources.
Resilience in Action: NJPACT REAL Rules Released to Protect New Jersey from Climate Threats
After last week’s relentless downpours from the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby, which brought high winds and widespread street flooding, the formal release of the NJ REAL (Resilient Environments and Landscapes) Rules couldn’t have come at a better time. Directed by Governor Phil Murphy’s Executive Order 100 in January 2020 as part of the New Jersey Protecting Against Climate Threats (NJPACT) initiative, these rules are a game-changer for the state. The NJ REAL Rules were officially published by the New Jersey DEP on August 5th, more than two years after their original target release date. REAL is a package of crucial revisions to key state regulations designed to make New Jersey more resilient to the devastating impacts of climate change. These revisions will update the state's outdated land use, stormwater management, and wetlands regulations to reflect New Jersey's new reality: warmer temperatures, rising sea levels, and stronger, more frequent downpours.
Introducing Jay Weisbond, CDRW's New NJ State Lead!
DEC, NYSDOT, and Friends of the Upper Delaware River Announce Completion of a New Fishing Access Site in Hancock, Delaware County
The New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Transportation (NYSDOT) and Friends of the Upper Delaware River (FUDR) today announced completion of the new Cadosia Fishing Access Site in the town of Hancock, Delaware County. The project bolsters New York’s commitment to expand recreational opportunities on state lands and boost local economies.
Safeguarding Water Resources: New Jersey to Fully Fund the Delaware River Basin Commission for the Fourth Consecutive Year
(TRENTON, NJ) July 23, 2024 - New Jersey's fiscal year 2025 budget reaffirms its strong support for the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), as the state honors its full "fair share" commitment of $893,000.
Advocating for New Jersey’s full contribution to the Delaware River Basin Commission has long been a priority of the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, a network of more than 190 non-profit organizations, 43 in New Jersey, working to protect and restore the four-state region of New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. The Coalition believes that funding the DRBC at the full amount is critical to protecting water quality, as well as our most vulnerable communities.
DEIJ Day of Learning: Actionable Strategies for Change
On Wednesday, June 5th ― the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed (CDRW) hosted its inaugural Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) Day of Learning at the Social Profit Center in Hamilton, New Jersey.
The event was constructed by CDRW’s DEIJ Workgroup to highlight regional expertise and equip participants with tools to enhance advocacy, outreach, programming and more.
Our robust agenda featured community-based organizations, state environmental agencies, and civic engagement groups who spoke about addressing systemic and racial injustices, forming authentic and representative partnerships, making nature accessible for individuals with disabilities, among other critical DEIJ topics.