Funds to Improve the Health of the Delaware River Watershed

The Hancock Herald - 09/06/2022

Funds to Improve the Health of the Delaware River Watershed

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has announced that 36 Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund awards totaling $14 million, which includes $4.9 million in funds made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, have been awarded. Grantees have committed $14.2 million in match, for a total conservation impact of $28.2 million that will restore and protect our land and water resources.

Of the 36 new or continuing conservation and restoration projects, thirteen will be completed by nine members of Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed. With this fifth round of funding, Coalition members were awarded a total of $5.2 million and have generated $5.1 million of matching funds for a total of $10.3 million for projects that range from a mentored small grants program to tidal marsh restoration, and to conservation workforce development.

“We’re thankful to our Congressional champions and thrilled to see that our advocacy for the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program continues to translate to on-the-ground dollars for restoration and conservation throughout the Delaware River Basin,” said Kelly Knutson, Director of The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed. “Particularly, we are excited to see that this grant slate is prioritizing restoration and conservation projects in rural and disadvantaged communities. The Coalition is excited to work in coordination with NJ Audubon on a grant that builds capacity through an intensive peer monitoring and coaching program for small organizations, particularly those in environmentally underserved areas.”

“Since 2018, the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program has been a game changer in New York,” said Jeff Skelding, Executive Director, Friends of the Upper Delaware River. The program has raised the statewide profile of the Upper Delaware River (UDR) and helped create a new line item for the watershed in the 2022 NYS Environmental Protection Fund. The program has funded numerous stream restoration projects that unify watershed stakeholders, create local jobs, protect the UDR wild trout fishery, and build community resilience to flooding. Our 2022 award will support an exciting new workforce development program that engages young people in conservation work throughout the watershed.”

Funded projects will contribute to long-term outcomes for equitable access to nature, resiliency, healthy habitat, and a thriving outdoor economy. This year’s grant slate also includes projects with nature-based solutions that address disparities in access to nature by putting equity, justice, and cultural competency at the core of their work. See the full list of 2022 Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund grants at www.nfwf.org.

Grants were awarded through the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund (DWCF), a program administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). The DWCF is funded by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to achieve the goals of the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act. The Act guides and supports federal, state, regional and local partners to collaboratively identify, prioritize, and implement habitat restoration and conservation activities within the watershed. In five years, the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund has funded 159 projects 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. The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed has advocated, year over year, for robust federal funding to support this essential program.

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An important investment for the watershed

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Grant money designated for Delaware River basin