Governor Wolf signed the Commonwealth’s 2022 budget into law, providing less than 25% of Pennsylvania’s agreed upon contribution to the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC). This is concerning considering that more than 43% of Pennsylvanians reside in the Basin, and that the Commonwealth comprises more than 50% of the Basin’s land area.
Advocating for the restoration of Pennsylvania’s full contribution to the Commission has long been a priority of the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, a network of more than 160 nonpartisan organizations, 86 of which are PA-based, working to protect and restore the four-state region of New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and Pennsylvania.
The Commission’s creation was the first time in our nation's history that the federal government and a group of states joined together as equal partners on a regional body with the force of law to oversee a unified approach to managing a river system without regard to political boundaries. The Commission monitors water quality, conducts comprehensive resource planning, and manages drinking water supplies for over 13.3 million Americans, including the residents of Philadelphia.
In 1988, the Commission members reached an agreement to appropriate funding contributions as follows:
Delaware: 12.5%, $447,000
Pennsylvania: 25%, $893,000
New Jersey: 25%, $893,000
New York: 17.5%, $626,000
Federal Government: 20%, $715,000
Pennsylvania’s FY22 budget includes $217,000 for DRBC, which is $676,000 less than the full “fair share” of $893,000 under the agreement.
Restoring the Commission’s funding in all four states would allow the agency to hire the staff it needs to secure our water resources for generations to come. The Delaware River watershed stimulates a robust outdoor recreational economy, home to a world class wild trout fishery and scenic kayaking and hiking.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, and Delaware Gov. John Carney joined together in Philadelphia in May 2019 to sign a proclamation declaring their renewed commitment to improving the Delaware River watershed - funding the Commission was cited as an immediate action step. The proclamation recognized “the advantage of working together to make the Delaware River Basin the national model for sustainable economic development, drinkable clean water, healthy fish and wildlife populations, outdoor recreation, and nature-based climate resilience.” New Jersey and Delaware’s FY22 budgets honor full ‘fair share’ contributions for each state respectively, but the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania continues to lag behind.
The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed protects and restores the land and waters in the Delaware River Basin. We amplify the collective power of 160+ 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.
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Media Contact:
Meagan Schaefer
(c) 609-330-4883