WHAT: On Thursday, federal, regional and local partners will come together at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge to announce the passage of the Delaware River Basin and Conservation Act. The DRBCA was included in the Water Infrastructure Improvements Act for the Nation (WIIN) Act that passed the Senate on Dec. 10, 2016.

Media representatives and members of the public are invited to attend this event and learn more about how the program can benefit the Delaware River Watershed region of Pennsylvania.

WHEN: Thursday, January 19th, 2016 at 10 AM

WHERE: John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum located at 8601 Lindbergh Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19153. The main entrance to the Refuge provides access to the Visitor Center where staff will direct you to the room where the event will be held. 

AGENDA: 

Remarks              U.S. Congressman Ryan Costello (PA-6)

Remarks              U.S. Congressman Patrick Meehan (PA-7)

Remarks              Anthony Luker, Senior Staff, U.S. Congressman Brendan Boyle (PA-13) 

Remarks              Steve Tambini, Executive Director, Delaware River Basin Commission

Remarks              Michael Slattery, Acting Coordinator for North Atlantic Landscape Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Remarks              Maddy Urbish, Director, Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, New Jersey Audubon

DETAILS: The Delaware River stretches from the Catskill Mountains in New York to the mouth of the Delaware Bay, covering 13,600 square miles, including nearly 6,500 square miles in the Pennsylvania. More than eight million people live within the Delaware River Basin's boundaries, with than 16 million people depend on the Delaware River as a source of clean drinking water, including the city of Philadelphia.

This natural treasure is not just an important habitat for wildlife — it's a major economic engine for our region, too. The Basin contributes $25 billion annually in economic activity. Through agriculture, tourism, hunting, fishing and wildlife industries, it supports 600,000 jobs in our region.

Up until now, there was no federal program to require federal, state and local partners to work together and preserve the basin, nor was there a dedicated source of federal funding for conservation work in the region.

For More Information Contact: Maddy Urbish, Director, Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, 609-400-3845 or Madeline.Urbish@njaudubon.org