Nearly 40 advocates for the Delaware River Watershed packed their bags and hit Capitol Hill on March 17, ready to make their voices heard on behalf of the river and the communities along it. Hill Day is our annual chance to meet with Members of Congress, share stories from the watershed, and push for the policies and funding that protect clean water, restore habitats, and support local communities across New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware.
Grants were awarded through the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund (DWCF), a program funded by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)
Washington D.C. (February 11, 2026) – The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced 30 Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund awards totaling $12.5 million. Grantees have committed nearly $17 million in match, for a total conservation impact of $29.3 million that will restore and protect our land and water resources.
These awards build on years of conservation and collaboration across the Delaware River Watershed, highlighting what’s possible when communities, local organizations, and partners work together from the headwaters to the estuary to protect and restore the watershed for people, wildlife, and communities.
“This $12.5 million investment will protect clean drinking water for 14.2 million people, restore critical habitat, and expand access to the outdoors across the Delaware River Watershed,” said Meagan Birkenmaier, Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed. “We’re proud that more than half of the funded projects are led by Coalition members, demonstrating the strength and impact of our network across the watershed.”
“Ducks Unlimited (DU) is so excited to receive a DWCF grant this year,” said Lisa Clark, Regional Biologist for Ducks Unlimited. “This funding will enable DU and our partners to increase awareness and enrollment in critical land protection programs in the New Jersey Bayshore region. This work will target the highest priority landscapes for protection, benefitting key migratory bird habitat and helping clean the region’s water at the same time.”
“The ongoing support from the DWCF allows the Academy of Natural Sciences to conduct important research into the ecology of the Delaware Basin. Their funding is key to our continuing efforts to understand and advise on the management of dams and fish populations in the Cooper River,” said Dr. David Keller, Director of the Fisheries Department at the Academy of Natural Sciences’ Patrick Center for Environmental Research.
“The Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund award is the cornerstone of efforts to restore an impaired stream channel within the South Branch of French Creek and the surrounding wetlands and floodplain beginning at the publicly accessible Thomas P. Bentley Nature Preserve,” said Bill Gladden, Executive Director of French & Pickering. “Support from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will jump start implementation of the most significant restoration project in our 59-year history. The project will serve as a demonstration for wildlife habitat improvement, increased floodplain resilience, and improved water quality along over 4,500 feet of the French Creek and the surrounding wetland and floodplain.”
Together, these efforts ensure that the Delaware River Watershed remains a thriving home for wildlife and a source of clean water and recreation for generations to come. See the full list of 2025 Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund grants here.
About the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund (DWCF)
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. Since 2018, the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund has funded 270 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. For more information about the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program, please visit https://www.fws.gov/program/delaware-river-basin-restoration.
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About Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed
The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed was formed in 2012 to protect and restore the land and waters in the Delaware River Basin. We amplify the collective power of 200 member organizations and other stakeholders as we advocate for a healthy and protected watershed with a unified voice. The Coalition convenes member and non-member organizations, builds capacity, coordinates communications, and advances policy at the federal and state levels. For more information, please visit www.delriverwatershed.org.
Media Contact:
Meagan Birkenmaier, meagan.schaefer@delriverwatershed.org, 609-330-4883
Coalition of Nearly 200 Organizations Highlights the Power of Collaboration to Ensure a Thriving Delaware River Watershed
Randolph, NJ (October 28. 2025) — The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed (CDRW) convened over 100 conservation leaders, advocates, and partners from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, New York, and Maryland for its 13th Annual Delaware River Watershed Forum in Randolph, NJ on October 23–24. Together, they explored strategies to protect and strengthen the Delaware River Watershed, a lifeline that provides clean drinking water to 14.2 million people (about 4% of the U.S. population), including more than 3 million in New Jersey.
The Delaware River Watershed Forum continues to serve as a cornerstone gathering for professionals, advocates, and community leaders committed to protecting and restoring the Delaware River Watershed. Each year, the Forum provides a space to connect, exchange ideas, and strengthen partnerships that advance clean water, climate resilience, and environmental equity across the region.
Flood mitigation is critically important to a community as it safeguards residents’ health and safety, protects homes, businesses, and infrastructure, and reduces the devastating economic impacts of flooding which the Upper Delaware Region is subject to on an annual basis. Effective flood mitigation also preserves natural resources, recovers aquatic passage, improves stormwater management, and strengthens community resilience, ensuring that recovery is faster, less costly, and more sustainable over the long term. By investing in prevention and preparedness, communities can foster safety, stability, and confidence in their future while maintaining a high quality of life.
From June 14-20, over 200 paddlers, took part in the 30th annual Delaware River Sojourn. Starting in Balls Eddy, PA, the group paddled over 70 miles, ending the Sojourn in Phillipsburg, NJ. Over the course of the Sojourn, the paddlers got to camp, kayak through class 1 and 2 rapids, and engage in programming, like water quality testing and trivia, that taught them more about the science and history in the region.
On March 12th, members of the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed came together in Washington, D.C. for our 12th annual Hill Day. This in-person gathering gave us a valuable chance to meet face-to-face with Members of Congress and their staff to talk about the policies and funding needed to protect and restore the Delaware River Watershed across New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.
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