Clean Water and Conservation Take Center Stage at Annual Delaware River Watershed Hill Day
Clean water advocates convened on Capitol Hill for the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed’s Annual Hill Day to urge Members of Congress to support programs that protect and restore rivers, streams, wetlands, and other critical habitats throughout the Delaware River Watershed.
(Washington, DC) – On March 17th, nearly 40 members of the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed met with their Congressional representatives to discuss critical funding and policy priorities for the protection, restoration, and conservation of the Delaware River Watershed. The Coalition, representing 200 organizations across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and Maryland, emphasized the Delaware River Watershed’s vital role as a source of clean drinking water for 14.2 million people and its importance to the region’s economy. The watershed is also historically and nationally significant, playing a central role in America’s founding and development. Key natural assets include the Delaware Water Gap, more than 400 miles of National Wild and Scenic Rivers, six National Wildlife Refuges, and the Delaware Bay, one of the largest systems in the National Estuary Program.
At a breakfast gathering of advocates, participants heard remarks from members of the Congressional Delaware River Watershed Caucus, including Co-Chair Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA‑1), Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (PA‑7), and Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (PA‑4), highlighting the need for ongoing investment in this critical natural resource, before Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE) closed the event with her remarks
“Protecting and restoring the Delaware River Watershed is about more than conserving land and water, it’s about the millions of people and communities who rely on these resources every day,” said Meagan Birkenmaier, Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed. “Our Coalition members across the region witness firsthand how federal programs like the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program and the Land and Water Conservation Fund improve lives, create jobs, restore habitats, and strengthen communities. We are grateful for the opportunity to meet with our representatives and share the tangible, positive impacts these programs bring to our neighborhoods and local watersheds.”
“The Delaware River Watershed and the Delaware River Basin Conservation Program are essential to the long-term health and wealth of our region,” said Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “I am proud to have attended the annual Delaware River Watershed Breakfast again this year and to be leading the introduction of the Delaware River Basin Conservation Reauthorization Act. Investing in these programs is an environmental and economic win for Delaware and will benefit our region for generations to come.”
“The Delaware River Basin is one of our nation’s defining natural assets—an enduring source of life, prosperity, and history for the communities it serves,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick, Co-Chair of the Congressional Delaware River Watershed Caucus. “It provides drinking water to millions of Americans, supports a vibrant regional economy, sustains irreplaceable ecosystems, and forms part of the very landscape where our national story was shaped. A resource of this vital significance must be protected. That starts with reauthorizing the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program and strengthening the federal partnership needed to preserve this historic watershed. Our responsibility is clear: ensure the Delaware has the long-term stewardship and support it needs for generations to come.”
“The Delaware River provides drinking water for millions of people and is central to the health, economy, and character of communities across our region,” said Rep. Riley, Co-Chair of the Congressional Delaware River Watershed Caucus. “The Delaware River Basin Restoration Program has helped protect water quality, restore habitat, reduce flooding, and strengthen public access to the river. Reauthorizing it through 2032 is a common sense step to help keep this work moving forward. I’m proud to support it.”
“The communities that I represent in the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos understand that clean water isn’t optional—it’s essential for public health, quality of life, and our local economy,” said Congressman Ryan Mackenzie. “The protection and conservation of the Delaware River Watershed is critical to the well-being of our community. That’s why I’m supporting the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program, and why I’ll continue working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance solutions that protect water quality, reduce flooding, and strengthen our communities.”
“We have a right to clean water — from safe drinking water to wildlife restoration, community recreation, and more,” Congresswoman Dean said. “We also have an obligation to protect those precious resources today and for our future generations. I am grateful to the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed who understands the necessity of partnerships in preserving and improving our region’s waterways, making our region a desirable place to live, work, and enjoy.”
During these meetings, Coalition members highlighted key legislative and funding priorities to protect and restore the Delaware River Watershed.
Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Legislative and Funding Priorities
Delaware River Basin Restoration Program (DRBRP) - Request $17 million in FY27 to support restoration projects across the watershed. Since 2018, the program has funded 270 projects, leveraging over $120 million in matching funds and restoring thousands of acres of streams, wetlands, and riparian habitat. In 2025, 62 projects requested nearly $29 million, showing strong demand and the need for continued investment.
Reauthorization of the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program - Pass the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 to extend this bipartisan, nonregulatory program through 2032, prioritize projects that benefit small, rural, or disadvantaged communities, and continue competitive grant opportunities.
Legacy Restoration Fund and Land and Water Conservation Fund - Reauthorize the Legacy Restoration Fund through the America the Beautiful Act while protecting full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Additionally, 85 organizations signed letters in support of the Coalition's appropriations request, urging increased funding for the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program.
Through these efforts, the Coalition continues to amplify the voices of communities across the Watershed, supporting programs that protect clean water and restore critical habitats.
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The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed was formed in 2012 to protect and restore the land and waters in the Delaware River Watershed. We amplify the collective power of 200 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. For more information, please visit www.delriverwatershed.org.