(July 29, 2026) — The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed (CDRW) announced today that Meagan Birkenmaier has been named the Coalition's next Director. Meagan has served as CDRW’s Communications Manager since 2021 and will lead the organization’s efforts to unite partners across the five-state Delaware River Basin and advance shared priorities to protect and restore the watershed.
Meagan Birkenmaier, Director, Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed
“The Delaware River Basin has benefitted immensely from the work that the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed has done to protect and restore the river since 2012. I’m thrilled that Meagan Birkenmaier will be stepping into this leadership role as the CDRW Director,” said Rebecca Meuninck, Associate Vice President of Eastern Waters at National Wildlife Federation and Co-chair of the CDRW Steering Committee. “NWF is committed to working with Meagan to protect and restore the basin for all the people and wildlife in the region.”
“I am honored to serve as the next Director of the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed,” said Meagan Birkenmaier, Director of CDRW. “The Delaware River Watershed is deeply personal to me. I was born and raised in the region, and I have seen firsthand the importance of this watershed to the communities, wildlife, and economies that depend on it. Over the past five years, I have had the privilege of working alongside CDRW members and partners to strengthen our collective voice and advance policies that protect the watershed. I am excited to continue that work in this new role and to help build an even stronger, more collaborative, and more effective Coalition.”
Meagan has led coalition-wide communications and advocacy campaigns, elevated the voices of CDRW members and partners, coordinated communications across the five-state watershed, and helped build the Coalition’s capacity to advance shared policy priorities. She has also played a key role in shaping CDRW’s strategic priorities and organizational growth, including efforts to secure federal investment in the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program, advance recognition of the Delaware River as a Nationally Significant Waterway, and defend critical water and land protections.
“With tremendous opportunity ahead for the Delaware River Watershed, I am excited about what CDRW will accomplish under Meagan’s leadership,” said Mark Zakutansky, Director of Conservation Policy Engagement at the Appalachian Mountain Club and Co-Chair of the CDRW Steering Committee. “The Coalition’s ability to unite more than 200 organizations around collaboration and effective advocacy will help secure clean water, healthy communities, vibrant recreation, and thriving wildlife for generations to come.”
"I am thrilled with Meagan's appointment as the CDRW's new executive director,” said Marty Kane, Chair of the Lake Hopatcong Foundation and Co-Chair of the CDRW Steering Committee. “She knows the organization well and in her previous roles has demonstrated a keen knowledge of watershed issues as well as an ability to bring people together.”
“Meagan comes to the Director role with a proven track record in advancing CDRW’s priorities and strengthening the Coalition’s network and partnerships,” said Renee Reber, Mid-Atlantic Clean Water Senior Program Manager at the National Parks Conservation Association and Co-Chair of the CDRW Steering Committee. “I look forward to the strategic direction of CDRW under Meagan’s expanded leadership and the opportunities that lie ahead to protect and restore the Delaware River Watershed.”
As Director, Meagan will lead CDRW’s work to convene and strengthen its growing network of more than 200 member organizations and partners across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and Maryland. She will oversee the Coalition’s strategic direction, policy and advocacy efforts, member engagement, communications, and partnerships.
Previously, Meagan worked with the Urban Affairs Coalition, where she led community and economic development initiatives focused on expanding access to capital and building stronger connections between low-to moderate-income communities and financial institutions across the Philadelphia region. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Geography from Rowan University and a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Temple University, where she focused on Sustainable Community Development and Environmental Planning.
About the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed
The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed (CDRW) was formed in 2012 to protect and restore the land and waters of the Delaware River Basin. CDRW amplifies the collective power of more than 200 member organizations and other partners working to protect the watershed. The Coalition convenes organizations across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and Maryland to build capacity, coordinate communications, strengthen partnerships, and advance state and federal policies that ensure clean water, healthy ecosystems, and resilient communities. For more information, visit www.delriverwatershed.org.
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