By Jeff Skelding, Friends of the Upper Delaware River:
Protecting a watershed takes more than good intentions. It takes strong partnerships, thoughtful policy, and boots-on-the-ground action. That's exactly the approach Friends of the Upper Delaware River (FUDR) has embraced for years as the New York state lead for the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed (CDRW).
While many organizations focus on either advocacy or restoration, FUDR has always believed the two go hand in hand. Strong conservation policies create opportunities for meaningful projects on the ground, and successful restoration efforts demonstrate why those policies matter.
That philosophy was on full display in 2017, when FUDR worked side by side with the CDRW and conservation partners across New York to build support for the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act (DRBCA). Through outreach, coalition building, and education, we helped ensure New York's congressional delegation understood how important this legislation would be for communities throughout the Upper Delaware watershed.
The results have been remarkable.
Culvert replacement on Shea Brook Road, Town of Hancock NY, before image. Funded by the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund.
Since the DRBCA became law, more than $5 million has been invested in projects throughout the Upper Delaware watershed. Those investments are restoring streams, protecting water quality, improving habitat for fish and wildlife, strengthening climate resilience, supporting local economies, and helping rural communities tackle conservation challenges they could not address alone.
Culvert replacement on Shea Brook Road, Town of Hancock NY, after image. Funded by Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund.
The momentum didn't stop there.
The success of the federal program helped FUDR and our conservation partners secure an annual appropriation in the New York State budget to establish the Upper Delaware River (UDR) Watershed Network. Today, this growing alliance brings together more than 30 organizations and institutions working toward a common goal: protecting the Delaware River's headwaters.
That state investment has become an important source of matching funds for DRBCA grants while expanding the capacity of local partners to carry out conservation work throughout the region.
For FUDR, this is what successful watershed protection looks like. It's advocating for smart conservation policy, restoring streams one project at a time, and building partnerships that multiply the impact of every dollar invested.
By connecting policy with action, we're helping ensure the headwaters of the Delaware River remain clean, healthy, and resilient—not just for today, but for future generations who depend on this extraordinary watershed.