June is Great Outdoors Month, a time to step outside and reconnect with the landscapes that shape our daily lives. Across the Delaware River Watershed, it is also a reminder that “the outdoors” is not somewhere distant. It is right here, embedded in our communities.
A United Voice for the Delaware River: A Successful Hill Day
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.
Resilience in Action: NJPACT REAL Rules Released to Protect New Jersey from Climate Threats
After last week’s relentless downpours from the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby, which brought high winds and widespread street flooding, the formal release of the NJ REAL (Resilient Environments and Landscapes) Rules couldn’t have come at a better time. Directed by Governor Phil Murphy’s Executive Order 100 in January 2020 as part of the New Jersey Protecting Against Climate Threats (NJPACT) initiative, these rules are a game-changer for the state. The NJ REAL Rules were officially published by the New Jersey DEP on August 5th, more than two years after their original target release date. REAL is a package of crucial revisions to key state regulations designed to make New Jersey more resilient to the devastating impacts of climate change. These revisions will update the state's outdated land use, stormwater management, and wetlands regulations to reflect New Jersey's new reality: warmer temperatures, rising sea levels, and stronger, more frequent downpours.
Introducing Jay Weisbond, CDRW's New NJ State Lead!
DEIJ Day of Learning: Actionable Strategies for Change
On Wednesday, June 5th ― the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed (CDRW) hosted its inaugural Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) Day of Learning at the Social Profit Center in Hamilton, New Jersey.
The event was constructed by CDRW’s DEIJ Workgroup to highlight regional expertise and equip participants with tools to enhance advocacy, outreach, programming and more.
Our robust agenda featured community-based organizations, state environmental agencies, and civic engagement groups who spoke about addressing systemic and racial injustices, forming authentic and representative partnerships, making nature accessible for individuals with disabilities, among other critical DEIJ topics.
Access Nature Goes Statewide!
The Pineland Preservation Alliance (PPA), the New Jersey Division of Disability Services of the New Jersey Department of Human Services (DDS), the Edward J. Bloustein School, and Duke Farms have come together to lead a statewide effort to make recreating in nature a part of the lives of everyone in our state regardless of disability. The inspiration for this came from The Pinelands is for Everyone project, which has evolved into the new statewide Nature: Accessible for All initiative that brings in new activists and partners to the cause. PPA received critical funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to facilitate this campaign.
Advocating for Clean Water, Outdoor Access, and Wildlife Conservation During Hill Day 2024
March 13th, nearly 60 members of the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed met in-person with Members of Congress in Washington, DC for our eleventh annual Hill Day to educate offices on key policy and funding priorities that support conservation and restoration in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.
New Jersey Coalition Members Hear from DEP and the Legislature About Efforts to Address PFAS in our Waterways
CDRW’s New Jersey members have been busy the last couple of months. We had the opportunity to hear from both the Department of Environmental Protection and NJ Assemblyman Brandon Umba about ongoing efforts to address the impact of PFAS in New Jersey waterways.
PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are manmade chemical toxins that pose a significant threat to public health, water quality and wildlife. PFAS have been linked to severe human health impacts, including cancer. These substances are present in many of the products that we use in our everyday lives and they have been found virtually everywhere, from the Arctic to the Delaware River.