The future of the Delaware River Watershed is being shaped right now by leaders across the Basin. On September 29 and 30, many of them came together in Newark, Delaware, for the 14th Annual Delaware River Watershed Forum.
Great Outdoors Month in the Delaware River Watershed
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 These revisions will update the state's outdated land use, stormwater management, and wetlands regulations to reflect New Jersey's new reality: warmer temperatures, rising sea levels, and stronger, more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.