(Harrisburg, PA) - July 11, 2022 - Governor Tom Wolf signed Pennsylvania’s 2023 budget into law on Friday, notably falling short of the Commonwealth’s commitment to fully fund the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC). Despite the Governor’s initial budget proposal to fully fund the DRBC with more than the $893,000 that the Commonwealth agreed to, negotiations cut funding to $217,000, the same level that Pennsylvania has been funding the Commission at since 2014.
New Jersey to Fully Fund Delaware River Basin Commission in 2023 Budget
House Passes Recovering America’s Wildlife Act
In a 231-190 vote on June 14, 2022, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA).
This legislation will dedicate $1.4 billion annually to proactive, locally-led efforts to recover thousands of at-risk wildlife species, while creating jobs and prioritizing the outdoor recreation economy at a time when our country and planet are facing a biodiversity crisis.
Senator Carper Joins Environmental Organizations to Announce Reauthorization of the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act
Middletown, DE (March 7, 2022) - Senator Carper joined conservation partners at Thousand Acre Marsh in New Castle County, Delaware today to announce the introduction of the Delaware River Basin Conservation Reauthorization Act, which would enhance the current legislation by changing the 1:1 match requirement to a 90% federal investment with 10% match for small, rural, or disadvantaged communities that are submitting restoration projects for consideration, an important step to creating better access to critical conservation and restoration funding.
House Passes Infrastructure Bill: Includes $26 Million for Delaware River Watershed Restoration Efforts
(TRENTON, NJ) - In a win-win for conservation and bi-partisan collaboration, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, in a 228 by 206 vote.
The bill includes $26 million of supplemental funding for the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program (DRBRP) administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over five years - an additional $5.2 million annually. The funding supports on-the-ground restoration projects and new and existing jobs across the 4-state watershed (New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware) through the DRBRP.
Ducks Unlimited, Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed Tour John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge
(Philadelphia, PA) October 27, 2021 – Ducks Unlimited was joined by others in the conservation community to tour John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge and celebrate the tidal marsh habitat restoration project, funded by the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund. The tour followed on the heels of the successful 9th Annual Del-AWARE River Watershed Forum, hosted by the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed. The project is an important step in the ongoing work to reduce flooding in local underserved communities, enhance and expand recreational opportunities for kayaking and fishing and increase public access for environmental education of diverse audiences.
Governor Murphy Signs $10 Million Lakes Funding Bill (S-3618/A-5778)
The $10 million supplemental appropriation for grants for certain lake management activities for recreation and conservation purposes is the most significant investment in the Lake Hopatcong and Greenwood Lake areas in recent history. The bill recognizes that in these ecologically significant regions, lakes play a critical role to residents throughout the State by providing the supply of drinking water, watershed protection, recreational and conservation purposes.
Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed Celebrates $11.5 million in grants to Improve the Health of the Delaware River watershed
Trenton, NJ (September 20, 2021) – The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced today 41 grantees totaling nearly $11.5 million in awards. Grantees have committed more than $13.5 million in match, for a total conservation impact of $25 million that will restore and protect our land and water resources.