On December 16, 2016, President Obama officially signed the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act (DRBCA) into law as part of a larger legislative package known as the Water Infrastructure Improvements Act for the Nation (WIIN) Act. The WIIN Act passed earlier this month with an overwhelming majority in both chambers of Congress and will provide over $10 billion in federal investment for water resources and infrastructure projects nationally, including this critical authorization for the Delaware River Basin.

The U.S. Congress passed the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act (DRBCA) on December 10, 2016 as part of a larger legislative package known as the Water Infrastructure Improvements Act for the Nation (WIIN) Act, previously called the Water Resources Development Act. The WIIN Act was passed by a majority of 78 to 21 in the Senate and 360 to 61 in the House of Representatives.

Watershed constituencies in the Upper Delaware River region in New York State are increasingly adopting a new ethic about the importance of river protection and how that contributes to a healthy business climate in an impoverished area that desperately needs economic revitalization. As the New York State Outreach Lead for the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, Friends of the Upper Delaware River (FUDR) is leading the charge in building coalitions, working with landowners, and engaging elected officials in this new dialogue and it is starting to pay off.

To many of us, when we think of clean water, the first thing that might come to mind is a trickling, tree-lined stream meandering its way down a hillside. That’s certainly a great example of clean water, and it’s an image that we at PennFuture and our many partners in the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed strive to protect. But, a good deal of work to achieve clean water, especially for our cities’ drinking supplies, is done in urban settings – like the empty lots and crowded alleyways of our urban centers.

Abandoned mine reclamation is important to water quality and our watershed for many reasons. First, it prevents clean surface water flowing through areas impacted by mining from becoming polluted with trace metals and other contaminants from abandoned stripping operations and pits that dot the Anthracite landscapes of Northeastern PA.

As Congress prepares to break for the 2016 election, it is the perfect to time to provide an update on what’s up in DC. Between the passage of major water resources legislation, a continuing resolution to keep the government funded though the election, and a major court case, this has been a busy month.

Today, the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act was passed by the U.S. Senate as part of a larger package of legislation contained in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The bill was passed with overwhelming bi-partisan support by a vote of 95 to three.

On September 9, 2016, the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed sent a letter supporting the Water Resources Development Act to Senate leadership. The letter expresses support for the its authorization of the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program, as well as other important water infrastructure investments and provisions that promote sustainable water management.