It is important that people are aware of the quality of their water and how it affects them and their surrounding environment. On the College of New Jersey’s (TCNJ) campus in Mercer County, students and faculty experience issues with water quality often enough that it has raised concerns about the water they’re drinking and the aquatic habitats that surround the college.

On December 16th, the last voting session of 2019, the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed (CDRW) and several member organizations—including the NJ League of Conservation Voters, the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions, the Pinelands Preservation Alliance, the NJ Highlands Coalition, the NJ Environmental Lobby, and the Watershed Institute—gathered for a state house education day in Trenton, NJ.

When we discuss the value of clean water, we often talk about drinking water, safe swimming, and even great beer. But as we learned in a recent presentation by Dr. Gerald Kauffman, Director of the University of Delaware Water Resources Agency (UD WRA), the significant history of our rivers is another important factor that plays a role in our water’s inherent value.

On December 20, the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program (DRBRP) received $9.7 million in funding as part of the fiscal year 2020 Interior Appropriations bill approved by Congress and signed by the President, a 62% increase from fiscal year 2019’s funding levels. The DRBRP will provide much-needed technical assistance and grant funds to address the Delaware River Basin’s environmental challenges. This funding will support eligible applicants in NY, NJ, PA, and DE, including government entities, non-profit organizations, and institutes of education implement on-the-ground restoration and conservation projects. Projects will combat critical issues such as overdevelopment, stormwater runoff, flooding, stream erosion, and loss of wildlife habitat.

“The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed commends the members of the Senate Budget Committee for their support of bill S2776. If passed, New Jersey will join our neighboring states of New York and Delaware in the fight to prevent and reduce single-use plastics from entering our waterways in a robust manner that fits the severity of the issue,” said Sandra Meola, Director, Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed. “All too often plastic bags often end up in our waterways, impacting fish, seabirds, and other wildlife through entanglement, ingestion, and ecosystem damage.”

On November 20, Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, Musconetcong Watershed Association, New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, and Mayor Matthew Murello of Washington Township (Morris County) gathered along the banks of the Musconetcong River in Hackettstown, NJ to celebrate a new grant from the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund. A total of $96,400 was received by Musconetcong Watershed Association and with their matching funds, $192,800 will be leveraged for floodplain and stream restoration that will reduce flooding and improve water quality on the Musconetcong River, the longest tributary of the Delaware River in New Jersey.

Protecting our water starts with sound legislation and policies that are supported by state and federal legislators. In New Jersey – there’s a lot on the line. Over 1.9 million residents get their drinking water from the Delaware River Watershed, not including the 670,000 people who receive water from the Delaware and Raritan diversion. The Delaware River Watershed provides water to residents, farmers, businesses, and industry; and supports 823,294 jobs in New Jersey, earning $38.1 billion in wages for employees. New Jersey’s November elections for Assembly and Senate has created a shifting political landscape for the state, which could impact policy priorities for the Delaware River Watershed.

The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, led by New Jersey Audubon and in partnership with National Wildlife Federation held the 7th Annual Delaware River Watershed Forum in Allentown, Pennsylvania on October 16-17. About 250 people attended, bringing together conservation organizations and individuals spanning the Delaware River Watershed states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and New York, to collaborate and build skills. The Delaware River Watershed provides drinking water to 13.3 million people (about 4% of the U.S. population) in four states, including all 1.5 million Philadelphians.