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.
Introducing Our New Engagement Coordinator of CDRW, Ellen Underwood
Hello CDRW community!
My name is Ellen Underwood, and I am thrilled to be joining the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed as the new Engagement Coordinator! As a native of the Greater Lehigh Valley, I grew up in an area with a rich agricultural tradition and have seen firsthand the rapid development of this region resulting in loss of farmland and habitat as well as extreme flooding issues and water quality degradation. This exposure, combined with an internship at a 1-acre farm in my youth, propelled me on a path that has transformed into a 10-year career in sustainable food systems and environmental advocacy.
Senator Carper and Governor Carney Join Conservation Organizations to Highlight Christina River Project Supported by Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund
Wilmington, DE (August 20, 2021) – U.S. Senator Tom Carper and Delaware Governor John Carney joined conservation partners in Wilmington today to celebrate the Christiana and Brandywine River restoration and resiliency project funded by the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund. Another important step in the on-going work to improve Wilmington’s riverfront area with clean healthy rivers and attractive places for people and wildlife.
Senate Passes Infrastructure Bill: Includes Investments in Delaware River Basin Restoration Efforts
(TRENTON) - In a 69-30 vote, the U.S. Senate has passed a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Various ecosystem restoration programs are listed in the bill, including $26 million of supplemental funding for the Delaware River Basin to be administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service over five years.
American Rescue Plan Funds - An Opportunity for Historical Water Infrastructure Investment
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provides $350 billion dollars in emergency funding for state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments which can be utilized to invest in water infrastructure. Municipal leaders are beginning to discuss the use of American Rescue Plan funds. This is an opportunity for Coalition member organizations to urge state and local governments to prioritize investing in water infrastructure projects to meet the demands for safe, accessible water and sewer services in the face of the climate crisis.
Bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Introduced in Senate Will Be a Game Changer for At-Risk Species
CDRW Internship Experience
By: Kimberly Pelosi, Policy Intern, Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed
Over the course of the past three months, I have had the valuable opportunity to work with the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed (CDRW) team as their 2021 Policy Intern. Before joining CDRW, I graduated from Rutgers University where I studied Environmental Policy, but having spent the last five years of my postgraduate life working in an entirely different field, I wondered if I would be able to acclimate to this role, or whether this experience would prove beneficial in helping me steer my career back towards the environmental world.