Spanning 13,539 square miles across four states, the Delaware River Watershed is a critical ecosystem and a lifeline for 14.2 million people who depend on it for clean drinking water. The watershed also supports diverse wildlife habitats for countless species of fish, birds, mammals, and more.
Protecting water quality across such a vast and varied landscape requires collaborative solutions. Water quality challenges are complex and cannot be addressed through a single approach. Achieving our clean water goals depends on partnerships among governments, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and local communities. The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed works to convene the nonprofit sector and create opportunities for cooperation and shared action to address the many challenges affecting clean water in the watershed.
Our Priorities
The Coalition’s priorities guide our advocacy and conservation work across the Delaware River Basin, supporting federal investment, protecting water and land resources, and elevating the Delaware River as a nationally significant waterway.
Supporting Investment in the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program
Advancing the Delaware River as a Nationally Significant Waterway
Defending Water and Land Protections for the Delaware River Basin
COALITION WORKGROUPS
The Coalition currently convenes two active workgroups focused on distinct issue areas. These groups meet monthly or as needed to support collaboration and shared learning. Their work goes beyond information exchange, as members work together to develop shared resources, advance coordinated advocacy efforts, and align on unified messaging strategies.
Federal Policy
Monthly: 3rd Tuesday’s, 9:00 a.m. EST
Communications
Bi-Monthly: 1st Tuesday, 11:00 a.m. EST
Restoration Funding
Quarterly (Jan/Apr/Jul/Oct): 3rd Thursday, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. EST
Strengthening Protections
Quarterly (Feb/May/Aug/Nov): 3rd Thursday, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. EST
JOIN OUR WORKGROUPS!
In addition to the four subject related workgroups, the Coalition offers state-based workgroups (NY, NJ, PA, DE). Please take a moment to review the available workgroups below and sign up for the ones that align with your interests and expertise.
**Workgroup opportunities are only available for staff on CDRW Member Organizations. If your organization is interested in becoming a member, please visit the Join Us page to learn more.**
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The Federal Policy Workgroup focuses on making progress on policy priorities set forth by Coalition members, including ensuring robust funding for the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program. The Federal Policy Workgroup also serves as the main coordinating body for our spring Delaware River Watershed Hill Day.
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The Communications Workgroup focuses on creating connections and learning opportunities on communications topics (i.e social media, media relations, etc). The workgroup further gathers existing and develops new communications materials to better meet the needs of CDRW member organizations.
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A member-driven space focused on advancing federal and state funding that supports restoration and protection across the Delaware River Basin. Members meet quarterly (scheduled across the year, e.g., January, April, July, October) to coordinate on shared funding priorities, track emerging opportunities, and align advocacy across programs such as the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program, conservation funding initiatives, and water infrastructure investments.
Members bring forward real-time funding challenges, upcoming grant and appropriations opportunities, and shared priorities across programs such as watershed restoration, wildlife conservation, wetlands protection, and water infrastructure. The group provides space to identify gaps, reduce duplication of effort, and strengthen collective influence on funding decisions.
The workgroup supports peer learning and coordinated action, including joint advocacy letters, funding comments, and collaborative campaigns.
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A member-driven forum focused on safeguarding and strengthening protections for water, land, and environmental resources across the Delaware River Basin. Members meet quarterly (scheduled across the year, e.g., February, May, August, November) to surface emerging issues, share updates, and coordinate responses to regulatory, legislative, and development-related challenges.
Members bring forward real-time concerns such as Clean Water Act protections, emerging contaminants, large-scale development, energy infrastructure, and watershed management decisions. The group provides space to align strategies and identify opportunities for coordinated engagement.
The workgroup supports peer learning and collective action, including public comments, advocacy engagement, briefings, and joint campaigns.
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