Wilmington, Del. – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation today joined elected officials, funding partners and grantees to mark 7 years of vital conservation projects made possible through the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund.
This year’s grants award $17.3 million in funding for a record slate of 45 partner-led conservation projects, accompanied with $20.7 million in matching funds. These projects reduce flood impacts to communities, improve water quality, restore fish and wildlife habitat, and enhance safe public recreational access in Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Partners throughout the four-state watershed identified these four priorities to guide restoration, ensure investments reflect shared goals, and contribute to landscape-scale conservation gains within the Delaware River basin.
“The Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund, supplemented by Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) is a once-in-a-generation investment in the nation’s infrastructure and economic competitiveness. We were directly appropriated $455 million over five years in BIL funds for programs related to the President’s America the Beautiful initiative.
Learn more about Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, has made an incredible impact on the landscape and in the lives of those who live within one of the most densely populated areas of the country,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams. “Since 2018, we have worked collaboratively with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and communities to direct more than $72 million in federal funds to support 239 projects that connect people to nature, build resilient communities and support local economies.”
The DWCF was authorized by Congress under the 2016 Delaware River Basin Conservation Act, which promotes a non-regulatory approach to landscape-scale conservation that is voluntary, incentive-driven and builds upon existing collaboration by watershed partners.
Launched in 2018 and administered by the Service and NFWF through congressional appropriations, the DWCF funds projects that support the goals of a strategic framework to maximize conservation, bolster the economy, protect communities, improve human health, provide greater outdoor recreation opportunities, and help build a more resilient watershed for all citizens to enjoy today and into the future. In a time of severe drought in the Basin, these types of projects, and the resiliency they will bring to the region, are even more crucial. Additional financial support for the program comes from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, AstraZeneca, and the William Penn Foundation.
The fund supports community-led projects by school districts, municipalities, community associations, universities, conservation non-profits, county, state and federal partners and other organizations. Together these projects have generated $100 million in match and are on track to open 6,141 acres for public access; improve or enhance 32,522 acres of forest habitat and 1,176 acres of wetland habitat; and restore 121 acres of floodplain, over 26 miles of riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian habitat, and nearly 77 miles of stream habitat. Twenty-four of these projects were made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which in 2021 directed $26 million to the DWCF to invest in green infrastructure over a five-year period. To date, more the $14 million has been used to connect waterways, conserve habitats and get people closer to nature.
These achievements highlight the tremendous impact of the DWCF, demonstrating the power of collaboration and targeted investment in conservation. With over $172 million in total conservation impact, the program is restoring critical habitats, creating public access and new economic opportunities, and supporting environmental stewardship.
A complete list of grant projects made possible through the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund since 2018 is available at https://www.fws.gov/program/delaware-river-basin-restoration. For more information about NFWF’s Delaware River efforts, please visit www.nfwf.org/delaware.
About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Chartered by Congress in 1984, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) protects and restores the nation’s fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Working with federal, corporate, foundation and individual partners, NFWF has funded more than 6,800 organizations and generated a total conservation impact of more than $10 billion. NFWF is an equal opportunity provider. Learn more at nfwf.org.
About the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visit www.fws.gov and connect with us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), LinkedIn, Flickr, and YouTube.
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