Carper, Coons, Blunt Rochester Mark Major Milestones for the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund

WILMINGTON, Del. - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper, Chris Coons and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) joined representatives from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to mark seven years of vital conservation projects made possible through the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund (DWCF) at A.I. du Pont High School, a program participant.

The Delaware River Basin Conservation Act, passed by Congress in 2016, paved the way for the USFWS and NFWF to launch the DWCF grant program in 2018. The DWCF directly supports the goals of the Act by enabling federal, state, regional, and local partners to collaborate on habitat restoration and conservation efforts throughout the Delaware River watershed. The DWCF is funded through congressional appropriations to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with additional support from the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, AstraZeneca, and the William Penn Foundation. DWCF grants fund projects in four priority areas: restoring fish and wildlife habitat, reducing flooding impacting communities, improving water quality, and enhancing safe public recreational access.

"The Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund has been a tremendous success with far-reaching conservation impacts. These grants are supporting projects that improve wildlife habitat, enhance resiliency, and engage communities in conservation throughout the Delaware River Watershed," said Senator Tom Carper, Chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee. "These projects have clear benefits for Delaware's drinking water, wildlife, local tourism, and environment. I'm glad to continue to support this critical program that brings all levels of government together with community partners to restore and protect vital wetlands, habitats, and waterways."

"This year's $3.5 million investment into Delaware's watershed projects will help to protect our environment, make our state more resilient against climate change, and improve our quality of life," said U.S. Senator Chris Coons, co-chair of the Senate Climate Solutions Caucus. "The nation's lowest-lying state continues to face unique challenges in addressing hurdles like community flooding and other natural disasters spurred by climate change, and projects like these are viable, sustainable solutions."

"The Delaware River Watershed Fund is one of the most important partners we have in our conservation efforts across the region," said Rep. Blunt Rochester, co-chair of the bipartisan Delaware River Watershed Caucus in Congress. "The investments we celebrated today are already helping to enhance the critical work to protect our environment, enhance water quality, and mitigate the impact of the climate crisis, and I'm proud to be a partner in this vital effort that benefits our communities, our environment, and our economy."

Since 2018, the Fund has awarded $72.1 million to 239 projects, which generated $100 million in match, for a total conservation impact of $172.1 million. These projects will collectively restore over 26 miles of riparian habitat and nearly 77 miles of stream habitat, conserve and enhance 1,176 acres of wetland habitat, restore 121 acres of floodplain, improve 32,522 acres of forest habitat and open 6,141 acres for public access. In 2024 the DWCF funded a record 45 projects totaling $17.3M in funding and nearly $20.7M in matching funds. These projects go beyond environmental preservation, uniting communities to restore and protect our natural landscapes for future generations. Starting in 2021, funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) has helped support an additional 24 projects. Of the $26 million in BIL funds pledged to the program in 2021, more the $14 million has already been used to connect waterways, conserve habitats and get people closer to nature.

These achievements highlight the tremendous impact of the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund, demonstrating the power of collaboration and targeted investment in conservation. With over $172 million in total conservation impact, the DWCF is not only restoring critical habitats but also creating lasting opportunities for public access, creating new economic opportunities, and supporting environmental stewardship. Looking ahead, the continued success of this public-private partnership promises greater progress in preserving the unique resources of the Delaware River Basin for future generations. A complete list of the 2024 grants made through the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund projects is available here. For more information about NFWF's Delaware River efforts, please visit www.nfwf.org/delaware.

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