Jeff Skelding

Executive Director

To say I feel fortunate for the opportunity to serve as the first Executive Director for the Friends of the Upper Delaware River would be a tremendous understatement. As an avid fly fisherman and a long time conservation professional, combining two of my life’s passion is more like a dream come true. It’s an added bonus that I have the privilege of working to protect and restore the river where I spent my entire childhood. My experiences growing up on the banks of the Delaware in southeast Pennsylvania played a vital role in shaping my views on conservation in future years. Little did I know then that someday I would have a chance to help lead a committed and dedicated organization comprised of people who love this river as much as I do.

In the months leading up to accepting this position it became very clear to me that FUDR has established itself as a growing and effective advocacy voice for the river. While a fundamental objective of FUDR is to protect the fishery and its habitat for our sporting passion, the organization, led by its dedicated Board of Directors, has also established a broader presence and mission. FUDR cares about the people and the communities of the upper Delaware region and is committed to an agenda that is sensitive to the needs and desires of the people who live here, seeks to improve the economic health of the region, and works to protect and restore the tremendous natural resources values of this region. Comprehensive watershed protection must address a mosaic of often complex economic, social, cultural and ecological considerations. That’s hard work. But with increasing frequency, this integrated approach is producing results across the country that benefit people, communities, wildlife, and water quality. With your help, I look forward to putting this agenda into action in the coming years.