The Importance of the Federal Government to the Upper Delaware River Watershed

Photo Caption: Molly Oliver (Executive Director) and Sherri Resti Thomas (Deputy Director) in Washington, D.C.

FUDR Leaders joined the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed Convene on Capitol Hill this Week

Do you ever wonder what the connection is between the federal government and our conservation efforts in the Upper Delaware River watershed? 

While Washington DC seems far away and seemingly removed from the daily effort of protecting our river, the federal connection is quite significant and extremely important. 

For many years now, FUDR and our conservation partners have worked on a bi-partisan basis with the members of the New York and Pennsylvania U.S. Congressional delegations to educate them about the economic and environmental importance of the UDR watershed.  

This work isn’t easy. It requires countless hours of relationship building, clear sighted communication, rigorous diligence, extreme patience, and an unwavering passion and dedication to the protection of our river and the people who live here. 

That hard work paid off in 2017 when the U.S. Congress and the office of the President signed off on a new federal program called the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program (DRBRP). Adopted in 2017, this program has generated more than $5 million in conservation investments in the Upper Delaware River for projects that protect aquatic habitat and water quality, build climate resilience, support local government investments in public infrastructure and flood mitigation, and enhance river based recreational opportunities.   

This week, Molly and Sherri from the FUDR staff, along with numerous conservation partners including Trout Unlimited and the Delaware Highlands Conservancy, will be on Capitol Hill educating our members of Congress from New York State and northeast Pennsylvania about the critical importance of our conservation work. They will relay success stories on numerous DRBRP projects throughout the UDR watershed that generate multiple benefits for all stakeholders and emphasize to lawmakers the critical importance of continued federal support for these efforts. 

Local governments, business owners, anglers, recreational enthusiasts, and everybody who cares about the Upper Delaware River watershed should rest assured that the work of FUDR and our conservation partners in the nation’s capital is extremely meaningful, generates tangible results back home, and serves as the leading conservation voice at the federal level for our watershed.