On March 22, the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed announced the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation jointly awarded the first round of 25 Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund grants totaling $4,140,000 in federal funds.
This is the first time that dedicated federal funding has been allocated to on-the-ground projects that conserve and restore the Delaware River Basin.
Applications are now being accepted for the 2019 round of Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund Grants. Click here for more.
Pennsylvania projects received a total of $1.757,319 million, the most of any state in the Watershed. The projects include--
-- Stream Restoration at Jeffersonville Golf Club, West Norriton Township, $158,946
-- Restoration, Research and Outreach in the Cherry Creek Watershed, Friends of Cherry Valley Inc, $200,000
-- John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge Tidal Marsh Restoration, Ducks Unlimited, Inc, $86,000
-- Returning American Eels for Ecological Restoration of the Schuylkill Watershed, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, $88,506
-- Stormwater management and trail restoration in Wissahickon Valley Park, Friends of the Wissahickon, $125,000
-- Fish Passage Improvements and Stream Restoration in Bushkill Creek, Wildlands Conservancy, Inc., $183,001
-- Implementing Green Stormwater Infrastructure at Drexel Gardens Park, Pennsylvania Resources Council, $202,340
-- Aquatic Habitat Restoration at Aquetong Spring Park, Solebury Township, $250,000
-- Unassessed Waters Initiative-IV, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, $50,000
-- Expanding Stream Restoration in the Red Clay Creek, Brandywine Red Clay Alliance, $249,556
-- Wissahickon Headwaters Riparian Restoration, Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association, $249,970
Several multi-state grants were also awarded that will benefit Pennsylvania, including--
-- Enhancing Aquatic Connectivity and Flood Resilience at Road Stream Crossings, Trout Unlimited, Inc., $55,021
-- Reducing Microplastics in the Delaware Estuary, Delaware River Basin Commission, $60,454
-- Planning and Implementation of a Living Shoreline at Bartram's Garden, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Inc., $125,000
-- Enhancing Forest Habitat in the Northern Delaware River Watershed, Wildlife Management Institute, $249,917
Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund grants were awarded to organizations to address key issues facing the watershed, such as conserving and restoring fish and wildlife habitat, improving and maintaining water quality, sustaining and enhancing water management and reducing flood damage, and improving recreational opportunities and public access.
A large pool of worthy projects was submitted for consideration, signifying the need for continued robust federal funding for the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program.
For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed website.
Related Story:
No comments:
Post a Comment