Press Releases

Congressman Matt Cartwright issued a statement regarding the announcement of a new annual federal grant for local environmental groups, whose mission includes restoring and conserving a healthy ecosystem for the Delaware River Watershed.  

Yesterday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced the launch of the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund (DWCF). This is a $4.3 million competitive grant and technical assistance program that will provide new support for the protection, restoration, and conservation of fish and wildlife habitats in the Delaware River Watershed, which supplies drinking water to 15 million people, including many in Pennsylvania. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), working closely with the FWS, will administer the annual competitive grant solicitation and selection process.

“Conservation of our natural resources has been an important ecological and economic priority for me. This fund is critical to the ongoing work of restoring, protecting, and conserving the health of the Delaware River Watershed,” said Rep. Cartwright, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “Millions rely on this life-blood of the Mid-Atlantic for everything from clean drinking water to recreation to employment.” Congress provided funds to the FWS in fiscal year 2018 to leverage public and private funding to support the environmental and economic health of the Delaware River Watershed for restoration and conservation projects.

The Delaware River Watershed flows from the Catskill Mountains of New York through Pennsylvania and New Jersey where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean. This ecosystem sustains orchards, wineries, dairy farms, and nurseries. Its free-flowing waters, fisheries, and streamside parks draw anglers, birders, bicyclists, and paddlers from across the region and around the world. The Delaware River Watershed is home to native brook trout, red knots, river herring, freshwater mussels, oysters, and other wildlife.

Click here for more information on how to apply for the grant. The request for grant proposals is now open and applications are due on September 27, 2018.

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.

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