The recently passed federal budget has increased funding for the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program (DRBRP).
The program focuses on funding for projects in four key areas: clean water, habitat, recreation and flow management, reported the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
The DRBRP received $9.7 million in funding for the 2020 budget, reported Delaware First Media. This is up from 62% last year and over double what the DRBRP has received in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 combined.
“We’re absolutely thrilled. So, really looking forward to seeing how that money will be used toward on the ground restoration and conservation projects throughout all of the four watershed states,” said Sandra Meola, director of the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed. “So these funds are specifically going towards projects that improve fish and wildlife habitats, improve and expand public access, improve storm resilience and improve water quality.”
The funding will be open to eligible applicants in the Delaware River Watershed across four states, including: government entities; non-profit organizations; and institutes of education implementing on-the-ground restoration and conservation projects.
In the first two years of implementation, the DRBRP has funded 53 projects throughout the basin and awarded $8.74 million in grants, according to Hopatcong Lake Regional News. The Delaware River Basin encompasses portions of four states and supplies about 13.3 million people with water.
"The Delaware River Basin Restoration Program represents a critical investment in the future of our region. We have strongly advocated for the inclusion of $10 million for the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program and are thrilled by the tremendous amount of good the program has done so far. We anticipate a growing demand for the project funding from eligible entities throughout the basin," added Meola.
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