HARRISBURG, Pa (September 9) – Several Pennsylvania projects are included in the latest slate of grants announced today by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to support recreation and conservation activities in the Delaware River watershed.
The grants awarded to Pennsylvania-specific projects through the Delaware River Watershed Conservation Fund, a program administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), total $2,170,405. These grants will be combined with matching funds from project partners in the amount of $13,621,800 for a total conservation impact of nearly $15,800,000. An additional $2,600,262 in multi-state grants will also benefit programs in which Pennsylvania will partner with New York, New Jersey, and Delaware. The total of grants awarded to the four watershed states was $8.1 million.
"The Delaware River watershed holds a treasure of aquatic resources, and we're excited to watch these projects take shape to benefit fish, wildlife, and the anglers and boaters of Pennsylvania," said Tim Schaeffer, PFBC Executive Director. "Conservation of these waters opens the door to expanded recreational opportunities that so many Pennsylvanians are seeking."
The PFBC is among grant recipients and will receive $200,000 for efforts to improve public access and recreation in the Pennsylvania portion of the Delaware River. The PFBC will contribute matching funds to provide grants to public entities, such as local governments and non-profit groups, to develop or improve public boating facilities.
Other Pennsylvania-specific projects being funded through the grants include riparian restoration along a farm in Berks County, rehabilitation of an abandoned fishing pier in Philadelphia, and removal of a dam along Brandywine Creek in Chester County. Multi-state projects that include the Pennsylvania portion of the watershed include improvement of trout habitat in the northern Delaware River, research on the emigration of American Eels, and developing a risk assessment framework to benefit the recovery of the Atlantic Sturgeon.
The USFWS news release including full list of grant recipients is available here.
The Delaware River Watershed Conservation Fund is coordinated by the USFWS to achieve the goals of the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act. The Act guides and supports federal, state, regional and local partners to collaboratively identify, prioritize, and implement habitat restoration and conservation activities within the watershed.
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Media Contact:
Mike Parker
Communications Director
(717)585-3076
michparker@pa.gov