National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Announces $2.28 Million in Grants from Delaware River Restoration Fund
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 13, 2017) – The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced 13 grant awards totaling $2.28 million for water quality restoration and habitat conservation in targeted regions throughout the Delaware River watershed. Grantee organizations have committed $4.19 million in match, generating a total conservation impact of more than $6.47 million.
The grants were awarded through the Delaware River Restoration Fund, a partnership between NFWF and the William Penn Foundation. This is the fourth year the fund has administered grant awards; this year, additional support was provided by the U.S. Forest Service.
The 2017 grant awards represent multistate investments to restore habitats and support conservation practices that improve and protect critical ecosystems and sources of drinking water. A full list of 2017 projects is available here.
“The 2017 grants from the Delaware River Restoration Fund represent a continued commitment to restoring water quality and habitats in this iconic watershed,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO at NFWF. “The William Penn Foundation’s unparalleled investment in the Delaware River watershed and the important work of these grantees will benefit a range of native species, from eastern brook trout to golden-winged warblers.”
The Delaware River Watershed covers 13,539 square miles of land and water, running from the Catskills in New York through Pennsylvania and New Jersey, ultimately emptying into the Delaware Bay. Urban and suburban waterways play a major role in the watershed’s communities, with headwaters in neighboring rural areas. Grant projects take place in a variety of landscapes across the watershed and ultimately benefit water quality locally and for those downstream.
From 2013 through 2017, the William Penn Foundation has provided $8 million in grant funding for NFWF to administer competitively through its Delaware River Restoration Fund. These efforts are a part of the broader Delaware River Watershed Initiative. NFWF’s grantees continue to leverage the William Penn Foundation resources with matching contributions that result in impactful on-the-ground conservation and restoration.
About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Chartered by Congress in 1984, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) protects and restores the nation's fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Working with federal agencies, corporations, foundations and individual partners, NFWF has funded more than 4,500 organizations and committed more than $3.8 billion to conservation projects. Learn more at www.nfwf.org.
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