Federal budget includes nearly $10 million River conservation

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WASHINGTON – The Delaware River Basin Restoration Program has received $9.7 million as part of the fiscal year 3030 Interior Appropriations bill approved by Congress and signed by the president. That is a 62 percent increase from fiscal year 2019’s funding levels.

The funding will provide technical assistance and grants to address the Delaware River Basin’s environmental challenges.

The funding will support eligible applicants in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, including governmental entities, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions.

Projects will combat issues including wildlife habitat.

In New York, the East and West Branch of the Neversink River are major tributaries that are part of the Basin. There are more than 32,000 jobs and $550 million wages that are the result of direct employment including fishing, tourism, ports and water utilities.

“The Upper Delaware River’s clean water and prime outdoor recreational opportunities support a growing and increasingly important river-based regional economy in New York State,” said Jeff Skelding, executive director of Friends of the Upper Delaware River. “With a $3.7 million increase from last year, the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program has more capacity to potentially invest in the Upper Delaware, which will safeguard the area’s jobs, boost tourism, and ensure this essential resource stays healthy.”




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