CALLICOON – Calling the Delaware River one of the crown jewels of New York’s 19th Congressional District, Representative Antonio Delgado (D, NY-19) announced the formation of the Congressional Delaware River Watershed Caucus. It is co-chaired by Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R, PA-1).
The lawmakers said it will give voice to funding and conservation needs throughout the watershed.
Delgado made the announcement in Callicoon on Monday saying the Delaware brings a host of benefits to the region.
“It is not just about the scenery; it is indeed an economic driver in our community. In our congressional district alone, the river generates more than 400 million in economic value every single year. We are not the only community that relies on the Delaware River for safe drinking water, beauty, and tourism. The watershed touches 23 congressional districts across four states,” he said.
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Roberta Byron Lockwood, president of the Sullivan Catskill Visitors Association, said the new congressional caucus is “imperative to protecting the integrity of our Delaware River and supporting all of the small businesses that rely on this Delaware River. Securing restoration, preservation of the river corridor is of utmost importance here in the Upper Delaware as well as the Sullivan Catskills where tourism businesses rely on this river for their livelihood.”
State Senator Michael Martucci (R, New Hampton), said Delgado “built a roadmap that we should be following in Albany on how we address this very issue.”
The river is one of the region’s “most vital resources,” said Julie Tighe, president of the New York League of Conservation voters. “Not only does it provide clean drinking water to five million New Yorkers, it’s also home to a thriving tourism and fishing industry.”
