The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed is cheering an increase in federal funding for this fiscal year.
The appropriation bill President Donald Trump says he’ll sign keeping the government open through Sept. 30th includes $6 million for the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program.
Sandra Meola is director of the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed. She says the River Basin is menaced by threats like overdevelopment, stormwater runoff and stream erosion. She said it's a million dollars more than FY 2018.
“Last year was first-time historic funding for the watershed ever," she said. "And this time it’s, you know, it’s more money. And it’s exciting to see this program grow and grow.”
She said the funding is important to address the environmental changes. The basin provides a home to more than 400 types of birds and over 90 species of fish.
“We have agricultural runoff in the more agricultural areas like Delaware and upper New York State," she said. In general, I think it’s come a long way, but that’s not to say there’s still a lot of work to be done.”
Meola said the money will go toward projects like green infrastructure, research and habitat restoration.
She expects U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will announce the projects next month.
The money was caught up in the fight over whether Congress would include funding to build a wall on the U.S.’s southern border - and the partial government shutdown caused by that fight.
