Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed

Kim Beidler Coalition Coordinator

October 16, 2013 Water Water Everywhere

Mission

TO UNITE ORGANIZATIONS AND ENHANCE THEIR CAPACITY TO EFFECTIVELY ADVOCATE FOR PROTECTING AND RESTORING THE DELAWARE RIVER BASIN BY COORDINATING COMMUNICATIONS, MESSAGES, AND ACTIONS AND FOSTERING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR SUCCESS AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS

Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed

Providing

• Links to organizations working throughout the watershed

• Connection to regional, state and national initiatives

• Access to coordinated advocacy

• Opportunity to raise the profile of issues to a broader audience

Membership

•Open to local, regional,

and national non-

governmental groups

•No membership fees or

dues

Watershed Associations Recreation & Outdoor Interests Land Conservancies Education Centers Environmental Organizations Regional Partnerships

Membership is GROWING…

American Littoral Society American Rivers

Delaware Highlands Conservancy

Delaware Nature Society

Ducks Unlimited

Friends of the Upper Delaware River

National Parks Conservation Association

National Wildlife Federation

New Jersey Audubon

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

PennFuture

Pennsylvania Environmental Council

And GROWING…

American Littoral Society American Rivers Appalachian Mountain Club Bertsch-Hokendauqua-Catasauqua Watershed Assoc. Christina Conservancy, Inc. Delaware Highlands Conservancy Delaware Nature Society Delaware River Shad Fishermen’s Assoc. Ducks Unlimited Federation of Fly Fishers, N.E. Council Friends of the Upper Delaware Green Valleys Watershed Assoc. Musconetcong Watershed Association National Audubon Society National Parks Conservation Association National Wildlife Federation Natural Lands Trust

New Jersey Audubon Society NJ Council Trout Unlimited Nurture Nature Center Partnership for the Delaware Estuary PennFuture PA Council Trout Unlimited Pennsylvania Environmental Council Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust

Pompeston Creek Watershed Assoc. Sierra Club, New Jersey Chapter SE Montgomery County Trout Unlimited Chapter Valley Creek Restoration Partnership Valley Forge Chapter of Trout Unlimited Wild Trout Flyrodders Wildlands Conservancy

Still GROWING…

American Littoral Society* American Rivers* Appalachian Mountain Club Aquetong Watershed Association Basha Kill Area Association Bertsch-Hokendauqua-Catasauqua Watershed Assoc. Brodhead Watershed Association Christina Conservancy, Inc. Delaware Highlands Conservancy* Delaware Nature Society* Delaware River Greenway Partnership Delaware River Shad Fishermen’s Assoc. Ducks Unlimited* Federation of Fly Fishers, N.E. Council Friends of the Upper Delaware* Fry’s Run Watershed Association G.O.A.L. Green Valleys Watershed Assoc. Greentreks Network, Inc.

Musconetcong Watershed Association* National Audubon Society National Parks Conservation Association* National Wildlife Federation* Natural Lands Trust New Jersey Audubon Society* NJ Council Trout Unlimited Nurture Nature Center Partnership for the Delaware Estuary PennFuture* PA Council Trout Unlimited Pennsylvania Environmental Council* Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust Pompeston Creek Watershed Assoc. Sierra Club, New Jersey Chapter South Jersey Land and Water Trust

SE Montgomery County Trout Unlimited Chapter Tinicum Conservancy Tookany/Tacony Frankford Watershed Partnership Valley Creek Restoration Partnership Valley Forge Chapter of Trout Unlimited Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley Wild Trout Flyrodders Wildlands Conservancy Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association*

Expertise & Interests

Water testing Dam Removal Invasive plants Reforestation Habitat restoration Deer management Migratory fish Grassland creation Educational programs Community engagement Media connections

Stormwater Open space Fracking Recreational Access Citizen Science Flooding Forest conservation Connectivity Trails Climate Cold water resources

1st Year in Review

• Established structure

• Grew membership

• Developed list-serv

• Selected 2 priorities – DRBCA

– Blueway Designation

• Coordinated events – DC Briefing/Fly-in

– Annual Conference

• Water quality

Coalition Priority

Delaware River Basin Conservation Act

Why Here?

For decades, other major watersheds have received significant dedicated federal support

What is the DRBCA?

Creates a Delaware River Basin Restoration Program in the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

• Voluntary and non-regulatory

• Requires consultation with other agencies &

states in order to identify and prioritize

restoration and protection activities

throughout the watershed

• Creates competitive grant program

Basin-Wide Investment Strategy

Primary purpose is to develop and implement a coordinated, Basin-wide approach

1 Habitat Restoration & Protection

2 Water Quality Improvements

3 Flood Mitigation

4 Public Access & Recreation

5 Environmentally Sensitive Land Use Planning

6 Public Outreach & Education

7 Planning, Monitoring & Research

Funding

• Funding for existing programs is important & would be complemented by any new resources

• Minimum 75% must be used for the grant program and other technical assistance projects

• Federal share of each project is up to 50 %

• Previous Senate bills

authorized $5 million/year

• Water quality

Why Now?

• First Introduced in the 111th Congress – Interested parties

begin coordinating

• Re-introduced in the 112th and 113th

– Successfully heard in Senate in 112th

• Growing, bi-partisan support – 19+ Co-sponsors

• Water quality

Coalition Support

• Co-sponsored briefing to accompany re-introduction in House

• Build support for Hearing in the House

• Encourage re-introduction in the Senate

• Raise awareness among constituents

• Water quality

On the Horizon

• Watershed Forum on October 28 & 29 in Philadelphia

• Communications Tools

• Basin-Wide Plan?

• Other Priorities?

Contact Information

• Water quality

Kim Beidler Coordinator Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed 204 West State Street Trenton, NJ 08608 609.392.1182 (O) 267.264.7473 (C) Kim.beidler@njaudubon.org