$12.5 million awarded to partners for Delaware River watershed conservation

Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, announced $12.5 million in funding from the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund to support 30 partner-led conservation projects in the Delaware River watershed.

The grants will generate nearly $17 million in matching contributions, resulting in a total investment of $29.3 million in strategic conservation to restore fish and wildlife habitats, improve water quality, build community readiness and resilience to natural disasters, and enhance public access to recreational opportunities.

Collectively, the projects supported by the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund in 2025 will:

• Open nearly 4,000 acres to public access
• Implement dynamic restoration plans on more than 11,000 acres of forestland
• Restore wetlands and floodplains to mitigate flooding and improve water quality

These investments will benefit the millions of people who rely on the Delaware River and its tributaries for recreation, jobs, and clean drinking water, and the hundreds of species of native fish and wildlife that make their homes in the four-state watershed.

The Delaware River watershed spans parts of Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York - a landscape that encompasses one of the most densely populated urban areas in the nation yet remains 50% forested. Four hundred miles of the Delaware River are classified as National Wild and Scenic River, largely undeveloped but accessible for recreation.

The Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund builds on momentum for collaborative conservation in the watershed by empowering states and local partners to identify, plan, and implement projects that reflect shared priorities.

The total funding also includes $250,000 from the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, supporting projects such as collaborative forest management in New York and Pennsylvania, and $1.26 million from other non-federal sources, including from AstraZeneca to support beach restoration in Delaware Bay.

You can see the full list of 2025 Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund grants here . Examples of this year's grant awards include:

• PEACE New Jersey ($437,029) will implement a community-driven plan to restore the Musconetcong River park in Hackettstown, New Jersey, to provide habitat for priority species and recreational river access for people of all ages and abilities. (NJ)
• The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation ($325,000) will complete the final phase of pre-construction planning for the South Philadelphia Wetlands Park, a unique riverfront park that blends public access with freshwater tidal ecosystem restoration. (PA)
• The Red Clay Consolidated School District ($238,076) will support efforts to install rain or pollinator gardens on school campuses to benefit wildlife and water quality and provide meaningful outdoor learning opportunities for all students. (DE)
• The Nature Conservancy ($340,337) will develop a collaborative multi-state strategy for reconnecting fish and wildlife habitat corridors in the Upper Delaware River watershed to advance landscape conservation goals supported by watershed states and the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. (NJ, NY, PA)

The Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund is now accepting applications for its 2026 grant program. Proposals are due on Thursday, March 26, 2026. To learn more and apply, visit: DelawareRiver Program | NFWF