On October 27, Ducks Unlimited was joined by others in the conservation community to tour John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge in Philadelphia and celebrate the tidal marsh habitat restoration project, funded by the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund.

The tour followed on the heels of the successful 9th Annual Del-AWARE River Watershed Forum, hosted by the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed.

The project is an important step in the ongoing work to reduce flooding in local underserved communities, enhance and expand recreational opportunities for kayaking and fishing and increase public access for environmental education of diverse audiences.

The project will also encompass the restoration and enhancement of native freshwater tidal marsh habitat that is unique to southeastern Pennsylvania.

The tour comes after the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund awarded Ducks Unlimited $750,000, compounded with $2.1 million in matching funds, for a total of nearly $3 million in restoration funding for the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge Henderson Marsh Restoration project.

The refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“Restoration projects like these are the result of a collaborative effort from many in the conservation community,” said Jim Feaga, Ducks Unlimited North Atlantic Regional Biologist. “This is a continuation of an ongoing drive – led by DU, the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed and many others – to improve habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife while reducing flooding and providing new outdoor recreation opportunities in the area. We appreciate the Coalition for highlighting this tour during their annual forum and we look forward to furthering our habitat restoration work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge.”

“We're thrilled that the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund has funded Ducks Unlimited for a project in the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge. The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed worked with Congressional allies on the 2016 passage of the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act, which subsequently created the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund to provide restoration and conservation funding to combat critical issues like habitat degradation, invasive species, and degraded water quality,” said Kelly Knutson, Interim Director of the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed. “Funded projects like these will contribute to long-term outcomes for equitable access to nature, resiliency, healthy habitat, and a thriving outdoor economy. We appreciate Ducks Unlimited for providing a tour during our annual Forum and look forward to celebrating their ongoing work in the Refuge.”

The 9th Annual Del-AWARE River Watershed Forum was held in a hybrid format and brought together 300 attendees from throughout the Delaware River Watershed states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

The forum featured 24 sessions, a virtual and an in-person networking event, and 7 field trips, including the tour of John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge.

The opening session featured remarks from Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Representative Antonio Delgado (D-NY), Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Representative Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE).

The in-person networking event at the Logan Hotel featured a recognition of Andy Johnson by Collin O’Mara, CEO of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and remarks from Cindy Dunn, Pennsylvania Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Click Here to see a recap of the 9th Annual Delaware River Watershed Forum.

Click Here to see the full list of Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund grantees.

For more information on programs, initiatives, upcoming events and how you can get involved, visit the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed website.

[Posted: October 27, 2021]

11/1/2021