On January 22, NOAA announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity that will support high quality projects in the Delaware Bay watershed through a new Delaware Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program. Applications due April 18.

Approximately $550,000, depending on Congressional allocations, may be available to fund three to five projects.

Projects can be based in Delaware Bay watershed counties in Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or New York.

This is a one-year exploratory B-WET grant opportunity to introduce the program to the watershed and inform future work.

The Delaware B-WET program will fund projects that help deliver Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs), a way for educators to help students learn about the environment.

MWEEs encourage students to identify local environmental challenges. Students learn about the issues — and how to take action.

Funded projects will support outdoor and environmental literacy programs that help students learn about issues affecting the Delaware Bay watershed.

They will provide MWEEs for all students in a given school district. Grants may also support development of regional networks that will increase communication, collaboration, and capacity among school districts and partners.

These networks create the conditions necessary for the development and implementation of high-quality environmental literacy programming.

Students who learn about their environment are better equipped to care for our ecosystem now and in the future. That’s why NOAA invests in education projects through NOAA’s B-WET program.

B-WET-funded projects lead to real, lasting differences for communities, schools, and the environment.

People who understand their environment can play active roles in efforts to promote productive and sustainable fisheries, healthy habitats, and resilient communities.

Applicant Webinars

Join us for informational webinars for potential applicants about program priorities and the application process on January 31 at 12:30 p.m. and February 13 at 11:00 a.m.

Click Here for a copy of the NOAA announcement.

Related Articles:

-- PennVEST Approves $288.2 Million Investment In 39 Water Infrastructure Projects In 24 Counties; Almost All Federal Funding Now Frozen  [PaEN]

-- New Federal Administration Issues Executive Order Declaring A National Energy Emergency; Order Repealing Other Energy, Climate Orders; Regulatory Freeze  [PaEN]

-- Sen. Yaw To Introduce Bill To Use Revenue From Taxing Gambling Skill Games To Support Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program  [PaEN]

-- Registration Open! Shamokin Creek Restoration Alliance June 4-5 Mine Pools As Beneficial Resources Conference At Bucknell University  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward Program - A Look Back At 2024 [PaEN]

-- Master Watershed Steward Bethany Canner Leads Community Events In Lebanon County  [PaEN]

-- PASA Sustainable Agriculture Recognizes Innovation, Collaboration In 2025 Pasabilities Awards  [PaEN]

-- PA Grazing Lands Coalition Now Accepting Applications For Educational Mini-Grants  [PaEN]

-- Agricultural Producers: Use CHEMSWEEP To Dispose Of Unwanted Pesticides On Your Farm Until March 31  [PaEN]

-- Delaware River Basin Commission To Hold Feb. 5 Hearing, March 12 Business Meeting  [PaEN]

-- NOAA Now Accepting Applications For K-12 Environmental Literacy Grants For Delaware Bay Watershed; Applicant Webinars  [PaEN]

-- DCNR, Penn State Extension Feb. 14 Meaningful Watershed Education Workshop At Greenwood Furnace State Park, Huntingdon County  [PaEN]

-- Take Action Now! Chesapeake Bay Foundation Urging Watershed Citizens To Support Designation Of Eastern Hellbender As An Endangered Species   [PaEN]

-- ‘Hellbender Defenders’ Say Endangered Species Listing For North America’s Largest Salamander Is Long Overdue  [PaEN] 

-- Warren Times: Our Biggest Resolution - Our Commitment To The Planet That Sustains Us - By Mac Dawson, Nature Educator, Audubon Community Nature Center   [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Billions Have Been Allocated To PA From Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure, Inflation Reduction Acts, New Administration Ordered Halt To Disbursements  [Water Infrastructure, Mine Reclamation, Conventional Oil & Gas Well Plugging, $396 million in RISE PA decarbonization funding]

-- CanaryMedia.com: Executive Order Freezes Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act Funding For 90 Day Review [Water Infrastructure, Mine Reclamation, Conventional Oil & Gas Well Plugging, $396 million in RISE PA decarbonization funding]

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: ‘Ticking Time Bombs’: Nearly 100 Coal Ash Dumps Pepper Chesapeake Bay Watershed

-- LehighValleyLive: PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Sewage Sludge Fertilizer May Pose Risk To Humans, EPA Warns

-- JD Supra: EPA Identifies Significant Concerns For Ag Producers Due To Biosolids That Contain PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’

-- Williamsport Sun Letter: Endangered Listing Long Overdue For Eastern Hellbender - By Anna Pauletta, One Of Original Hellbender Defenders As A Student

-- WHYY - Zoe Read: 3 Years After Hurricane Ida, Study Aims To Prepare Communities Along The Brandywine For Future Storms

-- Delaware River Basin Commission Seeks Members For Several Advisory Committees

-- Delaware RiverKeeper Jan. 24 RiverWatch Video Report

[Posted: January 22, 2025]

1/27/2025