FRIENDS OF DELAWARE RIVER
Protecting and Promoting the Delaware River
We work to eliminate pollution and achieve ecosystem health for the Delaware River and local waterways, and secure a resilient, multi-benefit, low-carbon water supply to the region.
We build capacity for communities, students, and future leaders to advocate for nature, climate, and equity on the Delaware River.
We envision a Delaware River that supports vulnerable communities in climate adaptation. The river will be transformed into a dynamic, functioning ecosystem that reduces flood risk, cleans the air, cools temperatures, and supports the biodiversity essential to our collective well-being.
The Delaware River traverses through diverse communities of people, plants, and geographies. It provides an opportunity to reshape our environment in a way that is more inclusive, equitable, and just. We believe in working with nature and alongside communities to achieve climate resilience, park equity, and environmental health for all.
2022 was the 50th anniversary of the federal Clean Water Act. Yet, despite the Act’s promise of clean water for all and making major improvements in reducing the amount of pollutants entering our waterways since its passage in 1972, we remain far from achieving the Clean Water Act’s promise to eliminate all discharge of pollutants into the navigable waters by 1985.
Unfortunately, it is industrial and urban stormwater runoff that is the most prevalent source of pollution to the region’s waters. Runoff threatens public health, our environment, and economic health, causes flooding and other impacts that hurt many of our most impacted communities, and is a waste of an invaluable resource that could be captured and treated to augment local water supplies. Our efforts to address ongoing pollution of our waterways focus predominantly on regulatory and legal enforcement around industrial and urban stormwater runoff regulations, as well as education and advocacy, while tracking other sources of pollution to ensure there is no reduction in our prior efforts.
Our partnerships and initiatives bring entertainment, recreation, and innovation to the Delaware River and create value for our communities. With your help, we can ensure a publicly accessible and ecologically vibrant Delaware River through community engagement, education, advocacy, and thoughtful leadership. We rely on grassroots support to make this possible.
Friends of Delaware River
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