NJ, PA and DE Governors Agree to Protect Vital Delaware River Watershed

PHILADELPHIA—Noting that the natural resource supports a $22-billion economy and an estimated 600,000 jobs, the governors of Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have committed to protect the Delaware River watershed and agreed to work as equal partners to grow the region’s economy and protect America’s “founding waterway.”

On Thursday, the governors signed a proclamation to work together to make the Delaware River Basin a national model for sustainable economic development, drinkable clean water, healthy fish and wildlife populations, outdoor recreation and nature-based climate resilience.

Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania all rely on the 13,539 square mile Delaware River watershed for jobs, clean drinking water and outdoor recreation opportunities.

“For the vibrant communities along our state-side riverfront, and many more within the nearly 3,000 square miles of Delaware River watershed within New Jersey, the waterway and its tributaries are the backbone of economic development, recreation, and the source for approximately 25% of our clean drinking water,” said New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy.

Conservation organizations applauded the agreement, which came during a moderated forum at the Independence Seaport Museum as Delaware Gov. John Carney, Murphy and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf discussed the challenges and opportunities for restoring the Delaware River watershed.

“The Delaware River Basin is not only the cradle of American democracy, it’s an economic engine for our region and provides drinking water for nearly 15 million people. In the face of escalating climate impacts and the Trump Administration’s rollback of basic clean water protections, collaborative, cross-state solutions are needed more now than ever to grow our economy, ensure clean drinking water, recover fish and wildlife populations, expand outdoor recreation opportunities and improve our resilience to climate impacts,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation.

Each of the three states rely on the health of the Delaware River. In Delaware, the Delaware Bayshore provides a world-class destination for outdoor recreation, especially birding, fishing, hiking and paddling. Right now, thousands of red knots and other shorebirds are stopping over in Delaware Bay to feast upon the eggs of horseshoe crabs as part of their annual migration to their Arctic breeding grounds.

Millions of New Jersey residents depend on the Delaware River watershed for clean drinking water, bird watching and other recreation opportunities and in Pennsylvania, 17 Pennsylvania counties lie entirely or partly within the Delaware River watershed, and the river provides drinking water and outdoor recreation opportunities and supports countless wildlife species.

Participants at the event noted that the tri-state agreement accelerates growing private-public investment in the Delaware River watershed and comes on top of major philanthropic support and the first-ever dedicated federal funding of $5 million for restoration.