Delaware pushes conservation in the river basin

If the Delaware River is worth $20 billion to the economies from the Catskills to Cape Henlopen, would a coordinated conservation effort make it more valuable?

Delaware state, federal, and environmental leaders are pushing federal legislation aimed at coordinating voluntary restoration efforts through the basin region.

Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) says the legislation has support of Senators from New Jersey and New York.  “By investing in our watershed, we are investing in a resource that not only powers our environment and our local communities, but that also fuels our economy,” he said.

DNREC Sec. Colin O’Mara said, “this legislation will increase our resources, help support locally driven projects and accelerate restoration in the region.”

The Director of the University of Delaware’s Water Resources Agency, Gerald Kaufman, was a part of the study this week pointing out the economic value through the various portions of the Delaware River and Basin.  He said the river dates back 400 years and provides drinking water to 5% of the U.S. population.