WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Congress passed the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act (DRBCA) on December 9 as part of a larger legislative package known as the Water Infrastructure Improvements Act for the Nation (WIIN) Act, previously called the Water Resources Development Act. The WIIN Act was passed by a majority of 78 to 21 in the Senate and 360 to 61 in the House of Representatives.

The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, which unites nearly 100 organizations working throughout the region, has been at the forefront of advocating for the legislation in Congress. “Seeing the DRBCA enacted has been a top priority for the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed since its founding in 2012,” said Madeline Urbish, director of the coalition. “The Delaware River Basin is a nationally significant region and deserving of the federal recognition this legislation imparts. We look forward to working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other watershed stakeholders to develop a basin-wide strategy for protecting and restoring the resources of our region for future generations.”