The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) has announced 45 grants totaling $17.3 million in support of conservation efforts to restore the Delaware River watershed.

The awards represent a 16 percent increase in funding year-over-year directed to restoring fish and wildlife habitat, reducing flooding, improving water quality, and enhancing safe public recreational access. Made through the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund, the grants were funded with support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, AstraZeneca, and the William Penn Foundation and will leverage nearly $20.7 million in matching contributions for a total impact of $38 million.

In addition, NFWF has announced 30 grants totaling $8.9 million awarded through the Chesapeake Watershed Investments in Landscape Defense (WILD) program to conserve more than 10,000 acres of fish and wildlife habitat, increase recreational access, restore streamside forest habitat, and reconnect more than 1,500 miles of aquatic habitat for migratory fish species. Awarded in collaboration with the USFWS, the grants will leverage more than $13.7 million in matching funds for a total impact of $22.6 million.

“The Chesapeake WILD program fulfills a common goal between NFWF and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conserve, steward, and enhance fish and wildlife habitats and related conservation values in the Chesapeake Bay watershed,” said NFWF executive director Jeff Trandahl. “In marrying our legacy of partnership with the service and our deep and lasting commitments to Chesapeake Bay watershed restoration, the WILD program presents new avenues to accelerate species and habitat restoration and conservation and community engagement in conservation across the region.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Brandon Hirt Photo)