Advocating for Lake Hopatcong and the Delaware River Basin  

March 15, 2023| Advocacy, Environment

By: Kyle Richter

Last week, we joined representatives from the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed (CDRW) for their annual Hill Day in Washington DC. Hill Day is an opportunity for CDRW member organizations to collectively meet with our legislators and their staff to advocate for legislation and funding to help ensure the long-term health of the Delaware River Basin, which includes Lake Hopatcong.   

LHF Board Chair Marty Kane and Executive Director Kyle Richter met with several key lawmakers to support legislative requests such as the reauthorization of the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act, which is set to expire in September of this year, and an increase in funding for the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund for improvements to public access and recreation, restoration and preservation of fish and wildlife habitat, and protection of riparian, stream, and wetland habitats. This fund provided a $480k grant to us in partnership with the Lake Hopatcong Commission in 2021 to address three streambank stabilization projects that will address important stormwater issues on Lake Hopatcong.

We are thankful for the leadership of the CDRW and the dedication of Coalition member organizations, Members of Congress, and Congressional staffers who made this year’s Hill Day possible. It is inspiring to work together in pursuit of a shared goal: ensuring that the Delaware River watershed remains a thriving ecosystem for generations to come.

The Coalition 

The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed (CDRW) was formed to protect the four-state Delaware River basin from environmental threats, by uniting organizations working throughout the region to assure the entire watershed, including New Jersey’s largest lake, is properly funded, and sustainably managed to support people and wildlife.  

The Coalition is made up of more than 180 organizations ranging in size and reach from local groups on the front lines of watershed protection, to organizations that work on regional, state, and national levels. in 2021, the Lake Hopatcong Foundation was elected to serve on the 16-member CDRW Steering Committee, which is comprised of local, regional, and national organizations that guide the Coalition's strategic goals and work plans, helping establish priorities and policies for the future.  

The Delaware River Basin 

The Delaware River Basin is the five-state region that drains into the Delaware River and Delaware Bay. Along with its historic importance for our nation, the river basin is a powerhouse for the economy and home to more than 8 million people. Significantly, the watershed serves as the source of clean drinking water for 14.1 million people, or roughly five percent of the U.S. population, in the densely populated Mid-Atlantic region. The basin provides $21 billion worth of ecosystem services each year, including air and water filtration, nutrient recycling, flood, and stormwater control, soil conservation, and globally significant habitat for migratory birds and resident and migratory fish species. 

In photo, left to right, Phil Echevarria (The Nature Conservancy NJ), Alan Hunt (Musconetcong Watershed Association), Edward Stierli (National Parks Conservation Association), Eileen Murphy (NJ Audubon), Julie Jochem (Rep. Sherrill's Office), Rebecca Hilber (NJLeague of Conservation Voters), and Marty Kane (Lake Hopatcong Foundation) all gather at Rep. Mikie Sherrill's office during Hill Day.