Advocacy is in our DNA.
With your support, we are one of the only statewide environmental organizations with multiple full-time staff who advocate for wildlife, land conservation, and protection of our region’s natural resources.
We use a nonpartisan approach guided by the basic principle of ‘follow the science’. In consultation with our in-house team of experts and volunteers we advocate at every level of government from local to federal for enhanced funding for land preservation, endangered species protections, and to promote climate forward, justice centered policy solutions. We are proud to be the state affiliate for the National Wildlife Federation.
Clean Water for Delaware Act Signed Into Law!
Governor John Carney creates a new Clean Water Trust to protect Delaware waterways and rebuild Delaware’s drinking water infrastructure with a focus on underserved communities. Read on…
2022 Advocacy Priorities
Legislative
- Clean Water – The Delaware Nature Society will advocate for secured funding for clean water and the implementation of House Bill 200 (HB 200), the Clean Water for Delaware Act. The implementation of water infrastructure investments, reduction of stormwater runoff, and removal of legacy toxins is critical to further reduce pollution in Delaware’s waterways.
- Land Protection – Continue to advocate for full funding and expansion of Delaware’s Open Space and Farmland Preservation programs, as well as the protection of critical buffer zones along wetlands and waterways.
- Natural Resource Funding – Continue to advocate for the development, full funding, and implementation of conservation programs at the local, state, and federal levels, including but not limited to EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program, Delaware River Basin Restoration Program, Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, and cover crop assistance programs.
- Climate Change – Work with National Wildlife Federation and other environmental partners to continue advocating for climate change mitigation, resiliency and sustainability planning. Options include but are not limited to advocating for a transition to renewable energy sources, the protection of natural systems that mitigate the impacts of climate change, educational requirements for homeowners about potential sea-level rise impacts, and habitat protection for wildlife displaced due to climate change.
- Environmental Justice – Advocate for investments in environmental justice on the federal, state and local level. We will support the Delaware Environmental Accountability Coalition in pursuit of cumulative impacts legislation in collaboration with environmental justice community leaders and organizations.
Regulatory
Stormwater Permits and Clean Water Regulations – Comment on proposed federal, state, and local government water permits and regulations, including but not limited to HB 200 implementation, storm water management, forest and natural resource buffer protection, agricultural runoff, and wetland protection.
Executive
First State Climate Action Plan – Advocate for Governor Carney to take urgent, meaningful action on climate change, including the prompt implementation of Delaware’s Climate Action Plan and more aggressive carbon emission reduction goals. Climate change is the most complex and challenging environmental issue facing our society. We must act now and commit across our community to remediating and mitigating its impacts.
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Support Our Clean Water Campaign
Since March 2015, Delaware Nature Society, along with our partners Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and Center for the Inland Bays, has been running a statewide clean water campaign.
The Clean Water: Delaware’s Clear Choice campaign:
- Builds an alliance of Delaware stakeholders to support sustainable funding for clean water.
- Supports efforts to ensure that funding for clean water improvement projects places an emphasis on green infrastructure projects.
- Lays critical groundwork to further educate and connect residents to their local waterways and empower them to take action to improve the quality of these waterways.
We believe that securing funding for clean water can lead to a cleaner environment, healthier crops and food sources, improved economy, and increased tourism. By securing support for clean water initiatives throughout the state, we are securing a better, stronger Delaware. Clean water is truly Delaware’s clear choice.
We need your help
Sign Up to Support Clean Water Clean Water Campaign Website
This campaign is funded by the William Penn Foundation .
Plastic Bag Ban
Delaware banned plastic bags! Thanks for your support to reduce hazardous plastic pollution in Delaware! The ban took effect on January 1, 2021.
The Clean Water Rally and Funding
Over 125 clean water advocates joined us for the 5th Annual Rally in 2019. Our advocacy lead to the inclusion of $20 million for clean water funding in Delaware’s budget for Fiscal Year 2020. That’s $10 million more than the previous year!
Contact our Advocacy Team
Helpful websites
State of Delaware
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
Delaware General Assembly
Federal