River of the Year for 2020: The Delaware River
River of the Year for 2020: The Delaware River
American Rivers announces 2020 River of the Year alongside Most Endangered Rivers of 2020 release.
Amy Souers Kober | April 14, 2020
Link: https://www.americanrivers.org/2020/04/river-of-the-year-for-2020-the-delaware-river/
Excerpts:
American Rivers gave the Delaware this honor to recognize its momentous progress for water quality, river restoration and community revitalization.
The Delaware River is a national success story, said Bob Irvin, President and CEO of American Rivers. The River of the Year honor recognizes the hard work of many local advocates who understand that a healthy Delaware River is vital to the health of millions of people.
This is a river that touches the lives of so many. Fifteen million people get their drinking water from the Delaware River. If you live in New York City, Philadelphia, Trenton or Wilmington youre drinking the Delaware. The river is also home to one of the largest freshwater ports in the world, and the river contributes billions of dollars to the economy every year from water supply, recreation, tourism and other benefits.
The river has come a long way. Seventy-five years ago, it was choked with pollution and sewage. Parts of the river were dead zones, unable to support fish or other aquatic life. According to the Delaware River Basin Commission, The rivers water was so foul that it would turn the paint of ships brown as they traveled through or were docked for any period of time. People were sickened simply by the smell of the river.
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Also see:
Governors of PA, NJ, and DE Pledge to Restore Delaware River Watershed
Link: https://www.sierraclub.org/pennsylvania/lehigh-valley/blog/2019/05/governors-pa-nj-and-de-pledge-restore-delaware-river
Congratulations to the many volunteer and professional environmentalists working hard to clean up this river.
(cross-posted to GD)
KY...........