Who Are We
About the Delaware
Riverkeeper Network (DRN)
Established in 1988 upon the appointment of the Delaware Riverkeeper, the Delaware Riverkeeper Network (DRN) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization. DRN’s professional staff and volunteers work throughout the entire Delaware River Watershed. We also work throughout the four states that comprise the Watershed — including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and New York — and at the federal level on the issues, actions, regulations, legislation, policies, programs and decisions that impact the health of our Delaware River Watershed waterways and our ability to protect and restore them for the benefit of all.
In 2013, DRN was the only environmental organization leading a landmark legal victory that protected Pennsylvania communities from fracking and affirmed the constitutional right of people in the state to a clean and healthy environment. In the wake of that victory, recognizing its power environmental rights recognition and protection, Delaware Riverkeeper Maya van Rossum founded the national movement, now its own 501(c)(3) organization, called Green Amendments For the Generations (GAFTG). DRN and GAFTG, as founding sister organizations of the powerful concept that our state constitutions should be used to protect environmental rights, work collaboratively to secure and enforce constitutional environmental rights protection with DRN focused on these efforts in the watershed and GAFTG working nationwide. Today, GAFTG is the leading organization working nationwide to advance the “Green Amendment” Movement (a term coined and defined by van Rossum), state by state and ultimately at the federal level. Importantly, it all began with DRN’s powerful work here in the Delaware River watershed.
Staff & Board
DRN’s staff and very active volunteers have a breadth of knowledge about the environment as well as expertise specific to rivers and watersheds. DRN provides effective environmental advocacy, volunteer monitoring programs, stream restoration projects and public education. In addition, DRN goes to court when necessary to ensure enforcement of environmental safety laws.
See Staff DirectoryDRN’s Board of Directors collaborate with the Delaware Riverkeeper to steer the organization toward a sustainable future. The members of DRN’s Board have long relationships with the organization and are committed to advancing our mission. The Board adopts policies to ensure good governance and sound financial management. Board members also provide essential support for our work.
See Board of Directors
Watershed Advocacy
As a watershed wide advocacy program, Delaware Riverkeeper Network takes a strong stance on regional and local issues that threaten water quality and the ecosystems of the Delaware River and its watershed. In fact, Delaware Riverkeeper Network is the only advocacy organization working throughout the entire Delaware River Watershed. Delaware Riverkeeper Network works from the “bottom up,” empowering communities and citizens to act and advocate for change. At the same time Delaware Riverkeeper Network must work from the top down, engaging regulatory and policy makers in order to secure decisions and programs that protect and restore our river and watershed. Delaware Riverkeeper Network is known for taking positions on controversial issues that otherwise would be ineffectively addressed, if at all. These positions are always backed up with solid information, documentation, and reason, informed by science, law, policy analysis, community need and genuine passion and commitment to the right outcome.
Benefits of Our Involvement
Our involvement on an issue often translates into a successful result be it through our advocacy that is dedicated to informing and securing the right and better decisions; our restoration program which identifies and restores damaged stream ecosystems and riparian areas using bioengineering techniques and strong, hands-on involvement from the community; our River Resources Law Clinic which uses environmental protection laws to enforce legal protections of our waterways and at the same time educates law students interested in environmental and public interest law; or via our19 year old water quality monitoring program which helps citizens, communities and watershed organizations gather and utilize water quality and ecosystem health data to protect their local streams.
More About Our Work