Pictured here left to right: Hunter Lott, Jim Shanahan, Jerry Kauffman, Rick Stuckey (Board Members)
Brandywine River Restoration Trust (BRRT) today announced that they have been awarded a grant of $500,000 by The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). The grant was given to BRRT from NFWF to:
- fund the feasibility study and analysis to enable American shad to migrate past dam 5, also known as Brandywine Falls Dam
- monitor shad repopulation efforts
- continue programing and public outreach with the community
These initiatives will further the mission of BRRT to restore and protect the Brandywine River, enabling the migration of American Shad and improve ecological function while providing equitable opportunity for environmental education and recreation. NFWF is aligned with BRRT and dedicated to sustaining, restoring and enhancing the nation’s fish, wildlife, plants and habitats for current and future generations.
“Thanks to NFWF, this grant will help us continue on our journey to enable the annual migration of shad all the way to Pennsylvania for the first time in nearly 300 years.” – Executive Director, Jim Shanahan
The removal or modification of the Brandywine Falls Dam along with other Cross-Program activities is an important part of BRRT’s strategic plan. Coincidental benefits to this objective include: increased connectively for other aquatic organisms; improvements in ecological function as the river is returned to a free-flowing state; water quality improvements; improved public safety; improved recreational, educational, and community involvement; and a positive economic impact through development of recreational fishing and water sports. All of these benefits are specifically consistent with NFWF Delaware River Program’s stated Conservation Outcomes in their March 2017 business plan.
The grant acceptance will be part of a public ceremony on
- Thursday, August 25, 2022, 10:00 AM
- at the Jasper Crane Rose Garden at Brandywine Park, 1080 North Park Drive, Wilmington, DE
- with community members, environmental activists and government officials.
- Remarks will be provided by: Sec. Shawn M. Garvin, DNREC; Stephanie Heidbreder, NFWF Delaware River Program Manager; Senator Tom Carper; Senator Chris Coons; Jim Guthrie; Holly Bamford; Stuart Clarke; New Castle County Council; State Senators; and DE House Members.
About Brandywine River Restoration Trust (BRRT): A non-profit organization instrumental in enlisting a broad coalition of partners working together to remove 11 dams no longer in use, to allow shad and other fish to migrate in the Delaware portion of the lower Brandywine.
In addition, goals indirectly related to restoring shad migration — such as ecological improvements, stream beautification, natural resource utilization, long-range maintenance and sustainability — could be realized simultaneously.
About National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF): NFWF supports conservation efforts in all 50 states and U.S. territories. Our projects — more than 20,400 since our founding — are rigorously evaluated and awarded to some of the nation’s largest environmental organizations, as well as some of the smallest. We neither advocate nor litigate. Instead, NFWF focuses on bringing all parties to the table, getting results, and building a better future for our world. Financial commitments to our conservation mission since our founding now reach $7.4 billion.