About

About

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Our Mission is:

FOSTERING PARTNERSHIPS AND PROGRESS IN CONSERVING THE NATURAL, CULTURAL, AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES OF THE NANTICOKE RIVER WATERSHED THROUGH DIALOGUE, COLLABORATIVE OUTREACH, AND EDUCATION.

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Watch the short video below to hear what we are doing to protect “one of the last wild rivers!”

Thank you for your interest in the conservation work taking place along the Nanticoke River. Our river is special! It is one of the cleanest and healthiest rivers that flows into the Chesapeake Bay. The Nanticoke Watershed Alliance’s emphasis on partnerships and collaboration has allowed us to bring together a wide variety of organizations and interests to find solutions to issues.

In June of 1992, Maryland and Delaware conservation organizations reached across state lines in a formal agreement to create the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance. In 1995, the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance decided to establish itself as a nonprofit organization and become a consortium, i.e. an organization of organizations. Almost forty organizations now belong to the NWA. Our partners are made up of foresters, industries, small business owners, government agencies, environmental groups, land trusts, realtors, academicians, fishermen, restoration groups, farmers, and citizen groups. Our staff has varied experiences and programmatic areas of expertise to help preserve the Nanticoke River. Our board features representatives of different organizations working together for a common goal.

We are all working together because the Nanticoke River is endowed with outstanding abundance and diversity of wildlife, undisturbed land, and rural characteristics. The Nanticoke is a wonderful river for recreation, education, nature study, and simple solitude. It has a rich history of Native Americans, tall ships, steamboats, piracy, and the Underground Railroad. There are properties within the watershed on the National Register of Historic Places. Some of the northernmost, natural stands of bald cypress trees on the Atlantic Coast are found within the Nanticoke watershed. The Nanticoke River has the highest concentration of Bald Eagles in the northeastern United States. These characteristics must be preserved.

NWA’s Core Values:

  • Conservation – The health of the Nanticoke River watershed is paramount.

  • Collaboration – We embody partnership through action.

  • Communication – We value diverse voices and viewpoints, where all have a place at the table. We embrace constructive, open dialog as a means of problem-solving.

  • Scientific integrity – We rely on sound science to assess the health of the watershed and share information with the community.

  • Education – We are committed to sharing with others the importance of conserving the watershed.

NWA’s Advocacy Policy:

NWA is a unique watershed organization that does not take sides. For the NWA to take a position and actively work for or against an issue, the following must be in order:

  1. The issue must impact the Nanticoke River Watershed or River “significantly,” which has been interpreted as affecting more than one of its tributaries.

  2.  The issue must receive 100% board approval. Any board member may veto an issue.