Maya K. van Rossum: Woman of the Delaware River Watershed

PennFuture’s Fourth Annual Celebrating Women in Conservation Awards on April 19 will honor Delaware Riverkeeper Maya K. van Rossum with the Woman of the Delaware River Watershed award. As leader of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, she has spent decades fighting for clean water and environmental justice, and this recognition celebrates her advocacy and leadership.

Van Rossum grew up along the creeks and bays that feed the Delaware River, swimming, boating and exploring the mudflats and marshes. She came to see the river not just as a playground but as a community lifeline that ties together fishermen, towns, farmers and wildlife across four states. That shared treasure, she argues, belongs to all of us and must be defended against pollution and overdevelopment.

She invites everyone to join the awards celebration, reflect on the importance of the watershed, and recommit to protecting the Delaware River and its tributaries for future generations.