WILMINGTON — The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation on Thursday announced 36 grant awards for more than $14.9 million to improve wildlife habitat, enhance resilience to changing climate conditions and engage communities throughout the Delaware River watershed in conservation activities.

Funding includes more than $4.5 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for six projects to improve public access, recreational opportunities and water quality, as well as enhance shoreline and critical habitat.

The 2023 grant slate is the second to include funds from the law, which was enacted in November 2021 and includes a historic $26 million investment in the watershed over five years.

Projects in Delaware include $202,102 to the Delaware Nature Society to install 27 community garden and pollinator habitat projects in underresourced areas in Wilmington.

Grants were awarded through the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund, funded by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, with additional support from the William Penn Foundation and AstraZeneca.

Overall, the awards will improve more than 1,000 acres of forest habitat through improved management, reconnect nearly 30 acres of flood plains, plant over 17,000 trees and open more than 1,227 acres to public access. These efforts will advance the goals of the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Delaware Watershed Business Plan and the Delaware River Watershed Initiative.