Chester Conservation District Receives Non-Point Source Funding

The Chester County Conservation District will receive a total of $2,172,084 for agriculture and urban stormwater best management practices through the federal economic stimulus funding awarded by the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority.

In April of this year, the Chester County Conservation District sought partners for projects to improve water quality, conserve soil and water resources, and to promote innovation conservation measures. These projects were to be “shovel ready” by October 1 of this year, meaning that they could begin construction after the grant award.

Applications for funding and partners were according to watersheds and projects were combined to achieve the maximum benefit for non-point source reduction and jobs created or sustained.

In the Brandywine watershed, Pocopson, Upper Uwchlan, and London Grove Townships joined with CCCD to create the opportunity to implement 34 projects creating or sustaining 126 jobs in the County.

The projects include the construction of two dirt and gravel roads; implementation of agriculture BMPs on two dairy farms and eight mushroom operations; construction of 9 rain gardens, three constructed wetlands, 2200’ of restored stream bank and recreated floodplain, over 10,000’ of reforested riparian buffer, and two stormwater basin retrofits.

In the Octoraro watershed, six farms will receive agriculture BMPs, such as waterways, barnyard water control structures, diversions, and waste storage management to conserve soil and water resources. A total of 20 jobs created or sustained.

“This is absolutely fantastic and it came just in time. Budgets are tight for everyone and the District is no different,” said Dan Greig, District Manager. “This funding will save five resource conservationist positions, create a stronger working relationship with our partner Townships, and gets proven and new conservation practices on the ground for farms and communities,” he added.

These construction projects are also important as the District will contract with local businesses for the work.

Interested construction contractors are invited to attend an informational meeting for the ARRA funding and project bidding process August 12 at 10:00 a.m. at the East Marlborough Township Building, 721 Unionville Road, Kennett Square, PA.

The Conservation District staff will discuss District, State, and Federal requirements for the funding including Disadvantaged Business Enterprise requirements, prevailing wage, job descriptions, and bidding process. To register for the pre-bid meeting, please contact Danielle Dickens, 610-925-4920 EXT 0 or send email to: ddickens@chesco.org.

For more information on the grant or future projects, please contact Christian Strohmaier, Assistant District Manager, 610-925-4920 EXT. 122 or send email to: cstrohmaier@chesco.org.