Funding is available to farmers, landowners, livestock and horse owners to install Best Management Practices on their farms to reduce non-point source pollution from entering local waterways and degrading water quality in Fishing Creek, Chillisquaque/Limestone, Briar Creek, Roaring Creek, and Catawissa Creek Watersheds in Columbia and Montour counties.

Applications are due by February 19.

Funding is provided by the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grant for Pennsylvania.

Implementation of Agricultural BMP’s such as installing riparian buffers, enhancing or restoring wetlands, fencing livestock out of environmentally sensitive areas, establishing stabilized livestock laneways, installing watering systems, and improving pasture systems to reduce the amount of soil and nutrients that enter local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay as non-point source pollution.

The Pocono Northeast Resource Conservation and Development Council, Columbia County Conservation District, Montour Conservation District, along with partners from the Natural Resource Conservation Service and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, are looking for eligible farmers with livestock that are interested in upgrading their farms by reducing the amount of non-point source pollution entering local waterways. These landowners will be required to submit an application to participate.

Applications will be scored and ranked based on the greatest resource concern and environmental benefit. Each project will need a Conservation/Resource Management Plan which will identify the BMP’s needed to implement the project and address long-term management. Projects must be completed by July 31.

Visit the BMP webpage obtain an application and information or call the Columbia County Conservation District at 570-784-1310 ext.102 and talk to Mary Ruth Wagner, District Manager or Todd Rush, Resource Conservationist.