10/07/24 - 148 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/yk64wwfb
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Reminder: Next Round Of Foundation For PA Watersheds Applications Due
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The Foundation for PA Watersheds recently approved funding for watershed restoration projects in the Conemaugh River Watershed and reminded applicants of the schedule for the next round of grants.
The Foundation became the benefactor of the largest settlement agreement ever levied in the Conemaugh River Basin. The funds were part of a citizens’ suit against GenOn—a coal-fired power plant operator.
As part of the settlement, FPW received $3.5M for site-specific restoration projects. The first installment of $500,000 was received in November 2011. A subsequent installment of $1.5 million was received in January 2012.
R. John Dawes, FPW Executive Director, said, “Receiving the funds was a natural extension of what we do. We’ve invested more than $8 million throughout Pennsylvania, and we’ve leveraged more than $118 million. That’s what we were created to do—leverage local, state, and federal funds to protect healthy, natural streams and clean and restore habitats. Being named the benefactor of the settlement is not something we’ll take lightly; we will see that these funds are used appropriately and result in positive change.”
October 20, 2011 was a monumental day, as a visioning session was facilitated by The Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management. The session brought together more than 30 individuals who represented more than 20 different watershed and recreational interests. Attendees shared their visions for a cleaner, healthier, and more productive Conemaugh River. With recent restoration initiatives cleaning-up the Stonycreek, attendees were excited about how we might replicate that work within the Conemaugh.
The group discussed increasing river access, river beautification projects, abandoned mine drainage treatment, new opportunities to work with industry, and a desire to work on problems from St. Michael to Johnstown to Indiana. Attendees brought project applications that ranged from $23,000 to $550,000.
The applications were reviewed and voted on by FPW’s Board, which approved projects totaling $379,000.
These included correlating water health to habitat for birds and animals; funding St. Francis University for technical assistance to nonprofits working on water issues; supporting abandoned mine treatment projects; developing restoration plans for mine-impacted bodies of water; exploration of mine-pool water for geothermal purposes; and restoring plant buffers along the Conemaugh.
The Board gave priority to projects that leveraged public funds and that resulted in a large environmental benefit.
Branden S. Diehl, FPW Grant and Project Consultant, said, “We were entrusted with these funds, and we are committed to working with old and new grantees to ensure we are maximizing environmental benefits. Grant applications that were declined in the first round will have an opportunity to resubmit—we’ve made it clear to applicants what they need to do in order to qualify for funds. Bottom-line, if you have a water related project in the Conemaugh Basin, we want to hear from you.”
A list of projects approved is available online.
The deadline for the next round of applications, not just for the Conemaugh Watershed, is March 13. Letters of intent for the fall grant rounds are due August 24. Applications for FPW funding are available online. A subsequent grant round will be open from April 1 through July 24, 2012.
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2/13/2012 |
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