American Water (Pennsylvania) Friday announced the recipients of the company’s 2013 Environmental Grant Program awards. A total of 54 projects throughout American Water’s service areas in 12 states will be supported by grants totaling more than $200,000.

Established in 2005, American Water’s Environmental Grant Program offers funds for innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and/or groundwater supplies in the communities it serves.

“Each one of these 54 organizations is making a difference in one of American Water’s communities, and we are very proud to partner with them on these important watershed improvement projects,” said Debra Vernon, Manager of Corporate Responsibility. “Now in its eighth year, our state environmental grant program has provided needed support for communities to help improve, restore and protect our valuable natural resources through partnerships. We are proud of the opportunity to support such worthy projects that positively impact the environment and our water sources.”

The grant recipients in Pennsylvania received a total of approximately $35,000.  The grants were awarded to:

-- Eastern Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation will utilize its grant to address watershed and habitat degradation of Solomon’s Creek. The restoration project will remove large woody blockages from previous flood events, plus trash and debris that compromise the health and ecosystem along the Creek and its tributaries. The group will also implement tree plantings and trout stream restoration within the riparian corridor of the watershed.

-- Evergreen Conservancy’s grant will be used to purchase and install a solar panel that will power a water quality monitor in the Tanoma Wetlands. An educational program involving renewable energy and water quality will also be part of the program.

-- Friends of Cherry Valley received a grant to enhance and restore wetland area in a bog turtle habitat recently acquired as part of the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Volunteers will remove invasive plant species from a 20-acre area and monitor bog turtle nesting.

-- Pennsylvania Resources Council will utilize its grant to host household chemical collection events in western Pennsylvania and educate the public about alternative cleaning products and waste disposal.

-- Londonderry Township’s grant will support restoration of the riparian buffer along sections of Swatara Creek in an area flooded by 2011’s Tropical Storm Lee in Dauphin County. Volunteers will plant native trees and shrubs to vegetate the restored floodplain.

-- Borough of Kittanning, Armstrong County,  will use its grant to support the installation of a rain garden along the Armstrong Trail that will address drainage issues. The project will utilize best management practices to reduce runoff volume and enhance aesthetics along the trail.

-- Dunmore Historical Society’s funding will allow the group to improve wetland areas around the Dunmore #1 Walking Trail by stabilizing the wetlands with vegetation, improving drainage in those areas, and reducing the amount of standing water.

-- Manada Conservancy plans to restore wetland areas in Boathouse Park along Swatara Creek with its grant. Native shrubs and plants will be planted to restore the riparian zone, promote biological diversity, and improve the aquatic habitat.

8/12/2013