The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA announced Wednesday funding is now available to farmers and creekside landowners interested in improving property value, farm profitability, and local water quality in the West Branch Antietam Creek Watershed.

CBF and partners, the Franklin County Conservation District and Franklin County Natural Resource Conservation Service, and others, will be working with farmers and landowners in the watershed to install streamside forested buffers. Additional opportunities exist for farmers interested in installing additional water quality farm-improvement projects.

Kristen Kitchen is one of CBF’s Restoration Specialists and works with farmers and landowners in Franklin County to make stream improvements that make sense for clean water and for property and farm values.

“This project is a unique opportunity for landowners to do their part to help improve and protect the West Branch Antietam Creek for everyone who lives in the watershed,” said Kitchen. “Planting trees along streams is one of the most effective and inexpensive ways for landowners to improve the overall appearance and health of their stream.”

Funding is also available for farmers interested in additional on-farm enhancements like barnyard improvements, grassed waterways, agricultural erosion and sedimentation control plans, and manure management plans.

Funding is provided through the Department of Environmental Protection and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.  

To read the stories of other farmers who have had great success with these, and other types of on-farm improvements, visit CBF-PA’s Farmer Success Stories webpage.

Contact Kristen Kitchen for more information by calling 717-514-9095 or send email to: kkitchen@cbf.org.

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10/27/2014