The Berks County Conservation District was recently awarded $2,500 to work with landowners to prevent pollution in local streams, lakes, and rivers.

The mini-grant was provided through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Outreach Program Office administered by the PA Association of Conservation Districts.

The CREP Program pays farmers and other landowners to conserve and enhance their land. Over 12,500 landowners in Pennsylvania have received payments since the program began.

BCCD will use these grant funds to promote the CREP Program and its environmental benefits.

“With this funding, anyone who owns land next to a waterway will be invited to find out if they are a candidate to get paid to conserve and enhance their land,” said Dean Druckenmiller, Berks County Conservation District Manager. “Over the next ten months, we plan to educate landowners on the CREP Program and to help those already enrolled in the program with maintenance issues.”

7 Other Counties Too

Through this grant program, eight projects received funding. Projects include field days, workshops, and one-on-one visits.  The other counties awarded grants for these programs include Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Chester, Columbia, Jefferson and Lebanon.

Financial and other support for the CREP Outreach Program Office Mini-Grant Program is provided by the PA Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a Growing Greener Watershed Protection grant from the Department of Environmental Protection and with additional support from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

For more information on the programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Berks County Conservation District website or call 610-372-4657.

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10/3/2016