PA Environment Digest

Share this:

CBF-PA: Need A New Year’s Resolution? Try These For Cleaner Water

With the new year, come resolutions to be healthier by losing weight, quitting smoking, or getting real face-time with family and friends. In the spirit of the season, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA offers resolution suggestions to help manage stormwater on the homefront and improve the health of local waters.

“Stormwater is a leading cause of water pollution,” says CBF scientist Renee Reber in Pennsylvania. “Making a resolution to curb the amount of polluted runoff that leaves your property can help prevent damage caused by flooding, limit streambank erosion, and reduce the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment that is carried into our rivers and streams.”

Roughly 19,000 miles of rivers and streams in Pennsylvania are damaged by pollution.

By keeping resolutions from CBF’s checklist, people can develop clean-water habits and reap the benefits throughout the year. Local Penn State Extension offices and County Conservation Districts are good sources of additional details.

CBF-PA’s Checklist

-- Plant A Tree: Trees are the most cost-effective tools for improving water quality. Trees absorb water, filter pollutants before they get into waterways, and stabilize the soil to reduce erosion. Trees also mean shade and cooler temperatures for water and its surroundings. The presence of trees also increases property values. [Click Here to learn more.]

-- Install A Rain Garden: Rain water soaks into the garden of native plants situated in an area where water collects naturally. The rain garden reduces stormwater beautifully. [Click Here to learn more.]

-- Get A Soil Test: Learning how much, if any, fertilizer is needed for the lawn can prevent over-application, reduce polluted runoff, and save money. [Click Here to learn more.]

-- Mow Not So Low: Mow your grass to a height of 2-3 inches. The longer the blades of grass, the more water is retained and the stronger the root system. A stronger lawn can choke-out weeds, calling for less herbicides. [Click Here to learn more.]

-- Leave Grass Clippings On The Lawn: Grass clippings are rich in nitrogen, a main ingredient in fertilizer. Be careful not to throw clippings into the street where they clog drains and can be washed away with stormwater. [Click Here to learn more.]

-- Clear The Drain: Keep storm drains clear of leaves and other debris that could clog and cause flooding. [Click Here to learn more.]

-- Install A Rain Barrel: Rainwater collected from rooftops and used for watering plants, washing cars and more, won’t contribute to flooding and can be helpful when water isn’t otherwise available. [Click Here to learn more.]

-- Cut The Concrete: Converting paved surfaces to grass, rain gardens, or other pervious surfaces allows stormwater to be absorbed before it can become harmful runoff. [Click Here to learn more.]

-- Get The Big Picture: Find out what your municipality is doing to manage stormwater in your community.

Getting the Keystone State back on track toward meeting its clean water goals is an important resolution for all Pennsylvanians in 2017.

Clean water counts in Pennsylvania. Healthy families, strong communities, and a thriving economy depend on it. It is a legacy worth leaving future generations.

How Clean Is Your Stream?

For more on Chesapeake Bay-related issues in Pennsylvania, visit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA webpage. Click Here to sign up for Pennsylvania updates (bottom of left column). Click Here for a copy of CBF-PA’s most recent newsletter.

(Photo: Sen. Richard Alloway (R-Adams) and the tree planting team in Adams & Franklin Counties.)

NewsClips:

Crable: Lancaster Farmland Provides $676M In Annual Environmental Benefits

Study Credits Farmers For Efforts To Clean Up The Chesapeake Bay

Crable: PA Farmers Not Getting Credit For Aiding Chesapeake Bay

Penn State Study: Farmers Deserve More Credit For Protecting The Environment

Project Receives Funding To Improve Soil Health, Reduce Water Pollution

Video: Penn State, DEP, Ag, EPA Summary Of Chesapeake Bay Farm Conservation Survey

Editorial: Farmers Deserves Credit, But Much Conservation Work To Do

Latest From The Chesapeake Bay Journal

Click Here to subscribe to the Chesapeake Bay Journal

Follow Chesapeake Bay Journal On Twitter