The Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies announced the receipt of two grants that will help expand its environmentally sensitive road maintenance practices program designed to reduce sediment and nutrient runoff from dirt and gravel roads.

The first project will focus on preventing sediment and nutrient pollution from farm lanes and field access roads in the Kishacoquillas Valley Watershed in Mifflin County. Under a three-year $430,000 grant, the Center will partner with the Mifflin County Conservation District to develop and implement customized maintenance plans for private farming operations.

The second project, funded by a $118,000 grant from Chesapeake Bay Commission and the Department of Environmental Protection, will conduct field evaluations of several dirt and gravel road maintenance practices like road re-surfacing, shallow cross pipe installations and filling road profiles.

Pennsylvania’s Dirt and Gravel Road Program has completed over 1,500 road maintenance improvement projects in the past eight years and worked with 65 county conservation districts and more than 500 municipalities.

For more information on training opportunities, funding and technical assistance, visit the Center for Dirt and Gravel Road website.

3/3/2006