The Schuylkill River Heritage Area Restoration Fund Wednesday awarded $364,193 in grants to 11 projects in Berks, Chester, Lehigh, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.

The projects focus on issues that range from stormwater runoff and abandoned mine drainage to agricultural pollution.

The projects include:

-- Berks County Conservation District Irish Creek stormwater project ($19,800)

-- Berks Nature Younker and Kunkle Farms, installment of best agricultural practices to improve riparian buffers ($96,000)

-- Berks Nature Youse Farm ($50,000)

-- Lehigh County Conservation District, Bennecoff Hog Farm ($23,393)

-- Montgomery County Conservation District, Perkiomen Creek Improvements ($18,000)

-- Partnership between Trout Unlimited and Upper Perkiomen High School to improve a portion of the Perkiomen in East Greenville, including bank stabilization, riparian buffer restoration, aquatic habitat enhancement, and more

-- Schuylkill Banks Bioswale Project, Philadelphia ($15,000)

-- Schuylkill Headwaters Association Dyer and West Creeks Project, ($80,000)

-- West Norriton Township, Jeffersonville storm water management ($50,000)

-- Berks Nature Love Property ($4,000)

-- Natural Lands Trust Buck Hollow Preserve ($4,000)

-- West Pikeland Township, Ker Feal Property, purchase of conservation and trail easement on 138 acre parcel ($4,000)

“Over the past 12 years, the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund has distributed $3.3 million—and leveraged another $5 million—for 95 projects that improve water quality in the Schuylkill River watershed,” said Schuylkill River Heritage Area Executive Director Elaine Paul Schaefer. “The success of this fund is the result of a combined effort from non-profit, government, and private sectors working together to protect the Schuylkill River, which is a source of drinking water for 1.5 million people and an important driver for the economies of the communities in its watershed.”

While the projects are scattered throughout the watershed, the health of the river upstream is always important to the health of the river locally.

The grants are funded by Limerick Generating Station, the Philadelphia Water Department, Coca Cola, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Aqua Pennsylvania and MOM’s Organic Market.

For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Schuylkill River Heritage Area Restoration Fund website.

(Photo: Bell Colliery, Reevesdale and Otto Abandoned Mine Drainage System, Schuylkill County.)

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[Posted: Sept. 21, 2017]

9/25/2017