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DCNR, Fish & Boat Commission Discuss Green Infrastructure Needs Along Lancaster County Waterway

On September 9, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director Tim Schaeffer toured a potential recreation site along Cocalico Creek in Ephrata, Lancaster County and discussed the need for funding to address similar green infrastructure needs in the state.

“Green infrastructure projects require major financial support, the type financing Restore Pennsylvania could provide,” Dunn said. “These improvements are essential to meeting visitor expectations at outdoors venues across the state, and Restore Pennsylvania is critical in addressing infrastructure needs of its communities, state forests, and parks.”

“Connecting people with the outdoors through additional public fishing and boating access is a priority, especially in areas that are underserved or underutilized,” said Schaeffer. “Projects that combine new recreational opportunities with infrastructure enhancements that lead to better water quality and protect aquatic resources long-term are the most effective and valuable.”

Ephrata Township is considering a section of land along Cocalico Creek for potential water- and trail-based recreational development that could provide future boating, fishing, and hiking to area residents and township visitors.

Walking the site with Schaeffer and township officials, Dunn noted Restore Pennsylvania could provide green infrastructure funding for improvements such as floodplain restoration, stream bank stabilization, forest buffer, non-motorized boat access development, and a fishing pier.

The DCNR secretary also noted plans call for a pathway connection to the existing 8-mile-long Warwick to Ephrata Rail Trail.

DCNR already has invested three grants to municipal partners for approximately $500,000 to help fund certain sections of the trail, now open to the public and connecting Ephrata and Lititz.

Click Here for more information on pending Restore PA legislation.

For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website, Click Here to sign up for the Resource newsletter, Visit the Good Natured DCNR Blog, Click Here for upcoming events, Click Here to hook up with DCNR on other social media-- Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.

Visit the Fish & Boat Commission website for more information on water trails, aquatic life habitation restoration and more.

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