On October 23, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced grants to fund planting trees along streams to improve water quality in Pennsylvania, and eventually the Chesapeake Bay.

An investment of $673,700 from the Keystone Fund and other funds will support the planting of about 93 acres of streamside (riparian) buffers in the commonwealth.

“By slowing down runoff after it rains, and filtering out sediments and nutrients, streamside forest buffers are among the best practices to help us clean up our rivers and streams in Pennsylvania,” Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said.

Friday, Dunn helped plant a streamside forest buffer in Marge Goodfellow Park in New Freedom Borough, York County.

About 60 trees and shrubs are being planted to align with the park's development and improvement plans. Benches and signage will be added to the planting for the community to enjoy.

The five grants for streamside forest buffers are:

-- Centre County -- ClearWater Conservancy, $97,800, for approximately 10 acres of riparian forest buffers along waterways in the Susquehanna River Watershed.

-- Centre, Clinton, Huntingdon, and Lycoming Counties -- Chesapeake Conservancy, $50,000, for approximately 7 acres of riparian forest buffers along waterways in the Susquehanna River Watershed.

-- Chester and Lancaster Counties -- Stroud Water Research Center, $154,000, for approximately 32 acres of riparian forest buffers along waterways in the Lower Susquehanna River and Lower Delaware River watersheds.

-- Lancaster County -- Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, $286,900, for approximately 34 acres of riparian forest buffers along waterways in the Susquehanna River Watershed.

-- Lehigh and Northampton Counties -- Wildlands Conservancy, $85,000, for approximately 10 acres of riparian forest buffers along waterways in the Lehigh River Watershed.

Properly planted and maintained, streamside tree and shrub plantings filter the runoff of sediments and fertilizers that are applied to lawns and crops; control erosion; slow stormwater runoff; cool stream temperatures; and improve fish habitat.

Learn more about stream buffers by visiting DCNR’s Riparian Buffer webpage.

Also visit the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership to learn how you can help clean water grow on trees.

Regional Grant Workshops

Need funding for a park, trail, buffer or conservation project? The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Recreation and Conservation is hosting virtual regional grant workshops in November.

Click Here for all the details.

The DCNR website includes information about the Community Conservation Partnerships Program grants and Pennsylvania’s Outdoor Recreation Plan.

Other Grant Opportunities

These programs provide grants for buffers and land conservation work----

November 30-- NRCS-PA: Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program

December 1-- Agriculture Farm Conservation Excellence Grants - Lancaster/York

December 18-- NRCS-PA Farmer, Landowner Assistance

December 31-- NRCS- Agricultural Conservation Easement Program

December 31-- NRCS- Conservation Plans

February 19-- NRCS-PA Farmer, Landowner Assistance

April 12-- DEP Farm Nutrient Reduction, Small Business Energy Efficiency Grants

PA Chesapeake Bay Plan

For more information on how Pennsylvania plans to meet its Chesapeake Bay cleanup obligations, visit DEP’s PA’s Phase 3 Watershed Implementation Plan webpage. 

Click Here for a summary of the steps the Plan recommends.

How Clean Is Your Stream?

DEP’s Interactive Report Viewer allows you to zoom in on your own stream or watershed to find out how clean your stream is or if it has impaired water quality using the latest information in the draft 2020 Water Quality Report.

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.

(Photo: Secretary Dunn helped plant a streamside forest buffer in Marge Goodfellow Park in New Freedom Borough, York County.)

Related Articles:

-- DCNR Invests $2.85 Million In 22 Rivers Conservation, Boating, Fishing Access, Streamside Buffers Projects

-- DEP Grants Available To Help Farmers Reduce Nutrient Pollution, Small Businesses With Energy Efficiency Projects

-- DEP Accepting Applications For Farm Conservation Planning Grants In Chesapeake Bay Watershed

-- DEP October Newsletter Updates Chesapeake Bay Program Implementation

-- PUC Joins 6th Annual Imagine a Day Without Water To Raise Awareness About The Value Of Water

-- To Harvest Or Not To Harvest: Recent Insight On Riparian Buffers

-- The Tree As A Microcosm Of An Entire Watershed

-- Help Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards Plan Future Programs

-- PennVEST Invests $181 Million In Water Infrastructure, Nonpoint Source Pollution Reduction Projects In 12 Counties

-- Conservation Districts, Join Wildlife, Environmental Groups In Opposing Bill Redefining Water Pollution, Letting Companies Decide When They Report Spills

-- PEDF: Court Decision Approves Diverting $61.2 Million In Drilling Revenue From State Forest Land To Pay DCNR Operating Costs, Ignoring PA Supreme Court Decision

-- PA Organization For Watershed & Rivers: 2021 PA River Of The Year Nominations Now Being Accepted

[Posted: October 24, 2020]

10/26/2020