The May 28 newsletter from Lancaster Clean Water Partners highlights work being done in Lancaster County to improve water quality and all the exciting events that are part of Lancaster Water Week June 4-12.

500 Trees Closer

On May 21, the Action Teams came together to plant 2.5 acres of riparian forest buffer along the Little Conestoga Creek in Overlook Park.

Based on the Chesapeake Bay Nutrient and Sediment Load Reduction Model, this initial 2.5 acre planting will annually filter out 59 pounds of nitrogen, 2.6 pounds of phosphorus, and 3,471 pounds of sediment.

The goal is to fully reforest more than 8 acres in the park by the end of the year to further reduce urban runoff, erosion, and restore the stream to its natural beauty and function.

Faithful Green Leaders Training

The Interfaith Partners of the Chesapeake will host three Faithful Green Leaders Training sessions June 10, 17, 24 from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.

This training will review how to establish and grow a green team at your congregation, develop an action plan for your Green Team, ways to enhance your communication skills to help spread the word, and more.

Join the multiple congregations from Lancaster who have already gone through the training and are ready to engage in new projects!

Lancaster Clean Water Fund

Since 2019, the Lancaster County Community Foundation Clean Water Fund has provided $972,000 to 16 nonprofits and municipalities working on stream restoration, riparian buffer plantings, agricultural BMPs, education, and stormwater management projects.

The fund addresses the immense need for clean water work throughout the county, and provides financial support to bring ideas to life.

Learn more and apply today!

Watershed Grant Coordination

Are you a Lancaster County partner thinking of applying for a Growing Greener, 319, and/or Clean Water Fund grant?

Join the Partners for our Connect and Prep event on June 1 at 2:00 p.m. to connect with partners and coordinate applications! Connect with other partners planning projects in order to create stronger applications.

They will share ideas and resources, and then breakout by watershed so applicants learn about proposed projects happening right next door to each other. You can also get the required letter from the CAP Coordinator for Growing Greener and 319 grants if you attend.

Lancaster Water Week

Get ready for the fifth Lancaster Water Week on June 4-12. This year, there’s over 20 events, virtual and in-person options, that celebrate Lancaster’s unique waterways and educate communities to take action. There’s no shortage of fun with streamside work days, educational lectures, creek stomps and paddles, and municipal tours.

Click Here to learn more.

MS4orum

As part of Lancaster Water Week, the MS4orum is back, outside, and in-person on June 7.

Attendees will rotate as small groups between four locations to learn about rain gardens, stormwater basins, rainwater reuse, riparian buffers, maintenance, and grant applications from the municipal staff that made the projects happen!

If you're interested in becoming a sponsor or vendor, contact Kristen Koch for more information by sending an email to: klk343@psu.edu.

Click Here to register for the MS4orum.

Click Here to read the entire newsletter. 

For more information on programs, initiatives, funding, technical support, upcoming events and how you can get involved, visit the Lancaster Clean Water Partners website.  Click Here to sign up for regular email updates.  Follow them on Facebook.

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.

[Posted: May 28, 2021]

5/30/2021