DEP’s latest Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan newsletter Healthy Waters Pennsylvania Partnership, Program highlights profiles of over 40 clean water funding programs and clean water leadership throughout Pennsylvania’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

40 Funding Programs

The PennVEST Center for Water Quality Excellence serving Lancaster and York counties has put together one-page profiles on over funding programs covering urban and agricultural stormwater grant and loan programs.

The profiles provide quick access to deadlines, eligibility, match requirements, application portals, helpful tips, and points of contact. With the help of CWQE staff, you can use these funding profiles to guide development of a long-term funding strategy.

Visit the Center’s Support Hub for more information.

CREP Mini Grants

The PA Association of Conservation Districts is now accepting applications from conservation districts for Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Mini Grants.  Applications are due November 12.

Grants of up to $3,000 to implement educational and outreach activities that support and extend the work of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).

Click Here for all the details.  Questions should be directed to Holly Miller at hmiller@pacd.org. 

Conservation Excellence Grants

The State Conservation Commission is now accepting applications for Conservation Excellence Grants for Tier 1 and 2 counties in Pennsylvania's portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, including Bedford, Centre, Cumberland, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon and York.

Counties may apply at any time for this funding.

The program provides single grant funding up to $250,000 to eligible projects through delegated local county conservation districts. Small grants are also available for any BMP project under $25,000.

Examples of eligible CEG costs include project design, engineering and associated planning costs, construction or installation provided by a contractor (including labor provided by the applicant), equipment, materials and other components of projects, and post construction inspections.

Click Here for all the details.  Questions should be directed to Eric Cromer by calling 223-666-2556 or send an email to: ecromer@pa.gov.

Franklin County Dairy Conservation

The Franklin County Conservation District, along with Ben and Sharon Peckman of Slate Ridge Dairy, St. Thomas hosted Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and other state and local legislative representatives on September 30th, to view several recently installed best management practices (BMPs) funded by the Conservation Excellence Grant Program.

The Peckman’s have a long history of conservation excellence, having received Franklin County Conservation District’s Cooperator of the Year in the past and, most recently, the 2020 Leopold Conservation Award for Pennsylvania.

Ben shared the importance of conservation practices and BMPs, and noted that the CEG Program was a catalyst in their efforts to improve their operation’s viability and efficiency. 

FCCD provided consultation to the Peckman’s for their project that consisted of a Diversion, Grassed Buffer Area and a Waste Storage Facility. Ben commented that the CEG project was seamless, very easy to navigate and facilitated fast construction.

He stated that the whole project, from the first contact with FCCD until the completion of installation of the BMPs, only took around six months total.

Local Stormwater Problems

The PennVEST Center for Water Quality Excellence may be able to help respond to calls from residents for answers to recurring stormwater issues in neighborhoods that were built prior to 2000.

Centre staff are currently working with several neighborhoods to support collaborative solutions between residents, developers, and municipal leaders who all have a stake in stormwater infrastructure.

Feel free to refer property owners to the Center at 855-227-1202.

Water Quality Resources

If you are looking for specific support materials related to the planning and funding of urban stormwater and agriculture conservation practices or projects, email the PennVEST Center for Water Quality Excellence at support@cwqe.org  or Start a Conversation at the Support Hub and describe what you are seeking (you will need to register as a Support Hub user first).

More Available

The newsletter includes much more information, including updates from counties on their Clean Water Planning efforts.

Click Here to read the entire newsletter.  Click Here to sign up for your own copy.

PA Chesapeake Bay Plan

For more information on Pennsylvania’s plan, visit DEP’s Chesapeake Bay Office webpage.

October Is Buffer Month!

Penn State Extension is joining the Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council, who declared October as Riparian Buffer Month, as an opportunity to build awareness and familiarity of forested riparian buffers while sharing the applicability of these sustainable practices in a variety of settings.  Read more here.

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.

Related Article This Week:

-- Ed Wytovich Discusses Catawissa Creek's Unique Potential, Threats It Faces, What's Needed 

Related Articles:

-- Going, Going, Gone... Senate, House Have Little Time To Act On Funding For Local Flood Prevention, Watershed Restoration, Recreation Projects

-- Growing Greener Coalition: American Rescue Plan For Water & Green Infrastructure

-- Guest Essay: Communities Should Invest Federal American Rescue Plan Funds In Conservation - Andy Loza, WeConservePA

[Posted: October 26, 2021]

11/1/2021