On January 31, the Department of Environmental Protection announced 13 projects in eight Southcentral Pennsylvania counties, aimed at watershed restoration and protection, have been awarded more than $4.7 million in funding through this year’s Growing Greener Grants.

“Growing Greener is the single largest investment of state funds that goes directly towards addressing critical environmental concerns of the 21st century,” said DEP Southcentral Regional Director Rod Nesmith. “Now in its third decade, DEP’s Growing Greener continues to play an essential role in restoring and protecting the health of streams and rivers in communities across Pennsylvania. The grant program provides necessary funding for a variety of projects focused on creating a cleaner environment for all Pennsylvanians.”

Growing Greener grants are awarded for projects in three categories: watershed restoration and protection; abandoned mine reclamation; and abandoned oil and gas well plugging projects.

Statewide, this year’s awards exceed $18 million and will fund projects focused on design, construction, education, and outreach.

The funds are distributed to non-profit organizations, watershed groups and county and municipal governments to address local and regional water quality issues. Grantees have up to three years to implement their projects from the award date.

Three other agencies also received funds to distribute for appropriate projects:  the Department of Agriculture to administer farmland preservation projects, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for state park renovations and improvements, and the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority for water and sewer system upgrades.

Approved projects include:

Berks County

-- Berks County Conservation District: Little Cacoosing Creek Restoration, $374,128

-- Fleetwood Borough: Willow Creek Streambank Restoration Phase 1, $145,438

Blair County

-- Altoona Water Authority: Kittanning Run Restoration Plan Assessment, $50,537

Dauphin County

-- Capital Area Greenbelt Association: Spring Creek Ivey Apartments Site Streambank Restoration Project, $230,150

-- Borough of Penbrook: Penbrook Borough Stormwater Management Basin, $280,000

Franklin County

-- Franklin County Conservation District: West Branch Conococheague Tributary Floodplain Restoration—Design and Permitting, $117,500

Huntingdon County

-- The Trust for Tomorrow: Tuscarora Creek Bank Stabilization Project, $88,510

Lancaster County

-- Little Conestoga Creek Foundation: Little Conestoga Blue-Green Corridor Floodplain Restoration, $2,246,580

-- Little Conestoga Watershed Alliance: Jackson and River Drive Floodplain Restoration Project, $113,000

Lebanon County

-- South Londonderry Township: Killinger Creek Stream Stabilization and Riparian Forest Buffer, $260,000

-- North Cornwall Township, Cleona Borough: Quittapahilla Creek Floodplain Restoration, $110,500

York County

-- York County Rail Trail Authority: Oil Creek Floodplain Restoration—Design and Permitting, $135,000

-- York County Conservation District: West Branch Codorus Creek Stream Restoration Phase 2, $563,365

For more information on this program, visit DEP’s Growing Greener Grants webpage.

Upcoming Grant Opportunities

-- February 14: Applications Now Being Accepted For 2022 Schuylkill River Restoration Fund; Land Transaction Assistance Grants

-- February 18: Lancaster Clean Water Partners Grant Deadline Reminder

-- March 4: Coldwater Heritage Partnership Conservation Grants

-- April 6: DCNR Community Conservation Partnership Grants

-- April 6: DCNR Riparian Forest Buffer Grants

-- April 13: NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Grants

-- April 15:  Fish & Boat Commission Lancaster, York Habitat Grants

-- WeConservePA: Conservation Easement Transaction Assistance Grants Now Available

-- May 31-- Commonwealth Financing Authority Act 13 Drilling Impact Fee Funded Grants

-- August 12--  Foundation For PA Watersheds Grants

Visit the PA Environment Digest Grants & Awards webpage for more environmental and energy grant opportunities.

Related Article:

-- Gov. Wolf Proposes $450 Million Growing Greener III Initiative Funded By Federal American Rescue Plan; Bipartisan Support Building For Conservation Allocation  [PaEN]

[Posted: January 31, 2022]

2/7/2022