On May 4, Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding joined members of the Chesapeake Bay Commission to plant a streamside forest buffer in Lancaster to improve the water quality of Landis Run, and eventually the Chesapeake Bay.

“Streamside buffers are a best management practice that slow down flooding caused by severe weather and improve water quality, require less mowing, cool the water, hold and store carbon, and provide food and shelter for pollinators and wildlife, Dunn said. “We welcome commission members from Pennsylvania and our partner states in this hands-on effort with a big impact.”

The Commission and the Commonwealth are signatories to a series of agreements with the other five states in the watershed, the District of Columbia and the federal government.

The latest version of the agreement from 2014 set a goal of restoring 900 miles of buffers each year.

Statewide, Pennsylvania has a goal of planting 95,000 acres of forest buffers along waterways.

The Lancaster buffer includes planting 1.2 acres of forest buffers at a private property.

The buffer planting kicks off two days of meetings and educational opportunities in Pennsylvania for members of the Chesapeake Bay Commission, a tri-state legislative commission advising the general assemblies of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia on state and federal policy to restore the 64,000 square mile Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Pennsylvania members of the Commission include-- Warren Elliott, Citizen Member; Rep. Keith Gillespie (R-York); Rep. John Hershey (R-Juniata); Sen. Scott Martin (R-Lancaster); Rep. Michael Sturla (D-Lancaster); Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming); and DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell.

Commission members Sen. Gene Yaw and Scott Martin joined in the tree planting.

“As a Marylander, I know that Pennsylvanians don’t have the same relationship with the Chesapeake Bay that I do,” said Maryland State Senator Sarah Elfreth, the 2022 Chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commission. “But I am always impressed with their dedication to their own local streams and rivers. By improving them our downstream waters, like the Chesapeake Bay, will benefit.”

The planting was facilitated by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay with DCNR grant funds, and tree tubes and shelters provided by Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership. Commission members helped to plan, layout, and plant the buffer.

“Forested buffers in a farming county are just one facet of the conservation efforts the Wolf Administration is supporting to make our water cleaner and our soil healthier,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “On top of leading the nation in conservation easements, funding farm conservation practices and equipment, and investing more than $4 million in new Conservation Excellence Grants that empower communities to take ownership of conservation, Governor Wolf has proposed investing $450 million in federal American Rescue Plan dollars to boost Growing Greener III. Planting trees along our streams and feeding new dollars into a diverse package of loans, grants and incentives funding the stewardship of Pennsylvania farmers is the catalyst Pennsylvania needs to feed our future.”

DCNR and Ag are working with many partners to plant trees and shrubs along streams for water quality, with accomplishments including:

-- Creating a watershed forestry team, an advisory group with more than 60 members and partners, and holding an annual summit;

-- Providing almost $7 million dollars in grant funds for streamside forest buffers;

-- Conducting Buffer My Stream landowner outreach;

-- Attracting more than $4.45 million in federal grants and allocating more than $2 million in federal funds for projects;

-- Collaborating on a reporting and tracking tool that allows the commonwealth to report successes to the federal government; and

-- Working with the corrections system and other partners to train workers to plant and maintain buffers.

How Do I Buffer My Stream

Visit DCNR’s How Do I Buffer My Stream webpage for more information for property owners about buffering your stream.

[Visit DEP’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed webpage to learn more about cleaning up rivers and streams in Pennsylvania's portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

[How Clean Is Your Stream?

[Check DEP’s 2022 Water Quality Report to find out how clean streams are near you.]

NewsClip:

-- Daily Item: May 18 Presentation To Highlight Restoration Plans For Shamokin Creek Watershed, Northumberland County

Related Articles This Week:

-- DCNR: Never Been A Better Time To Invest In State Park, Forest Infrastructure Improvements, Local Conservation Projects 

-- CBF, Stone Independent School To Plant Over 2,000 Trees In Lancaster, York Counties May 7, Volunteers Welcome

-- Bay Journal: EPA Ramps Up Clean Water Inspections After PA's Plan Fails To Meet Chesapeake Bay Water Pollution Reduction Goals - By Karl Blankenship, Chesapeake Bay Journal

-- EPA Announces $40 Million From Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding For Chesapeake Bay Restoration; PA Receives $5.59 Million+ 

-- USDA Announces Additional $22.5 Million In Chesapeake Bay Restoration Funding

-- Lisa Daniels Now Serving As DEP’s Acting Deputy For Water Programs Overseeing Chesapeake Bay, Other Water-Related Initiatives

-- CBF Blog: Acid Mine Drainage - The Legacy Of Coal Mining A Key Source Of Harm To Pennsylvania's Headwaters

-- April State Revenues Highest Ever Collected - $1.8 Billion Higher Than Estimates; Never Been A Better Time To Invest In Local Conservation Projects

Related Articles:

-- Two Bipartisan Bills Just Sitting In Senate Waiting To Address Record Number Of Water Quality Impaired Streams Reported In 2022

-- WeConservePA Urges General Assembly, Gov. Wolf To Boost Conservation Investments - There Has Never Been A Better Time

[Posted: May 4, 2022]

5/9/2022