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DEP Chesapeake Bay Update: Results Of PA In The Balance Ag Conference; Leadership Change At DEP, State Conservation Commission; Grants Announced; Much More

The latest Chesapeake Bay Program newsletter is now available from DEP and includes articles on a variety of topics

PA In The Balance Ag Conference

On December 12-14, over 100 leaders in agriculture and conservation gathered to collaboratively explore the development of a policy and resource support network to ensure Pennsylvania can fully take advantage of these resources.

Convened by the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, PA in the Balance 2022 marked the latest in a series of these conferences aimed at providing a forum where motivated leaders in agriculture and the environment work collaboratively to identify new, innovative solutions that can help ensure thriving, productive agriculture while meeting water quality goals for Pennsylvania’s local streams and the Chesapeake Bay.

After three highly productive days, clear themes and early recommendations emerged that can significantly advance Pennsylvania agriculture as the solution to major environmental challenges and ensure it remains a thriving and growing sector of Pennsylvania’s economy, communities, and quality of life.

Recommendations include--

-- Streamline the conservation funding delivery system.

-- Invest in workforce development and training to position Pennsylvania as the nation’s career and innovation hub for agricultural and natural resources conservation.

-- Support local partnership and implementation coordination to ensure resources are deployed efficiently and tailored to local needs.

-- Extend the agricultural and conservation partnership network to businesses and corporations.

-- Position Pennsylvania partnerships for climate-smart commodities as centers for innovation and market development.

Click Here for a more comprehensive list of recommendations.

Other Topics

-- Gov. Shapiro nominates Richard Negrin As DEP Secretary, retains Cindy Dunn at DCNR and Russell Redding at Agriculture

-- State Conservation Commission Executive Secretary Karl Brown retires, Doug Wolfgang named to serve

-- Senate Committees hold information session on agriculture and the Chesapeake Bay

-- 2022 Program Progress Report Submitted To EPA

-- Flinchbaugh’s Orchard & Farm In York County Receives Leopold Conservation Award

-- PACD now accepting applications for CREP Mini-Grants

-- Counties Provide Update On Water Quality Plan Implementation

-- EPA releases 2022 PA Animal Agriculture Program Assessment

-- DEP updates 2022 State Water Plan Digital Water Atlas

-- DEP Bureau of Watershed Restoration gets webpage makeover

Click Here to read the entire newsletter.

How Clean Is Your Stream?

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

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. Click Here to sign up for regular updates on Pennsylvania’s progress.

Related Articles This Week - Water:

-- DEP Releases Final 2022 Pennsylvania State Water Plan, Digital Atlas Of Water Resources And Use [PaEN]

-- DEP Chesapeake Bay Update: Results Of PA In The Balance Ag Conference; Leadership Change At DEP, State Conservation Commission; Grants Announced; Much More [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Revised Post-Construction Stormwater Management Manual [PaEN]

-- DCNR Reminder: Grant Application Period Now Open For Recreation, Conservation, Watershed Projects Until April 5

-- Coldwater Heritage Partnership Now Accepting Applications For 2023 Coldwater Conservation Grants [PaEN]

-- PA American Water Now Accepting Applications For 2023 Environmental Grants [PaEN]

-- DCNR: Susquehanna River North Branch Named 2023 Pennsylvania River Of The Year [PaEN]

-- Bob Donnan’s Blog: DEP Finds Valley Brook Country Club Responsible For Pesticide Runoff Causing 7-Mile Long Fish Kill In Chartiers Creek, Washington County

-- DEP Releases Bid Solicitation To Plug 19 Abandoned Conventional Gas Wells In Forest County All At Taxpayer Expense [PaEN]

-- DEP Blog: Plugging PA’s Abandoned Conventional Oil And Gas Wells

-- Damascus Citizens For Sustainability Files Lawsuit Challenging The Delaware River Basin Commission Fracking Wastewater Rule Generally And For Allowing Road Dumping Of Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater Creating Widespread Pollution [PaEN]