The Pennsylvania Environmental Council, in partnership with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, is announcing the availability of a new mini-grant for an “urgent issue on a designated PA Water Trail.”

Proposals for this award will be accepted on a rolling basis until the available funds have been awarded or until December 31, 2024, whichever occurs first.

Grants are available for a project that can quickly and efficiently address an ‘urgent’ issue on a designated PA Water Trail that is causing, or could reasonably be expected to cause, an unsafe or dangerous situation for those wishing to access the river for recreation or enjoyment.

Such situations could include, but are not limited to,

-- Storm induced scouring, flooding, debris impoundments that severely impact navigation.

-- Fallen trees or other large obstructions caused by a storm or other event that will prohibit or severely impact an imminent sojourn, paddle fest, race, etc.

-- A situation where there is a major in-water litter/trash issue immediately prior to a planned community event, paddle, race, etc.

-- The destruction of a safety or wayfinding sign at an access point, if the sign was critical to orienting paddlers or providing critical information about a river hazard, portage, dam, etc.

Other situations not listed here can be considered for funding based on the mini-grant review committee.

Applicants can request up to $2,000 and project proposals must include a 1:1 match (cash or in-kind).

Eligible applicants include registered non-profit organizations and public entities (such as a county, municipality, or municipal agency) and all projects must occur on or for a designated Pennsylvania Water Trail.

PEC will no longer be accepting applications via email or mail. All applications must be submitted online.

Applications and instructions are now available online.

PA Water Trails

Pennsylvania's 29 water trails link outdoor recreation and water conservation efforts.

Since 2008, PEC, DCNR, the Fish and Boat Commission, and the National Park Service have worked together to promote and maintain the Pennsylvania Water Trails Program's network of creeks and rivers.

The PA Water Trails Program provides technical assistance, shares education and resources, and facilitates opportunities for networking and peer-to-peer learning for water trail managers.

Over the past several years, there have been instances of unforeseen, urgent issues on designated water trails that have prevented safe access to the waterway and/or safe navigability by paddlers and other recreationists.

Such situations could have benefitted from the availability of funding on relatively short notice to remediate, eliminate, or temporarily alleviate the issue or situation until a more permanent solution could be designed, funded, and implemented.

This new funding source has been created to provide those resources.

PEC has administered the PA Water Trail Mini-Grant program since 2017.

Mini-grant funding is financed in part by a grant from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program, under the administration of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.

Applicants should note that mini-grants may not be used as match for other DCNR-funded projects.

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the PA Environmental Council website, visit the PEC Blog, PEC Bill/Regulation Tracker, follow PEC on Twitter or Like PEC on Facebook.  Visit PEC’s Audio Room for the latest podcasts.  Click Here to receive regular updates from PEC.

(Photo: Juniata Water Trail.)

Related Article:

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[Posted: May 8, 2023]

5/15/2023