The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and BHE GT&S a Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company recently awarded 15 grants, totaling $39,484, to 15 different local environmental organizations in nine different counties across Western Pennsylvania as part of the 2023 Watershed Mini Grant Program.

For years, financial support for the Watershed Mini Grant Program was provided through the generosity of the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation, which awarded a total of $433,475 to 130 organizations between 2005 to 2019.

The company that bought Dominion Energy’s interstate natural gas and storage business in 2021, BHE GT&S, is continuing that 17-year philanthropic legacy of supporting local watersheds.

The grant program, made possible with $25,000 from BHE GT&S and $25,000 from the Berkshire Hathaway Energy Foundation, provides financial assistance to regional watershed groups and organizations for program expenses in the areas of water quality monitoring, watershed restoration, and organizational promotion and outreach.

Last month, the following organizations received grant awards (county, award amount):

-- Blacklick Creek Watershed Association (Indiana, $2,500)

-- Chalfant Run/Thompson Run Watershed Association (Allegheny, $3,261)

-- Conemaugh Valley Conservancy (Cambria, $1,000)

-- Creek Connections at Allegheny College (Crawford, $3,500)

-- Evergreen Conservancy (Indiana, $3,300)

-- Kiskiminetas Watershed Association (Armstrong, $850)

-- Moshannon Creek Watershed Association (Centre, $3,500)

-- Mountain Laurel Chapter of Trout Unlimited (Cambria, $3,500)

-- Sewickley Creek Watershed Association (Westmoreland, $1,988)

-- Tubmill Trout Club Unlimited (Westmoreland, $3,500)

-- Turtle Creek Watershed Association (Allegheny, $1,285)

-- Upper Allegheny Watershed Association (Potter, $3,500)

-- Upper Chartiers Creek Watershed Association (Washington, $800)

-- UpstreamPgh (Allegheny, $3,500)

-- Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve (Westmoreland, $3,500)

Don Houser, state policy director for BHE GT&S’ northeast region, says he is pleased to continue the philanthropic efforts that help improve local rivers and streams.

“It’s an absolute privilege to support these organizations as they complete meaningful conservation work in our communities. BHE GT&S has been inspired by the commitment showcased by the grant recipients. We congratulate this year’s recipients for their outstanding work and commitment to water quality,” he adds.

Jenifer Christman, vice president of watershed conservation for WPC, says this funding source is vital to local communities.

“The Conservancy thanks BHE GT&S for continuing this commitment to assist small, local watershed organizations with projects to directly benefit and improve water quality in their communities,” she says. “Many of these projects, which are making a difference, just wouldn’t happen if not for this funding.”

The Conservancy and BHE GT&S will begin accepting applications for the 2024 Watershed Mini Grant Program  this fall.

More information is available on programs, initiatives and special events at the Western PA Conservancy website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Conservancy, Like them on Facebook, Follow them on Twitter, join them on Instagram, visit the Conservancy’s YouTube Channel or add them to your network on Linkedin.  Click Here to support their work.

The Conservancy has helped to establish 11 state parks, conserved more than 250,000 acres of natural lands and protected or restored more than 3,000 miles of rivers and streams, maintains 132 community gardens and other green spaces that are planted with the help of more than 11,000 volunteers and the support of more than 9,000 members.

[Posted: May 17, 2023]

5/22/2023