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EPA, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Invest $9.6 Million In Projects To Improve Water Quality In Chesapeake Bay Watershed; $5.6 Million Benefits PA

On October 16, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz announced a $9.6 million investment into restoring water quality in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed funded by the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Projects will be funded through the Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Program with grants awarded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

The grants totaling $5,644,400 would benefit Pennsylvania--

-- Stroud Water Research Center - $1,000,000, Match $1,141,000: Advance forest buffer capacity and implementation throughout Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay watershed. Project will work across eight counties to train, support and mentor local conservation professionals, make funding readily available, identify interested landowners, and assist with project implementation.

-- Alliance for Chesapeake Bay - $1,000,000, Match $1,481,900: Partner with Perdue Farms to incentivize the implementation of priority conservation practices. Project will improve best management practices for vegetative environmental buffers, riparian forest buffers, manure stacking/composting sheds, stormwater controls and heavy-use area stabilization.

-- Penn State University - $1,000,000, Match $1,000,000: Enhance existing partnerships to accelerate the implementation of watershed conservation practices in a high priority region. Project will engage congregations through volunteer programs, initiate green infrastructure projects in places of worship, and support congregational members in adopting conservation practices on their farms.

-- Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay - $646,800, Match $647,000: Utilize state and local partnerships to accelerate the implementation and restoration of riparian forest buffers in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Project will address the specific conservation needs of farmers and prioritize best management practices that reduce nutrient and sediment pollution runoff, restore riparian forest habitat, improve the in-stream habitat, and contribute to the overall sustainability of the farms.

-- The Nature Conservancy - $997,600, Match $2,018,200: Utilize the Delmarva Wetland Partnership to address barriers inhibiting wetland restoration in parts of the Chesapeake Bay watershed in Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Project will add capacity to design restoration projects, provide project management support, provide support to landowners to offset the rising costs of restoration, and implement over 600 acres of wetland restoration and 46 acres of associated upland buffers.

-- Tioga County [NY] Conservation District - $1,000,000, Match $1,000,000: Expand the Upper Susquehanna Coalition’s water quality program [in NY, PA] to support and accelerate restoration efforts in parts of New York and Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay watershed. Project will prioritize restoration for riparian forest buffers, non-tidal wetlands and floodplains.

“These projects represent a portion of the generational investments that the Biden Administration is making in the Chesapeake Bay watershed” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “Each one of them will improve not just the local environment where the projects are located, but the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem downstream by removing runoff pollution, cleaning up streams and rivers, and planting native trees and grasses. Four decades ago, visionary leaders set us on a course to protect the Chesapeake Bay. Today, thanks to partnerships like the ones for these projects, we will kickstart the next 40 years of conservation in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.”

“Since coming into office, the Biden Administration has renewed the effort to engage with stakeholders in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and invest in on-the-ground projects and practices,” said Ortiz. “We will continue to work with state and local governments to better manage stormwater, improve our built infrastructure, and find nature-based solutions to improving water quality throughout the watershed, as well ensuring that polluters are being held accountable.”

Click Here for the complete announcement. Click Here for the complete project list.

NewsClips - Watersheds:

-- Williamsport Sun: Lycoming College Clean Water Institute’s Matt Kaunert Speaks About Declining Populations Of Hellbenders In Pennsylvania

-- Tribune-Democrat: Blacklick Valley H.S. Students Get Inside Look At $26 Million Plan To Treat Mine Drainage Pollution, Revive Blacklick Creek

-- Altoona Mirror: Sediment Reduction Project On Beaverdam Branch, Juniata River Makes Progress

-- Altoona Mirror: Community Members’ Efforts Help Establish Rain Garden At Duncansville Memorial Park

-- Registration Open For PASA Sustainable Agriculture Conference Feb. 8-10

-- Rodale Institute 2022 Annual Report: Growing The Regenerative, Organic Agriculture Movement

-- The Center Square: More Trees Coming To Low-Income, Historically Black Neighborhoods Across Pittsburgh

-- Williamsport Sun - Ryan Reed, DCNR: Forests Help With Climate Change

-- Warren Times: Audubon Community Nature Center ‘Investigators’ To Explore Water’s Journey

-- Erie Times: Erie Council OKs Lease With Gannon University To Build Great Lakes Water Research And Education Center Inside Library