On November 7, the PA Council of Trout Unlimited announced they have been awarded a $179,800 grant from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to support the 2024 Coldwater Heritage Partnership’s Coldwater Conservation Mini Grant Program.

Funding will be utilized to support CHP staff, provide cold-water conservation outreach, education, and technical assistance, and award planning and implementation mini grants to eligible entities across the state in 2024.

These grants will be aimed at protecting and restoring important cold-water habitats and ensuring cold, clean, fishable water for all.

The CHP mini grant program is made possible with financial assistance from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources through a Community Conservation Partnership Program (C2P2) grant administered by the Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, AND through funding from the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds.

The Coldwater Heritage Partnership is a collaboration between PATU, DCNR, the Fish and Boat Commission, and the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds.

“This funding will allow us to continue to provide funding and support to organizations across Pennsylvania who are working to protect and conserve important cold-water habitat for fish and other aquatic life,” said Rachel Kester, Program Director for the Coldwater Heritage Partnership. “With this funding we are also pleased to support a new position within the program – a Communications Coordinator – who will work to ensure that the successes realized through the CHP program are more widely known and encourage additional projects in areas where they haven’t previously occurred.”

The CHP program will begin accepting applications for the 2024 grant round in January 2024. Grants are typically awarded in March, followed by an 18-month grant period running from April to September of the following year.

To view a map of previous plans and projects and learn more about the CHP application process and grant requirements, please visit the Coldwater Heritage Partnership website.

[Posted: November 8, 2023]

11/13/2023