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Conservation Innovation Fund, Kennett Twp., Chester County Receive Ground-Breaking Stormwater Permit Relying On Nature-Based Solutions

On August 27, the Conservation Innovation Fund, a conservation and sustainability impact finance fund, and Pennsylvania’s Kennett Township announced the Township achieved a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit.

The NPDES MS4 permit was issued on August 14 and is the result of a successful four-year partnership between Conservation Innovation Fund and Kennett Township to develop a municipal stormwater compliance strategy, in collaboration with the global infrastructure consulting firm AECOM, Hicks Brothers IV Farm Group, Longwood Gardens and Mowery Environmental.

Under the NPDES MS4 permit, the Revolving Water Fund (RWF) finance model will facilitate the investment of private capital into nature-based solutions on privately owned land to meet Kennett Township’s compliance standards under the Clean Water Act and Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law.

The RWF finance model, developed by Conservation Innovation Fund, increases the pool of capital and number of conservation projects that support watershed health by working with the local agriculture sector to implement practices that generate pollutant reductions, such as reductions in nitrogen runoff.

The pollutant reductions are quantified and packaged into transferable environmental impact units so public and private enterprises may use the units to achieve compliance-driven and voluntary sustainability targets, subject to approval.

“The RWF finance model demonstrates how cost-effective agricultural practices can provide alternative income streams to farms and reduce compliance costs for municipalities,” said Callan Walsh Dever, Managing Director of Conservation Innovation Fund. “For Kennett Township, the RWF finance model introduces a four-fold reduction in compliance costs.”

The RWF finance model creates opportunities for communities across the Mid-Atlantic to work with local farms to improve waterways. Partnership efforts with other municipalities are underway and Conservation Innovation Fund plans to expand the model to other states.

“Kennett Township appreciates the role of its partners, including Conservation Innovation Fund, in helping to meet municipal stormwater requirements,” said Ted Otteni, Kennett Township Director of Public Works. “Communities across Pennsylvania should consider the benefits of implementing agricultural practices for permit compliance.”

The Conservation Innovation Fund creates water, carbon, and biodiversity assets that align public and corporate sustainability agendas with regenerative agriculture producers and practices.

With the support of public and philanthropic grant makers and mission-oriented investors, Conservation Innovation Fund has created a blended capital pool to expand market-based solutions to address pressing conservation challenges.

The Revolving Water Fund finance model is a ground-breaking conservation finance model, developed by Conservation Innovation Fund in close partnership with nonprofit partners, including The Nature Conservancy, Stroud Water Research Center and the University of Delaware Water Resource Center, with capital support from Agua Fund, Dunn Family Charitable Foundation, i2 Capital, Longwood Foundation, USDA’s Conservation Innovation Grants Program, William Penn Foundation and the Anita Antenucci Charitable Fund.

The RWF finance model facilitates the investment of private capital into watershed-scale conservation efforts.

The RWF finance model correlates agricultural conservation practices with regulatory compliance, water company cost savings and other private and public objectives to capture the economic benefits of conservation.

Resource Links - Conservation Innovation Fund:

-- Conservation Innovation Fund, Agriculture Industry Partners Awarded $25 Million USDA Grant To Pay Farmers For Their Stewardship To Improve Water Quality, Reduce Carbon [PaEN]

-- ESMC Partners With Conservation Innovation Fund To Create Innovative Water, Carbon, And Biodiversity Credit Opportunities In the Mid-Atlantic States [PaEN]

-- East Lampeter Twp. First Municipality To Partner With Lancaster Revolving Water Fund On Pay-For-Performance Contract To Improve Water Quality, Soil Carbon Sequestration [PaEN]

-- 2 Chester County Townships Join Brandywine-Christina Watershed Pay-For-Success Water Quality Cleanup Initiative By i2 Capital, The Nature Conservancy [PaEN]

Related Articles This Week - Watersheds:

-- U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Announce Over $17 Million In Grants For Delaware River Basin Restoration [PaEN]

-- National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, US Fish & Wildlife Announce $8.9 Million To Restore, Conserve Habitats In Chesapeake Bay Watershed [PaEN]

-- DEP Releases 2023 Annual Report On Chesapeake Bay Watershed Celebrating Accomplishments Of Counties, Communities, State And Local Leaders [PaEN]

-- DEP Publishes Updated PAG-02 NPDES Stormwater General Permit [PaEN]

-- Conservation Innovation Fund, Kennett Twp., Chester County Receive Ground-Breaking Stormwater Permit Relying On Nature-Based Solutions [PaEN]

-- USDA NRCS-PA: Cropland Farmers May Be Contacted During Conservation Effects Assessment Survey