On April 8, the Fish and Boat Commission announced five projects were awarded funding through the York and Lancaster Counties Habitat Improvement Grant Program.

Funding for the grant program is being provided by two sources, the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station and the Muddy Run Pumped Storage Project.

In accordance with their respective Water Quality Certifications, the PFBC receives a combined total of $150,000 annually to fund projects such as dam removals, stream habitat improvement projects, and agricultural pasture and barnyard best management practices.

The PFBC has awarded $75,000 or less to each of the following projects--

-- Donegal Chapter Trout Unlimited, Donegal Creek Stream Restoration: This project will restore a 2,384-foot reach of Donegal Creek in East Donegal Township, Lancaster County, including the installation of multiple fish habitat structures.

-- New Freedom Borough, South Branch Headwater Restoration: This project will fund the design of a stream restoration project in the headwaters of the South Branch of Codorus Creek, York County.

-- Watershed Alliance of York, Beaver Creek Stream Restoration: This project is a large-scale stream restoration and dam removal project in Paradise Township, York County. 

-- Watershed Alliance of York, Unnamed Tributary to Codorus Creek Stream Restoration: This project will restore approximately 10 acres of floodplain and 4,300 linear feet of two unnamed tributaries to Codorus Creek, York County.

-- Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Vernal Pool Creation and Restoration for Wildlife and Watershed Health: This project will restore and enlarge three vernal pool wetlands in Gifford Pinchot State Park, York County.

Click Here for the announcement.

Visit the York and Lancaster Counties Habitat Improvement Grant Program webpage for more information on this program.

Related Articles This Week:

 -- Coldwater Heritage Partnership Now Accepting Applications For Coldwater Conservation Grants; Energy Transfer/Sunoco Mariner East/Revolution Pipelines Penalty Settlement Grants  [PaEN]

-- Fish & Boat Commission Funds 5 Watershed Restoration Projects In Lancaster, York Counties Totaling $150,000  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Updates PA Drought Conditions: Berks County Remains In Drought Warning; Drought Watch Lifted In 6 Counties; 27 Counties Remain In Drought Watch  [PaEN]

-- Conowingo Dam Steering Committee Releases Update On Conowingo Reservoir Nutrient Reduction Efforts  [PaEN]  

-- Vote Now! For Chesapeake Bay Foundation Photo Contest Viewers’ Choice Award - Look For Photos From Pennsylvania! [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Karl Blankenship: Farm Conservation Work In Chesapeake Region Hit Hard By Federal Funding Freeze 

-- Courier Times Guest Essay: Federal Funding Freeze For Pennsylvania Farmers Is A Blow To Cleaner Waterways - By Jullia Krall, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

-- Erie Times Guest Essay: Fetterman, McCormick Must Defend Federal Program That Connects Farmers, Food Banks - By Second Harvest Food Bank

-- The Derrick: How A Rainy Day, Finicky Fish Launched A PA Dedicated To Unpaved Roads [Dirt & Gravel Road Program]  [PDF of Article]

-- Penn State College Of Ag Sciences Course Helps Students Plan, Design Conservation Structures On Farms

-- Penn State Extension: May 3 In-Person Workshop On Benefits Of Installing Rain Barrels In  Lancaster County, 10:00 a.m.  [Participants Will Take Home Rain Barrel]

-- TribLive: Western Pennsylvanians Prepare To Capture April Showers In Rain Barrels

-- Central PA Conservancy: April 11-12 Celebrate Letort Spring Preserve Weekend In Cumberland County

-- Republican Herald - Tyler Frantz: What Lies Beneath The Logjam, Including Debris And Vegetation, Benefits Trout Streams

[Posted: April 8, 2025]

4/14/2025