The Department of Environmental Protection this week announced $5 million in Growing Greener funds would be used to help farmers install stream buffers and fences under the Pennsylvania Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.

DEP last year expanded the program to include both the Ohio and Susquehanna River watersheds in 59 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture partners with states to provide 50 percent of the funds necessary to install conservation measures through CREP.

So far, CREP has infused $36 million in federal money into Pennsylvania's agricultural economy, offering an economic boost to agricultural communities. That amount will grow to $400 million once all 265,000 acres of stream conservation measures are installed.

With its announcement this week of $5 million of Growing Greener funds for the Crop Reserve Enhancement Program, DEP has now allocated $12 million of the $31.5 million in Growing Greener funds it has available for fiscal year 2004-05-- $3.9 million for conservation district watershed specialists; $5 million for CREP and $3.1 million set aside for innovative water and sewer projects— leaving about $19.5 million to allocate to pay for ongoing projects, DEP sponsored projects and general watershed grants. (See the full story below.)

8/20/2004