A unique partnership of conservation groups and local corporations is combining forces to improve water quality in the Conestoga River and address climate change globally.

A forested riparian buffer was planted last Saturday along a tributary to the Little Conestoga River near the Lancaster General Health Campus north of Route 30 in Lancaster Pa.

Exelon Corporation in partnership with the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Lancaster General Health System, Little Conestoga Watershed Alliance, Lancaster County Conservancy and Rettew Associates developed and carried out the project.

Video Blog: A Riparian Buffer With Multiple Environmental Benefits

Brian Hill, President of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, said, “This project exemplifies how the Council’s approach of conservation through cooperation can be implemented with on-the-ground projects. We were delighted that Exelon, Lancaster General and others joined with us for this collaborative effort to improve water quality, and at the same time demonstrate ways to generate nutrient credits and store carbon by planting trees and other native species. This is a classic win-win situation where water quality gets better and we begin to address climate change.”

“Saturday’s tree planting is exactly the kind of community partnership Exelon looks for as a way to demonstrate our commitment to the environment,” said Exelon Vice President, Environment, Health and Safety Helen Howes.

“This project will reduce sediment and nutrient runoff into the Little Conestoga River and the Susquehanna River watershed, it will improve habitat and is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Planting more than 600 native trees and shrubs are estimated to sequester 3 metric tons of CO2 annually once the trees mature,” Howes added.

The project will demonstrate how a community-based partnership can implement a watershed restoration project that improves air and water quality, improves wildlife habitat and yields two sets of quantifiable environmental service credits, one for reducing nutrients and sediments entering the stream and another for sequestering carbon, the leading cause of global warming.

The partnership planted a diverse mix of native trees and shrubs as a stream or riparian buffer 1,100 feet long and 120 feet wide adjacent to a field of soybeans on property owned by Lancaster General. The project builds on a riparian buffer planted by the Little Conestoga Watershed Alliance last spring immediately upstream of the project site located on the west side of Route 741.

These projects have multiple environmental benefits including improved water quality, air quality and aquatic and terrestrial habitat for fish and wildlife.

The buffer planted Saturday represents a groundbreaking way to fund watershed restoration projects to yield environmental credits. Specifically, the project will yield nutrient and sediment reduction credits in the nutrient-trading program for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed recognized by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

In addition, the buffer will sequester approximately one metric ton per acre of carbon per year for the first 25 years after its installation. The World Resources Institute and Environmental Resources Trust will assist the partnership with the estimation of the nutrient and carbon credits, respectively.

PEC will receive the annual nutrient, sediment and carbon credits for 25 years through a contractual agreement with the property owner, Lancaster General. In turn, PEC will transfer title to those credits for the same period to Exelon Corp., which is paying the project costs. The forested buffer will also be placed under a conservation easement with the Lancaster County Conservancy for the 25-year term.

Video Blog: A Riparian Buffer With Multiple Environmental Benefits features Brian Hill, President & CEO of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Helen Howes, Vice President for Environment, Health and Safety at Exelon, Todd Trout, a teacher from Lancaster Country Day School and a board member of the Little Conestoga Watershed Alliance, Danielle Lukens, a High School Senior at Lancaster Country Day School, Senator Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster), who represents Lancaster and Chester counties, and Dr. Julie Ambler, from Millersville University and a member of the board of the Little Conestoga Watershed Alliance.

Link: Pennsylvania Environmental Council Unveils Climate Roadmap for PA

Video Blog: PEC Unveils Climate Roadmap for PA

Session Schedule

The Senate and House will return to voting session on October 1, 2 and 3 and then will break until October 15.

PA Environment Digest Video Blog

On the Hill

· On the Senate/House Agenda/Bills Introduced

· Senate/House Bills Moving

· Federal BioFuels Mandates Will Eclipse Need for State Mandate Committee Told

· $40-45 Million Needed for Hazardous Sites Cleanup, Senate Requests Audit

· House Committee Sets Meeting on Farm Discharges, PennFuels Initiative

Video Blog

· Clean Up Our American Lands Program Subject of Environmental Issues Forum

Other News

· Rendell Links PA War Deaths to Need for Energy Independence

· Delaware Estuary Celebration Attracts More Than 370

· Fish & Boat Commission Seeking Nominations for Conservation, Recreation Awards

· Caren Glotfelty to Keynote 3 Rivers Wet Weather Conference October 3-4

· Funds To Be Used to Protect the Shenango River from Agricultural Runoff

· New Book: Floodplain Restoration Improves Water Quality, Reduces Flood Damage

· Nominations Wanted for PA Land Trust Association Government Leadership Award

· Conference Celebrates, Perpetuates Pennsylvania Wilds Initiative

· Annual Harvest Tour Features Visit to Ernst Conservation Seeds

· Workshops on How You Can Be Paid to Save Electricity in Periods of Peak Demand

· Request a DOE Targeted Energy Assessment to Save Energy Now

· Families Can Save Money and Conserve Energy With KeystoneHELP

· Volunteers Wanted for Homewood, Squirrel Hill, Point Breeze Fall Cleanup

· Applications Now Available for PA Conservation Corps Grants

· Springside 4th Grader Wins “Green Award” in the Great Green America Program

· Six Luncheon Programs on Using Recycled Glass in Septic Systems Set

· Fish & Boat Commission Announces $1.1 Million in State Wildlife Grants

· Ozone-Causing Emissions Reduced by 60% Since 2000 over Eastern U.S.

· EcoArtFest October 14 at the Abington Art Center

Opinion

· No Child Left Inside By Don Baugh, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Go To: PA Environment Digest Calendar Page

9/28/2007