The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation last week awarded 34 grants worth $1.2 million under the Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grant Program, 9 of which were for work in Pennsylvania totaling $680,000.

Typical of the projects was a $110,000 grant to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Pennsylvania office in support of a project that aims to reduce pollution to Pennsylvania’s rivers and streams and the Chesapeake Bay by implementing the combination of two conservation practices: rotational grazing and forested buffers.

CBF estimates that this grant will remove over 227,925 pounds of nitrogen, 11,608 pounds of phosphorus, and 3,348 tons of sediment from local streams and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay.

Forested buffers are highly effective filters that keep pollutants from reaching streams,” said Matthew Ehrhart, Executive Director for CBF’s PA office. “When combined with forested riparian buffers, they offer even more water quality benefits.”

Rotational grazing and forested buffers are both excellent tools for reducing nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollution in streams and the Chesapeake Bay. This grant project will do double duty to entice landowner participation in forested buffer restoration through USDA’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, and also pay for rotational grazing systems components.

Rotational grazing is a livestock management method that focuses on increased reliance on pastures versus cropland for meeting animal needs and production goals. It involves rotating animals from one pasture to another to maximize grass production and prevent overgrazing.

“Helping farmers with financial and technical assistance is the most cost effective means of reducing pollution,” Ehrhart said. “Well managed farmland is much better for our rivers, streams, and the Bay than sprawling development.”

Other grants awarded that include work in Pennsylvania are:

· Upper Potomac Farm Stewardship: The Chesapeake Bay Foundation will work with local landowners in the Upper Potomac watershed to install 28 acres of riparian forest buffers on agricultural land and stabilize 9.5 miles of stream bank. This project will facilitate the enrollment of landowners in existing state and federal conservation programs. $100,000.

· Conservation Capacity Building: Defenders of Wildlife will mentor two land trusts to increase capacity for land preservation of targeted lands in both the tidal coastal plain and non tidal headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This project will help land trusts identify parcels valuable for both water quality protection and wildlife conservation. Defenders of Wildlife will facilitate the collaboration of multiple stakeholders to assist regional land trusts and their local partners identify fundraising and outreach techniques to implement management practices on protected lands. $90,000

· Chesapeake Advanced Biofuels Summit: The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay will convene an advanced biofuels summit to develop a sustainable biofuels strategy for the Chesapeake Bay watershed. $25,000.

· Fishing Creek Stream Restoration: The Clinton County Conservation District will reduce sediment loads and improve aquatic habitat in three sections of Fishing Creek in Clinton County. $70,000.

· Green Lane Farms and Spangler's Mill Dam Removals: RemovalsThe Cumberland Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited will remove two nonfunctional dams from Yellow Breeches Creek in Cumberland and York counties to improve migratory fish passage. This project will open 4.3 miles of stream to fish passage, stabilize 6,642 linear feet of stream bank surrounding the dam removal area and restore 3,321 linear feet of riparian buffer habitat. $50,000.

· Quittapahilla Creek Stormwater Wetland: The Lebanon Valley Conservancy will design and construct a high priority stormwater Best Management Practice in the Quittapahilla Creek watershed to treat nutrient and sediment loads. The project will construct a stormwater wetland that will annually remove an estimated 240 tons of sediment, 2,500 pounds of nitrogen, and 140 pounds of phosphorous while providing valuable wildlife habitat. $60,000.

· Mahoning Creek Habitat Enhancement Project: The Montour Area Recreation Commission will install stream bank stabilization to decrease erosion and sedimentation in Mahoning Creek. The project will install several in-stream fish habitat enhancement structures to improve the aquatic environment of Mahoning Creek. In all, this project will restore 1,600 linear feet of stream, plant 3,200 linear feet of riparian buffers and install educational signage. $35,000

· Upper Susquehanna Community-Led Watershed Management: The Tioga County Soil and Water Conservation District will support targeted Tributary Strategy implementation by using a GIS prioritization system to locate wetland construction projects that maximize nutrient pollutant reduction. This project will engage local communities in the restoration and creation of 70 acres of wetlands and 3,000 linear feet of riparian buffer habitat along Appalachian Creek. The project will also conduct a workshop to identify future wetland restoration opportunities and promote stewardship among landowners. $100,000.

· Centre County Stream Restoration Program: The Wildlife For Everyone Endowment Foundation will obtain engineering services to complete design work for 11 restoration sites in Centre County. This project will help target and coordinate technical and financial resources to high priority projects that will result in the restoration of 2,400 feet of stream bank, 60 acres of riparian buffers, the installation of 20 fish habitat structures and the renovation of 280 acres of pastureland. $150,000.

A complete list of grant recipients is available online.

Vist the Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grant Program webpage for more information.

8/1/2008