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Hello partners for water quality!We have much news to share on progress by state, local, and sector partners to improve water quality by reducing nutrient and sediment pollution in Pennsylvania waterways that eventually flow to the Chesapeake Bay.
For more details on Pennsylvania’s Phase 3 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan (Phase 3 WIP) and Countywide Action Planning, visit the Phase 3 WIP website. For a broader educational look at nutrient and sediment pollution in local streams, rivers, and lakes in the watershed, including tips and success stories, visit Healthy Waters, Healthy Communities.
Please consider how you might join in or help support this work. Check out each county’s Phase 3 WIP Countywide Action Plan (CAP) and make connections with your county team. Also, please share this newsletter with your networks and encourage them to subscribe!
— DEP Bureau of Watershed Restoration and Nonpoint Source Management
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DEP Bureau of Watershed Restoration and Nonpoint Source Management (BWRNSM)
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Conservation District and PA Agency Meeting Held in September
On September 14 in Indiana County, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) held its first in-person Conservation District and PA Agency Meeting since 2020. The meeting brought together partners from DEP, the State Conservation Commission (SCC), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and County Conservation Districts (CCDs).
The meeting provided an opportunity for partners to share agency updates, discuss funding opportunities, highlight projects, and explore the importance of entering accurate data. Throughout the meeting, a common theme emerged – the importance of partnering together. It is essential that we continue to work together, share resources, and support our communities to strengthen our conservation efforts across the Commonwealth.
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DEP Staff Presents to Penn State University Environmental Resource Management (ERM) 429 Chesapeake Bay Class
On September 8, Kate Beats, Manager of the Watershed Accountability and Administration Section in DEP’s BWRNSM, presented to the ERM 429 Chesapeake Bay class at Penn State University on the development and implementation of countywide action plans (CAPs) as a core aspect of Pennsylvania’s Phase 3 Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP). The lecture focused on how DEP coordinates and oversees the Phase 3 WIP implementation, how DEP supports local processes and initiatives at the county level, and how the Commonwealth is working on overcoming barriers to clean water implementation through the Clean Water Action Groups. Kate highlighted the importance of the flexible nature of the CAP grant, and the key role that the CAP coordinators play in increasing implementation. Kate was joined by Devyn McPheeters with the Centre County Conservation District, who discussed how the CAP process works from the local perspective.
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Programs and Projects by Local, State, and Federal Partners
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Department of Agriculture Invests $9.1 Million to Preserve 2,565 Acres of Farmland on 34 Farms in 16 Counties
On August 21, the Department of Agriculture announced it is investing more than $9.1 million to purchase development rights for 2,565 acres on 34 farms in 16 counties. The investment will protect prime farmland from future residential or commercial development and help ensure that farm families have the fertile land they need to produce food, fiber, and fuel to feed our economy in the future. The farms being preserved within Pennsylvania’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed are in Adams, Centre, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lycoming, Schuylkill, Tioga, and York counties.
“Pennsylvania leads the nation in farmland preservation because farm families, communities, and the Commonwealth are working together to protect the land that feeds us,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said.
Several of the farms approved for easement purchases build on the Shapiro Administration’s commitment to protecting Pennsylvania’s farmland from future development. Pennsylvania leads the nation in preserved farms. Since 1988, when voters statewide overwhelmingly supported a bond issuance to fund the state’s Farmland Preservation Program, Pennsylvania has protected 6,759 farms and 669,854 acres in 58 counties from future development, investing more than $1.82 billion in state, county, and local funds.
Visit Ag's Farmland Preservation webpage to learn more about this program.
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SCC Board Approves New Executive Secretary
The SCC board recently approved Marty Qually as its new Executive Secretary. Please join them in welcoming Marty to the SCC. He has served as an Adams County Commissioner since 2012. Before becoming a commissioner, he held roles as the county auditor, a small business owner, and the Assistant Director of a Community Action Agency. He has been an important partner within the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership, serving on the Local Government Advisory Committee and recently as chair of the committee. In this role, he shared his expertise in local and community-based communications and messaging and has built strong working relationships with the environmental and conservation network across the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Marty has a very strong local and county-level understanding and has demonstrated success in administration, teambuilding, and working with diverse stakeholder groups.
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NRCS Releases New Soil Health Website
NRCS has created a new Soil Health website. Highlights of the new website include information broken down by land use, and technical information on topics such as cover crops for soil health, soil carbon amendments, and economics. The site also features recorded webinars and trainings. This is a great resource for conservation planners. Be sure to check it out!
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Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC), Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Announce Collaborative Strategy for Statewide Public Fishing and Boating Access
On August 13, the PFBC and DCNR announced a new, collaborative statewide public fishing and boating access strategy. The strategy provides a clear blueprint for state agencies and their partner organizations to follow as they develop, plan, and enhance public access opportunities in their communities. Partners, including heritage areas, watershed organizations, 501(c)3 nonprofit groups, local governments, and water trail managers can use the tools available through this strategy by visiting the Pennsylvania Fishing and Boating Access Strategy page on the PFBC website.
Fishing and boating are extremely popular recreational activities in Pennsylvania, and an increasingly diverse population is looking for nearby access to our waterways. For more information on the PFBC’s Boating Facility Grant Program, visit the PFBC website. More information on DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program is available on the DCNR website.
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Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference
The Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference will take place April 14-16, 2027. The conference is Pennsylvania’s premier networking, training, and inspirational event for staff and volunteers of conservation groups. The 350-400 attendees each year come from land trusts, county and local municipal governments, state agencies, trail groups, watershed associations, and other organizations.
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Chesapeake Bay Journal Highlights Benefits of Dam Removal
A recent article in the Chesapeake Bay Journal highlighted the benefits that dam removals are having on fish habitat and water quality throughout the watershed. The article highlights that the Commonwealth routinely leads the nation in dam removals, with 41 dams removed in 2024 and 2025. The article also features insights from David Dippold, fish passage biologist with PFBC, who noted that dam removal in the Commonwealth is fueled by a "culture of connectivity” among an array of partners. Check out the article for more about the benefits of dam removal.
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DCNR Highlights Grants Supporting Water, Wildlife, and Communities in the Bay Watershed
In a recent LinkedIn post, DCNR highlighted how their grant programs help local governments and nonprofit organizations complete conservation and recreation project that benefit water quality, wildlife habitat, and people in Pennsylvania’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and downstream.
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New Cover Crop & Nutrient Management Support Program Aims to Support Pennsylvania Farmers
A new cover crop & nutrient management support program, announced by The Nature Conservancy, is helping Pennsylvania farmers take the next step with hands-on support, nutrient management planning assistance, and access to innovative technology that can help improve nitrogen management decisions and reduce input costs. A new partnership among The Nature Conservancy, private sector agronomists, Precision Sustainable Agriculture, and the NRCS offers funding and personalized support to help implement cover crops and improve nutrient management.
Eligible Pennsylvania farmers in the project area may receive free technical assistance with cover crop planning, including guidance on seed mixes, seeding rates, and timing based on their goals and cover crop cost-share funding of up to $80 per acre. Additionally, free nutrient management planning services are available to help farmers become eligible for participation in the PlantMap3D cover crop mapping project.
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Shapiro Administration Announces $500,000 in PA Farm Bill Grants for Business Planning to Help Farms Pursue Growth Opportunities
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced in a press release that the PA Agricultural Business Development Center is accepting applications for up to $15,000 in Farm Vitality Planning Grants. The 2026-27 budget includes $500,000 for the PA Farm Bill grant program, which supports strategic business planning to expand, diversify, or transition farms to new owners. The Shapiro Administration secured an eighth year of funding for PA Farm Bill initiatives at $13.8 million in the 2026-27 budget that grows Pennsylvania agriculture through smart investments in economic development, job creation, and innovation.
“Pennsylvania farmers know how to grow crops and raise livestock, but growing a successful business takes planning,” Sec. Redding said. “These grants give farmers access to the expertise they need to make informed decisions about expanding their operations, diversifying income, or preparing the next generation to take the reins. When we invest in planning today, we strengthen family farms, rural communities, and Pennsylvania’s agricultural economy for decades to come.”
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Farm Vitality Grants were created under the historic PA Farm Bill in 2019 and are offered through the Department’s Agricultural Business Development Center, another PA Farm Bill initiative. The grants have funded more than $3.8 million in project planning, and financial and technical expertise to support growth opportunities for 482 Pennsylvania farms. This includes planning to help 171 owners of preserved farms protect the investment the farm family and the public have made to protect their land for development.
For planning resources, financing, and other information to support the future of a farm business, visit the Agricultural Business Development Center. Apply online through the Department of Community and Economic Development’s single electronic application. Full program guidelines are published in the August 8 edition of the PA Bulletin. Applications will be accepted until funds are expended.
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Statewide Waterway Access Grant (SWAG)
Administered by the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR) with funding from PFBC and DCNR, the Statewide Waterway Access Grant (SWAG) mini grant program will provide grants of up to $30,000 for design and engineering, construction, or upgrade and rehabilitation of non-motorized public access projects throughout the Commonwealth. Priority will be given to projects that improve recreational access on waterways as well as those that support and advance POWR’s mission, specifically the facilitation, stewardship, and enjoyment of Pennsylvania’s waterways. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.
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Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Funding
EPA announced $6.5 billion in WIFIA funding available for water systems, with an additional $550 million available to states. Interested entities can apply for this funding through a rolling application process.
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Lawn Conversion and Riparian Buffer Mini-Grant Program for Conservation Districts
PACD is offering conservation districts mini-grants of up to $1,000 to support education and outreach activities that promote the Lawn Conversion and Riparian Buffer Grant Program. Funding is available on a rolling basis until funds are expended, with applications accepted through June 30, 2027.
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Local Watershed Enhancement Grant Opens
The Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) is opening another round of the Stream & Watershed Enhancement Grant program to support local organizations dedicated to the health and wellness of the basin’s waterways. The grant provides funding for community-based environmental and water resource projects or events that improve, restore, or protect our watersheds. In prior years, the Commission awarded more than $300,000 to 68 projects. Awarded projects include an ADA-accessible boat launch, water trail signage, microplastics monitoring, aquatic organism passage, kayak safety training, and many more basin-benefitting initiatives. SRBC anticipates awarding approximately $150,000 in total grant funds this year, with an individual project cap of $5,000.
The application period opened on September 15 and will close on October 30. Watershed groups, county and municipal governments, school districts, and non-profit organizations located/working in the basin are all eligible applicants. Summaries and maps of past awardees can be reviewed on the SRBC website. For this round, projects that have not received a previous award will be prioritized. For full details on the grant, including guidelines, frequently asked questions, and how to apply, visit their website.
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Land Conservancy of Adams County Announces the Preservation of 47.11 acres in Mount Joy Township
The Land Conservancy of Adams County has announced the preservation by Daniel and Melissa Utz of 47.11 acres of property in Mount Joy Township in southern Adams County.
Accidentally stumbling upon this property in 2011, the Utzes contacted the owners and learned the history of the original farmhouse and land. They loved the property’s private location that still allowed for quick access to town. After purchasing the property and moving there, the Utzes forged a personal connection with, and appreciation for, the land. When their tenant mentioned the Land Conservancy preservation program three years ago, they were intrigued. The Utzes moved forward with the preservation easement process. A preservation easement is a legal agreement between a private landowner and a land trust such as the Land Conservancy. It permanently protects the unique resources and conservation values such as the property’s ecological, scenic, wildlife, or agricultural resources.
With this preservation, about 13 wooded acres and 32 acres of cropland will remain unchanged, providing agricultural opportunities and scenic value for generations to come. To those considering preservation, the Utzes say, “Each preservation is a personal decision. Don’t be afraid of the process. The Conservancy is with you every step of the way helping you and your heirs obtain a full understanding of preservation.”
The Utz’s preservation easement was finalized in June 2026 with funding from the NRCS through its Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, the Adams County Parks, Recreation, and Green Space Grant Program, and the Land Conservancy of Adams County’s conservation fund.
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Bear Meadows Farm Preserved in Centre County
As announced by the Centre County Farmland Trust, Jeff Biddle preserved 170 acres in late July when he finalized a conservation easement with the Trust. For seven decades, Biddle has worked and enjoyed watching the seasons change in the fields and woods of his 170-acre Bear Meadows Farm near Tussey Mountain. He loves every part of running his dairy farm from milking cows to talking to his customers as they visit the farm to buy raw milk, eggs, grass-fed beef, and artisan cheese. He loves living up in the woods, seeing the spring flowers in bloom, and watching bears and turkeys. Now, he is free from worries of bulldozers, asphalt, and rooftops taking over his land.
The legally binding easement bans development and is tied to the property deed, so that the land will be preserved and protected no matter who owns it in the future. Biddle, who has thought about preserving the farm for about 30 years, turned down two lucrative offers over the years from interested buyers. One told him he could make a lot of money, and he had such a beautiful property.
“And I said, ‘Yes, I do,’ have a beautiful property,” said Biddle. “And that’s because there’s no houses on it — which is true. I mean, once you build houses and look at rooftops, it’s not beautiful anymore. It’s a nice development.”
Preserving Bear Meadows Farm was possible through a partnership between ClearWater Conservancy, a nationally accredited land trust and large local conservation organization, and the Centre County Farmland Trust, a small, farmland-focused land trust. ClearWater helped secure the conservation easement by assisting with technical and legal work, easement documents, mapping, and fieldwork.
“ClearWater’s partnership with the Centre County Farmland Trust to preserve Bear Meadows Farm not only protects a loved family dairy farm but also advances the Upper Spring Creek Watershed Coldwater Conservation Plan and maintains scenic open space in our growing region,” said Ryan Hamilton, ClearWater Conservancy’s Director of Land Conservation.
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Turning Watershed Planning into Measurable Environmental Results in Upper Big Cove Creek in Fulton County
The Fulton County Conservation District started the next phase of the targeted implementation of best management practices (BMPs) in the upper portions of Big Cove Creek in 2026 by requesting $1.3 million in construction and contractual funds to fund stream restoration and other associated BMPs. The construction funds were requested through two 2026 Growing Greener Plus Grant Program proposals that will go towards implementing shovel ready projects. These projects were designed and permitted with previously awarded Growing Grant funds. The proposed projects will restore 2,200 feet of stream, implement 3.55 acres of riparian forest buffers with livestock exclusion fencing, and reconnect approximately three acres of floodplain.
The third grant applied for in 2026 was a Section 319 proposal warranted by the recent “Upper Big Cove Creek Watershed Implementation Plan” that was approved by the EPA back in 2025. This proposal requests contractual funds for the design and permitting of a stream and floodplain restoration project that will be approximately 3,500 linear feet, restore 3.3 acres of existing wetlands, and install four acres of new forested riparian forest buffers.
Fulton County Conservation District continues to show their investment in the Upper Big Cove Creek Watershed and is working with landowners in ways that have co-benefits that extend beyond water quality improvements. Assistance in these grant endeavors was aided by Fulton County’s Countywide Action Plan Coordinator, Herbert, Rowland, & Grubic, Inc. (HRG) as well as Fulton’s selected consultant in designing/permitting work for these projects, Ecosystem Planning and Restoration (EPR).
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Keeping History Visible in Lancaster County
Michael Mantooth’s work to preserve the history of the Conestoga-Susquehannock community recently received statewide recognition. In summer 2026, Mantooth received a Window Keeper Award from PA Humanities, honoring Pennsylvanians who use history, culture, and storytelling to strengthen their communities. He was one of 30 honorees in the second group recognized this year, and the only recipient from Lancaster County.
As a member of the Conestoga-Susquehannock tribal community and its acting historian, Mantooth researched census records, land documents, church records, and family histories to challenge the long-accepted narrative that the community’s story ended in 1763. His work helps keep that history visible and connects generations to the land and waterways that sustained their ancestors.
That connection carries into his role as Director of Projects for Lancaster Clean Water Partners. For Mantooth, protecting the Conestoga River is also about protecting an important part of his community’s cultural history.
“The Conestoga River is connected not just to our history, but our very survival,” he said.
The Window Keeper Award recognizes Mantooth’s commitment to keeping that story alive. His conservation work adds another chapter: helping protect the river that remains part of it.
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Michael Mantooth sharing historical information.
Photo Credit: LNP
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Small Stream, Big Conservation Impact in Lancaster County
A 1.5-square-mile watershed in Lancaster County is showing what can happen when farmers and conservation organizations work together for the long term. Along an unnamed tributary known as Hammertown Run, seven landowners have created an unbroken forest buffer connecting wooded hillsides to Little Conestoga Creek. The restoration effort began more than 15 years ago, when conservation partners began building relationships with local farmers. Since then, about 2,000 trees have been planted across 13 acres, while livestock fencing, manure and fertilizer management, and soil conservation practices have helped reduce runoff and protect the stream.
The results are beginning to show. The buffer cools the water, stabilizes streambanks, provides wildlife habitat, and helps the stream withstand flooding, drought, pollution, and a changing climate. Stroud Water Research Center scientists are monitoring the stream’s recovery with early signs, including the return of mayflies indicating improving water quality. The story of Hammertown Run demonstrates that meaningful watershed restoration takes time, trust, science, and collaboration. It also shows how protecting even a small headwater stream can contribute to healthier waterways downstream. Read more about this story here.
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Hammertown Run flowing through agricultural land.
Photo Credit: Stroud Water Research Center
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Lancaster County: What Can We Accomplish Together?
What happens when more than 100 organizations come together around a shared vision for clean and clear water? Find out at Lancaster Clean Water Partners’ Fall 2026 Full Partners Meeting on October 22. This twice-yearly gathering is an opportunity for partners from across Lancaster County to connect, share what they are working on, and explore how we can move further, faster by working together. Start the morning with coffee, breakfast bites, and networking at 7:30 a.m., along with an opportunity to explore an entryway display highlighting ongoing clean water efforts in the Chiques Creek watershed. At 8 a.m., the meeting begins with the Common Agenda as a foundation for highlighting collaborative efforts and identifying opportunities to strengthen our collective impact.
From accelerated implementation to collective advocacy and amplified engagement, this is where Lancaster County’s clean water network comes together to turn shared goals into action. If you are a Lancaster Clean Water Partners organization, make plans to join us. Register today and be part of what comes next. The Fall 2026 Full Partners Meeting will be held on October 22 from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Hoffer Farm at Pleasant View Communities in Manheim.
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Photo Credit: Hoffer Farm
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Lebanon County Farm Protected Through Collaboration Among Multiple Partners
136 acres of farmland in the Annville area of East Hanover Township; Lebanon County has been conserved, as announced by The Lebanon Valley Conservancy (TLVC). The announcement, shared by TLVC with WeConservePA, conserves the farm owned by John and Megan Donmoyer. The farm is actively farmed with crops and a dairy operation. The farm is near Fort Indiantown Gap, and within the Kittatinny Ridge Sentinel Landscape. The land around the Kittatinny Ridge is a strategic area of focus for TLVC, serving as a crucial corridor for songbird migration and vital habitat for rare wildlife. The Kittatinny Ridge Sentinel Landscape was established to strengthen military readiness, conserve natural resources, improve agricultural and forestry economies, and increase public access to outdoor recreation.
TLVC land protection director, Courtney Reimann, shared, “This project is significant because it was funded through a partnership with USDA’s NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, and the Army National Guard’s Fort Indiantown Gap Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program. The RCPP grant opportunity allows farmers to preserve and improve their farms, while the REPI program supports military readiness while preserving agriculture, recreation, and natural habitats.”
The Donmoyer family chose the option of the RCPP grant instead of selling their farm to developers. “Developers gave me many offers over the years, but I wanted the farm to stay in the family,” John Donmoyer explained. “TLVC’s role as a land trust was to bring together the pieces of the puzzle to make that work, and on a local level, to ensure the conservation of the farm into the future,” added Reimann.
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Tour Highlights Abandoned Mine Reclamation Efforts Across Luzerne County
On September 2, local, state, private, and nonprofit partners gathered in Luzerne County to tour several projects focused on Abandoned Mine Land (AML) reclamation and watershed restoration. The tour highlighted ongoing efforts to address legacy mining impacts and improve regional water quality. A featured stop was the Luzerne State Game Lands 260 AML Reclamation Project, a collaborative watershed restoration initiative led by the Luzerne Conservation District in partnership with Larson Design Group, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the DEP Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation, and the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation. The project seeks to remediate historic mining impacts on State Game Lands 260 while advancing broader Chesapeake Bay watershed restoration goals.
AML reclamation was identified as a top priority in the Luzerne CAP. Key objectives include stabilizing disturbed mine lands, restoring native habitat, enhancing public safety through the elimination of hazardous mining features, and supporting water quality monitoring to guide future remediation efforts. Funding for the project’s design phase was awarded in 2025 by the DEP Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation following successful coordination among local, state, private, and nonprofit partners. The tour also provided an opportunity for Nathan Houtz, Deputy Secretary for Active and Abandoned Mine Operations, to observe AML and AMD restoration efforts in Luzerne County firsthand and recognize the value of strong partnerships in delivering environmental and community benefits.
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Attendees tour Abandoned Mine Reclamation projects.
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Conservation & Watershed Stewardship at Lewistown Country Club in Mifflin County
Lewistown Country Club (LCC) has become a regional leader in watershed stewardship and habitat restoration within the Juniata River basin. Located on 165 acres along the Juniata River, the property includes two tributaries that offered an opportunity for meaningful ecological improvement. In collaboration with the Mifflin County Conservation District, HRG, Inc., and other partners, LCC developed a Conservation Concept Plan to guide stream restoration, stormwater management, habitat enhancement, water conservation, and environmental education.
A major component of this work is the restoration of two impaired tributaries, completed in 2026, with support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Mifflin County’s Countywide Action Plan funding. The project restored 2,000 feet of stream channel, reconnected floodplains, established nearly four acres of riparian buffer, and implemented extensive native plantings. These improvements reduced erosion, enhanced habitat, increased groundwater recharge, and strengthened watershed resilience.
Since 2017, LCC has also converted approximately 30 acres of turfgrass into native meadows, improving habitat for pollinators and wildlife while reducing fertilizer use, mowing, and irrigation demands. Complementing these efforts, the club secured $1.5 million through SRBC to modernize its irrigation system, significantly improving water efficiency and reducing consumptive use. LCC’s conservation leadership extends to education and outreach, hosting school programs and serving as a visible example of practical watershed stewardship for more than 50,000 annual visitors. Collectively, the club’s efforts demonstrate how private landowners can restore habitat, improve water quality, reduce flooding impacts, and engage communities while strengthening the long-term health of the Juniata River watershed.
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Native meadows at Lewistown Country Club.
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Mifflin County Farm Implements Multiple Conservation Practices
In Mifflin County, farmer JD Spicher worked with Herbert, Rowland, and Grubic to make improvements to his dairy farm. These improvements included consolidating manure storage and upgrading outdated milking facilities, allowing him to improve productivity and lower costs on his farm.
The project involved a farm-wide approach to nutrient management, cover crops, and additional efforts that will improve long-term sustainability and soil health on the property. In addition to what occurs in the fields, all of the facilities on the farm (which included a new manure storage facility, a heavy use area supporting the new milking facility, roof runoff management structures, subsurface draining, and more were designed to function as part of a unit, which assisted in getting the necessary approvals from local, state, and federal levels.
Throughout the project, collaboration between the Mifflin County Conservation District, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, HRG, the farmer, and other project partners helped execute the project. These partnerships led to significant and measurable results for water quality.
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Agricultural conservation practices implemented on Mifflin County farm.
Photo Credit: Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG)
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York County Community Foundation Awards Grant to Launch York County's First Sustainability Coordinator
On August 18, the York County Community Foundation (YCCF) announced in a press release the award of a $400,000 multi-year grant to RegenAll to advance a community-driven vision to strengthen sustainability, resilience, and cross-sector collaboration throughout York County. The three-year investment will support the creation of a full-time Sustainability Coordinator and a part-time Program Manager who will work in York County to connect organizations, facilitate partnerships, and lead community-wide resilience planning. The initiative will serve as a central hub for sustainability efforts while encouraging organizations to collaborate on shared goals. The grant is the culmination of a multi-year community engagement process initiated through YCCF's Sustainable Energy Fund.
Beginning in 2021, community leaders representing business, education, government, nonprofit organizations, and environmental interests participated in workshops and stakeholder interviews to determine the greatest opportunity to advance sustainability in York County. Throughout the process, one recommendation consistently emerged as the community's highest priority: establishing a dedicated Sustainability Coordinator to connect existing efforts and help move collaborative initiatives forward.
"This initiative reflects what can happen when a community comes together around a shared vision. The YCCF Sustainable Energy Fund, established in 1993, has helped more than 130 nonprofits save over $15 million in direct and avoidable energy costs,” said Michele Mummert, Vice President of Grants and Community Engagement at YCCF.
“The committee holds great trust in RegenAll to lead this multi-year collaborative effort that lays the groundwork for a more sustainable and resilient York County," said Mummert.
The new Sustainability Coordinator presents an excellent opportunity to collaboratively connect goals from the county’s Countywide Action Plan (CAP) with climate action goals.
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“The role of land conservation, forest cover, and public engagement easily gets lost in the challenges of nutrient reductions and program agreements. Yet when we look at solutions for our conservation challenges, this work emerges as critical. Conserved forest land, riparian buffers, and green infrastructure play a big role in addressing the bay ecosystem’s resiliency and pollution absorbing capacity. DCNR provides leadership, expertise, and funding toward these efforts.”
Cindy Adams Dunn, Secretary, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, as posted on the department’s LinkedIn page.
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Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101
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