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Hello partners for water quality!
We have much news to share on progress by state, local, and sector partners to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution and improve water quality in Pennsylvania’s share of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
For more details on the Phase 3 Watershed Implementation Plan 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 and make connections with your county team! Also, please share this newsletter with your networks and encourage them to subscribe to our monthly newsletter!
— 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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Shapiro Administration Awards $24 Million in 2025 Countywide Action Plan (CAP) Implementation Grants
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has awarded $24 million to reduce pollution and restore local streams, rivers, and lakes in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. DEP awarded grants through the 2025 Countywide Action Plan (CAP) Implementation Grants to county teams across Pennsylvania’s share of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
“These grants have been used to implement everything from streambank tree plantings to livestock crossing installations. Their work benefits not only their communities, but our Commonwealth and beyond,” said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “It’s projects that counties are putting on the ground that are changing the conversation from ‘talking about fixing the Bay’ to ‘fixing the Bay,’ and I’m excited to see the ingenuity and progress made by this year’s grant recipients.”’
Pennsylvania has made historic progress in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Earlier this year, the Shapiro Administration announced the Chesapeake Bay showed steady overall improvement, earning a C+ grade from the University of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Report Card – the highest grade ever awarded to the overall health of the Bay since the report was created. The Upper Bay, which is fed by the Susquehanna River from Pennsylvania scored one of the highest grades among any area of the Bay – and posted a significant improvement from last year – showing how efforts in agency collaborations, strong partnerships, and sustained investments led to progress throughout the Susquehanna River watershed and beyond.
The 2025 CAP Implementation Grant round brought in applications for 205 projects that will be completed in the next 12 to 18 months, resulting in an estimated reduction of nearly 110,000 pounds/year of nitrogen, 42,150 pounds/year of phosphorus, and 11.8 million pounds/year of sediment.
The 2025 CAP Implementation Grants include $9.6 million from the state Environmental Stewardship Fund and $14.4 million in EPA funding, including $7.1 million in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funds, to support counties’ implementation of their local priority initiatives in their CAPs.
In addition to the funding awarded for implementing projects, DEP also awarded nearly $1.8 million to county teams to support local Clean Water Coordinators who help to strategically implement the CAPs.
Additional EPA funding includes $1.12 million in Local Government Implementation (LGI) funds to be used to implement projects in the Octoraro Watershed in Chester County that will be reported toward the multi-jurisdictional Conowingo Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) as a supplement to funding for Chester County’s CAP.
Along with state and sector efforts, CAPs are a key component of Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay Phase 3 WIP to reduce pollution from local streams and rivers. All 34 counties that were asked to voluntarily develop a CAP continue to actively implement their CAPs.
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Chesapeake Executive Council Announces Plans to Refresh Bay Watershed Agreement and Creates New Agricultural Advisory Committee
Two years ago, the Executive Council directed the Bay Program’s Principals’ Staff Committee to recommend a path forward to the year 2025 that prioritized and outlined the next steps for meeting the goals and outcomes of the Watershed Agreement and prepare recommendations that continued to address new advances in science and restoration while focusing on the future of the Chesapeake Bay Program beyond 2025.
The result is A Critical Path Forward for the Chesapeake Bay Program Beyond 2025, a report developed over the past year-and-a-half by a steering committee consisting of representatives from multiple partnership stakeholders and presented for public feedback in summer 2024. The report outlines two fundamental recommendations for the future of Chesapeake Bay restoration, as well as the partnership.
In response to this report, the Executive Council directed the Principals’ Staff Committee today to revise the existing Watershed Agreement by the end of calendar year 2025 and work to streamline the existing partnership for it to be more inclusive of all communities, more manageable for Chesapeake Bay Program staff and supportive of all partners as they work to achieve their commitments.
“I was proud to join my fellow Governors and council members today to discuss the progress we’re making and renew our commitment to protecting the Chesapeake Bay watershed,” said Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. “Pennsylvania’s portion of the watershed is significantly improving because we’ve brought people together and invested in Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts. This is a great example of what’s possible when we work together—not just across different levels of government here in Pennsylvania—but across state lines and with the federal government as well. My Administration is proud of this progress—and we’re going to continue to work to restore the Chesapeake Bay for years to come.”
To help accelerate progress toward meeting the partnership’s water quality goals, the Executive Council formally signed a directive at today’s meeting, forming a new Agricultural Advisory Committee. As the first new advisory committee created for the Chesapeake Bay Program since the late 1980s, the Agricultural Advisory Committee will advise the Executive Council on strategies and opportunities for the diversity of agricultural operations across the watershed, serving as a voice for producers and industry to the partnership on agricultural production and conservation.
“As we look beyond 2025, Virginia remains fully committed to our Chesapeake Bay efforts and the future of this partnership, but we must see a focus on policies and principles that embrace effective government, accountability and prioritization of funding, and voluntary, incentive-based approaches that work with our farmers, and not against them,” said Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin. ”My Administration has pressed for change and targeted investments, and it is crucial that the path forward takes into account the significant existing programs and work that Bay jurisdictions are already contributing to reach our goals.”
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Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland, Gov. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia and representatives from the Chesapeake Bay watershed jurisdictions, U.S. EPA and Chesapeake Bay Commission at the annual Chesapeake Executive Council Meeting in Annapolis, MD, on Dec. 10, 2024 (Provided by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program).
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DEP Permit Innovations and Progress
To improve the permitting process, DEP’s PAyback Program went into effect in November 2023, assuring a moneyback guarantee for permit applicants if their application is overdue. Since going into effect, DEP announced it has reduced its permit backlog by 75 percent, and it has eliminated the backlog for oil and gas permits.
DEP reviews more than 45,000 permit applications every year, including permits for construction projects, air quality permits for factories, permits for drinking water systems, and permits for oil and gas wells. As of November 15, 2024, DEP eliminated 1,750 applications from this backlog – a 73 percent reduction, while keeping up with new application reviews. In the Office of Oil and Gas Management, staff have reviewed and made decisions on all 115 permit applications received before November 1, 2023.
DEP is also implementing the SPEED Program, which was included in the 2024-2025 Budget signed by Governor Josh Shapiro. The SPEED Program offers increased flexibility, allowing permit applicants to have a DEP-verified and qualified professional conduct the initial review of the application, with DEP making its decision based on the qualified professional’s recommendation. Applicants for eligible permits will agree to pay any review fees incurred by the qualified professional, in addition to permit application fees.
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Lancaster Clean Water Partners Podcast, Clean Water Conversations, Hosts Jill Whitcomb
Clean Water Conversations, a podcast series by Lancaster Clean Water Partners, is a lively series of discussions with leaders, volunteers, and difference-makers in the shared goal of clean and clear waterways by 2040. The hosts, Allyson Gibson and Kenn Bennett, recently invited Jill Whitcomb, Acting Deputy Secretary for DEP’s Office of Water Programs, to participate. The conversation covered Jill’s personal and professional background and leadership development, including her time with the Lancaster County Conservation District prior to her experience with DEP. Jill shared reflections on how the collaborative network of clean water partners in Pennsylvania has gotten to a point of demonstrated success in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and her thoughts on what is to come next.
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Jill Whitcomb, Acting Deputy Secretary of Water Programs at DEP, seated across from Lancaster Clean Water Partners podcast hosts, Allyson Gibson and Kenn Bennett.
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College Internship Opportunities with DEP’s Bureau of Watershed Restoration and Nonpoint Source Management
DEP’s Bureau of Watershed Restoration and Nonprofit Source Management recently made available a 2025 summer internship posting within The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Restoration Division and a 2025 summer internship posting within the Nonpoint Source Management Division. These opportunities afford students valuable public sector experience learning about environmental protection initiatives. Both internships are within DEP’s Central Office and paid at $17.00 per hour with the opportunity for part-time telework. Postings for both positions close on February 14, 2025.
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New Introduction to Wetland Determination Training Launched
DEP’s Bureau of Waterways Engineering and Wetlands developed a comprehensive training, Introduction to Wetland Determination – 2024, for all staff and the public. The training features six courses on wetland determinations, and was completed in collaboration with the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) and the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS). The training will be expanded over the next two years to eventually be a complete resource on wetland determinations in Pennsylvania.
The training gives participants a basic understanding of how to properly recognize wetlands; at the conclusion, they will be able to identify and evaluate the three components that make up a wetland: hydrology, hydrophytic vegetation, and hydric soil. It was designed specifically to meet DEP’s regulatory programs; it is not a substitute for field experience and is meant to be foundational educational information and provide relevant training for DEP and the public.
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Programs and Projects by Local, State, and Federal Partners
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Shapiro Administration Invests $79 Million to Expand Recreation, Community Revitalization Efforts Across Pennsylvania
On November 12, 2024, the Shapiro Administration announced $79.4 million in grants for 307 projects across Pennsylvania aimed at expanding recreational opportunities, conserving natural spaces, and revitalizing communities. These grants will support a wide range of projects, including improving local parks, expanding trails and river access points, and creating more green space in local communities. Statewide, the investments will facilitate the development of 25 new local parks, the rehabilitation of 85 existing parks, the protection of over 6,800 acres for recreation and habitat preservation, and $10 million to support trails, including nine projects aimed at addressing critical trail gaps. These grants are part of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (DCNR) Community Conservation Partnerships Program, which supports projects to develop new parks, rehabilitate existing spaces, and protect vital natural habitats. Funding is being provided for projects in 57 of 67 Pennsylvania counties in this round and is provided by the Keystone Fund, Environmental Stewardship Fund, and federal sources.
An award to the Pennsylvania Urban and Community Forestry Council for $400,000 to support its bare root tree program for communities across the Commonwealth was highlighted. Several other notable projects located in the Chesapeake Bay watershed include:
- City of Harrisburg, Dauphin County, $218,000 for development of Swatara State Park including walkways and a rain garden
- Johnstown Redevelopment Authority, Cambria County, $300,000 for a feasibility study for possible modifications to the Johnstown flood protection walls
- Fairview Township, York County, $448,900 to help acquire about 92 acres for a new county park.
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Shapiro Administration Launches New One-Stop Grant Search Tool
On October 30, 2024, the Shapiro Administration launched a new resource that makes it easier for residents, businesses, non-profits, schools, and local governments to find and apply to grant programs from state agencies. The tool was developed by the Commonwealth Office of Digital Experience (CODE).
The new discovery tool allows users to search for, sort, and filter information about grants based on the type of applicant (business, individual, non-profit, public agency, school, etc.), category, application deadline, location, and other criteria. The search results provide links to each program, including information on who the funding is intended for, the application process, key dates and deadlines, eligibility criteria, and where to apply. Prior to the introduction of this tool, information about more than 300 grant programs offered through state agencies was scattered across numerous agency websites, making it difficult for potential applicants to know what programs were available, whether they qualified, and how and when to apply.
The next phase of CODE PA’s work will focus on improvements to the existing Electronic Single Application (ESA), a shared platform that manages the application and administration processes for grants by multiple state agencies. The changes to ESA will improve accessibility and provide information in additional languages, ensuring that all Pennsylvanians can take advantage of these programs. CODE PA will also work to overcome technical challenges identified by grant participants and help to streamline the management of grant programs for Commonwealth employees.
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USGS Releases “Susquehanna River Story – What Does the Science Say About Water Quality?”
The US Geological Survey’s (USGS) Pennsylvania Water Science Center released a new video entitled, “Susquehanna River Story – What Does the Science Say About Water Quality?” This 22-minute YouTube video provides a unique synthesis of the story of nutrient water quality in the Susquehanna watershed. With few exceptions, trends in stream nutrient loads at long-term monitoring sites have been improving, but a considerable percent of the short-term monitoring sites show degrading trends. Resource managers have varying control over the intricate blend of factors that affect nutrient delivery to the river such as physical factors (geology, climate, and hydrology), source inputs (atmospheric and land use) and legacy storage of nutrients (dams and groundwater) that remain a challenge toward meeting water quality goals.
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Freshwater Mussel Partnership Informs and Directs Conservation Efforts
Since December 2023, the Freshwater Mussel (FWM) Partnership steering committee has met to discuss mussel conservation and restoration priorities, technical resource sharing, nutrient and sediment load reduction crediting in the Chesapeake Bay Partnership framework, education and outreach, and access to funding. The steering committee is made up of biologists, program managers, and researchers from various states within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. As part of the committee’s education and outreach efforts, they invited members of the Watershed Alliance of York (WAY) to their August 2024 meeting to discuss collaboration between WAY and the FWM Partnership.
Mussels are known for their ability to act as “living filters” within water systems, but accounting for how they reduce pollutant loads can be complex. They are known filter feeders, and they can have a demonstrable effect on water clarity, but their metabolic activities, shells, burrowing, etc. may all affect nutrient loads in various ways. Because York County has a network of fixed water quality monitoring stations in place and is among Pennsylvania’s largest contributors of nutrient and sediment loads to the Bay, it is uniquely positioned to explore the relationship between freshwater mussels and water quality. In 2023 and 2024, WAY hired biologists to conduct FWM surveys of streams in the county as part of York County’s efforts to expand practices and projects that reduce nutrient and sediment nonpoint source pollution to meet clean water targets for healthy local, regional and Chesapeake Bay waterway goals.
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York County Planning Commission map showing 2023 freshwater mussel surveying efforts (Note: this map does not reflect York County's 2024 surveying efforts).
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Historic Farm to Become Gateway for Susquehanna National Heritage Area
In September 2024, local, state, federal, and historic preservation officials attended a groundbreaking to celebrate the release of a concept plan to repurpose a 160-year old bank barn into the Susquehanna Discovery Center, a world-class visitor center for the recreational, natural, cultural, and historic resources in the Susquehanna National Heritage Area. The heritage area was created by Congress in 2017 to tell the stories of the region and attract visitors from afar.
The Susquehanna Discovery Center will house heritage exhibits, program space, a vista of the property — possibly from one of its silos — a gift shop, cafe, and offices. A separate on-site museum will display 300 years of art, books, maps, and illustrations of the Susquehanna River. The 87-acre farm and homestead located near the Susquehanna River were protected from future development and figured prominently in both the Underground Railroad and in a Civil War skirmish.
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The historic Mifflin House and farm along the Susquehanna River in York County, PA, will be repurposed into a visitor gateway and headquarters for the Susquehanna National Heritage Area (Provided by Susquehanna National Heritage Area).
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ClearWater Conservancy Celebrates $2 Million Federal Grant for Conservation Center
On October 23, 2024, ClearWater Conservancy announced receipt of a $2 million grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission’s Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) initiative. The funding is a critical piece in constructing the ClearWater Community Conservation Center, aimed at fostering environmental stewardship and boosting ecotourism in Centre County.
The new center will be adjacent to a historic farmhouse and reminiscent of the barn with elements reflecting its history, alongside the development of an ADA-compliant trail that will connect the center to Spring Creek, one of the primary focus areas of ClearWater’s work since its founding in 1980. These improvements are part of ClearWater’s broader mission to restore and conserve local landscapes and water resources, which are increasingly critical as the local economy shifts toward tourism and agriculture.
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Rendering of the ClearWater Community Conservation Center (Provided by ClearWater Conservancy).
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Lancaster Farmland Trust Celebrates 600th Preserved Farm
In October 2024, Lancaster Farmland Trust celebrated the preservation of their 600th farm – the King Farm, an 83-acre dairy operation located in Leacock Township. The farm was first founded in the early 1800s, and the Kings have resided there for multiple generations. Mr. King decided to preserve his land for the future generations of his family, as his son hopes to continue farming on the property. The family cares for cows, draft horses, mules, and chickens on the farmstead, as well as grows support crops for their operation. Located only a mile and a half from Kitchen Kettle Village, the preservation of this farm guarantees visitors the gorgeous farm views they hope to see in Lancaster County.
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An aerial view of the King Farm (Provided by Lancaster Farmland Trust).
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Lancaster Conservancy Announces Additions to Lancaster County Nature Preserves
On October 30, 2024, Lancaster Conservancy announced a new 0.2-acre addition to the Pequea Nature Preserve and a 9.9-acre addition to the Steinman Run Nature Preserve. The Pequea Nature Preserve tract is small but completes the existing preserve’s holding along Pequea Boulevard and contributes to the existing forest habitat. The 9.9-acre addition to Steinman Run Nature Preserve includes forestland that has been almost untouched for more than 100 years. This Natural Heritage Area includes a hilly, forested tributary to Pequea Creek and contains impressive rock outcrops, small wetlands, and several significant blocks of interior forest. As part of the Pequea Watershed Region of Lancaster County, this project promotes the preservation and conservation priorities of the Lancaster County Places 2040 plan, including protecting Lancaster’s high-quality waterways through buffer forests.
On November 12, 2024, Lancaster Conservancy also announced a new 19-acre addition to the Shaw Family Nature Preserve in Mount Joy Township. The wooded Otto and Berta Florschutz tract being added to the preserve provides a buffer to the supporting landscape for the Conewago Creek that has critical habitat for fish, reptiles, and amphibians. Because of its location and terrain, this property would have had a high chance of being developed, but now it will remain natural forever. Its acreage adds significant woodland to the Shaw Family Nature Preserve, which is largely agricultural land.
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Northcentral PA Conservancy Marks Continuing Progress on Warrior Run Streambank Stabilization Project
The Northcentral PA Conservancy, a member of the Northcentral Stream Partnership, recently highlighted ongoing work on a Warrior Run streambank stabilization project on the property of Warrior Run High School in Turbotville, Northumberland County. Work occurred close to the school’s cross-country track where the stream was exhibiting steep, eroding streambanks. The project was funded through a DEP Growing Greener grant, and the phased project will continue through next year. The team graded the streambank to allow the stream to access the floodplain and installed rock and log structures to redirect flow toward the center of the channel and to protect the integrity of the streambanks. As part of the ongoing work, Northcentral PA Conservancy recently posted a view of grass coming through at the site of their work on this project to educate the public about how seeding and mulching is important to the long-term success of the project. This step provides immediate soil cover, helping to reduce erosion and keeping nutrients where they belong.
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A series of photos showing eroding steep banks (left), excavation around the floodplain and installation of log and rock structures (center) and regrowth of vegetation at the floodplain along with a functioning cross vane and streambank stabilization features (right) (Provided by the Northcentral Stream Partnership and the Northcentral PA Conservancy).
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Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s PA Riparian Forest Buffer Project Plants 1,000th Acre of Forest Buffer
On October 28, 2024, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s PA Riparian Forest Buffer Project planted its 1,000th acre. This work started in the spring of 2018 with grant funding from DCNR, as the Alliance sought to offer flexible, comprehensive reforestation support that would help fill gaps in existing programs. Fourteen planting seasons later, the project is still going strong, thanks to many more grants from DCNR, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), the US Forest Service, and others.
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Regional Conservation Partnership Program 2024 Awards for Pennsylvania Projects
On October 25, 2024, the US Department of Agriculture’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) awards were announced. Two Pennsylvania projects were funded for a total of over $40 million:
- $21 million was awarded to a PA Department of Agriculture (PDA) and Land o’ Lakes farmer cooperative proposal. The project will address emissions of greenhouse gases contributing to climate change and water quality degradation on more than 50 farms across Pennsylvania.
- Nearly $20 million was awarded to the National Hemp Association to implement conservation measures on up to 5,000 acres per year to prevent water quality degradation in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
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Natural Lands and ClearWater Conservancy Announce Preservation of 667 Acres in Huntingdon County
On November 25, 2024, Natural Lands and ClearWater Conservancy announced the preservation of the 667-acre Ridge Farm in Jackson and Miller Townships, Huntingdon County. The property is now under a conservation easement with Natural Lands. Ridge Farm is 90 percent wooded with mature conifers and hardwood trees.
The dense forest provides essential habitat for songbirds and other wildlife and helps to filter rainwater before it flows into the more than 7,000 feet of Standing Stone Creek that, along with Geiser Run tributary, meanders through the property. Classified by DEP as a high-quality, cold-water stream, the creek is part of the Juniata River Watershed, which provides recreation and clean drinking water to millions of people.
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A view of the Ridge Farm property (Provided by Bill Amos).
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ClearWater Conservancy Receives $99,000 Grant to Install Forested Riparian Stream Buffers in Centre County
The ClearWater Conservancy of Central Pennsylvania announced they were awarded a $99,700 grant in November 2024 from DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2). Funding will be used to install six acres of riparian forest buffers along waterways in the Susquehanna River watershed. This will help protect water quality, reduce soil erosion, and enhance wildlife habitats in the region. The project is expected to begin in 2025 with landowner outreach and will be complete by 2027.
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Master Watershed Steward Training Information for Dauphin, Lancaster, and Lebanon Counties
Penn State Extension is offering a free virtual information session about the Spring 2025 Master Watershed Steward training program. The webinar is being offered on January 9, 2025. The Master Watershed Steward Program is one of Penn State Extension’s fastest-growing and impact-making volunteer programs. These volunteers educate both adults and children about water quality, wildlife habitats, and the environment through development of educational materials, clean-ups and invasive plant removal projects, demonstration gardens, stream monitoring projects, newsletter articles, etc.
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Penn State Extension Posts Video, “Novel Stream Restoration Method for Wild Trout and Ecosystem Health”
Penn State Extension recently posted the video, “Novel Stream Restoration Method for Wild Trout and Ecosystem Health,” in collaboration with Luke Bobnar of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC). In the video, WPC staff describe and show how they actively replenish dead wood in forest stream systems. The woody structure helps to catch fine sediment as well as leaves and sticks moving through the stream creating a food source for macroinvertebrates, which in turn serve as a food source for wild trout. The team carefully selects and places the woody structures with consideration to spacing and tree canopy using this restoration technique.
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Trout can benefit from the habitat and food source provided by this stream restoration technique (Provided by Penn State Extension).
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Choose Clean Water Conference Seeks Proposals
The Choose Clean Water Coalition announced that they are seeking presentation proposals for their upcoming Choose Clean Water Conference. The conference will be held from May 19-21, 2025 in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The group is seeking applications for 45-minute sessions, 90-minute workshops, and 20-minute lightning rounds. Applications are especially encouraged from organizations, businesses, or people participating in projects in historically underserved communities and/or representing cultural, racial, and other kinds of diversity. The application deadline is January 10, 2025.
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Conservation District Jobs Promoted at Career Fairs
The Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training (CACAT) promoted conservation district jobs at three ag science and engineering career fairs this fall. The Center interacted with over 80 students across multiple disciplines and developed a contact list of students interested in receiving notice of open positions. Students overwhelmingly expressed interest in internships and job shadowing opportunities, especially as they explore career paths before graduation. Conservation district jobs posted on the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) jobs webpage or sent to cacat@psu.edu will be shared with students in relevant fields of study and included in their new Job Postings article.
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CACAT staff at Ag Science Career Day (Provided by Brad Kunsman).
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PENNVEST’S Clean Water Procurement Program Accepting Applications
PENNVEST is soliciting requests for proposals in the third round of their multi-award, competitive sealed Clean Water Procurement Program. The deadline to submit is March 5, 2025. The long term objective of the PENNVEST Clean Water Procurement Program is to improve water quality in the Commonwealth through the purchase of verified nutrient (nitrogen/phosphorus) or sediment reduction resulting from the installation of practices or combinations of practices determined to be effective and practical to manage nutrient and sediment to protect surface water and groundwater, as further defined under Act 54, with the goal of helping the Commonwealth to achieve the most current total maximum daily load limits for nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment as established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
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Ag Plan Reimbursement Program
PACD was awarded a $1,000,000 grant from the State Conservation Commission (SCC) to offer an Ag Plan Reimbursement Program for conservation districts. Applications are accepted in an ongoing, first come, first served basis with a deadline of June 30, 2026 or until all funds are spent.
Plans eligible for reimbursement include:
- New or updated Manure Management Plans
- New or updated Agricultural Erosion and Sediment Control Plans (Ag E&S Plans)
- New or updated Act 38 Nutrient Management Plans or NRCS 590 plans
- New or updated Conservation Plans
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Grant Funding Available to Improve Watersheds in York and Lancaster Counties
On November 22, 2024, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) announced opening of the York and Lancaster Counties Habitat Improvement Grant. To be eligible, projects must be in York or Lancaster counties and be a habitat improvement or a sediment reduction project. Projects may include stream improvement, agricultural best management practices, and small dam removal projects. Applications are due January 24, 2025, with an award announcement expected in May 2025.
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2025 Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program Open
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC)—in cooperation with U.S. EPA, USDA Forest Service (USFS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), USDA NRCS Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production, FedEx and Southern Company—are pleased to solicit applications for the 2025 Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration program.
This program will award approximately $2.5 million in grants nationwide, with awards ranging from $30,000 to $60,000. The program seeks to develop community capacity to sustain local natural resources for future generations by providing modest financial assistance to diverse local partnerships focused on improving water quality, watersheds and the species and habitats they support. Projects include a variety of ecological improvements along with targeted community outreach, education and stewardship. Projects should increase access to the benefits of nature, reduce the impact of environmental hazards and engage local communities, particularly underserved communities, in project planning, outreach and implementation. Applications are due January 30, 2025.
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Mini-Grants Available for CREP Outreach Activities
PACD is accepting applications on a rolling basis for its CREP Mini-Grant Program 2023-2025, which can provide up to $3,000 to implement educational and outreach activities to support and extend the work of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). Projects should focus on CREP enrollment, re-enrollment, and/or CREP maintenance. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until funds are expended, and the deadline for final reports is May 2, 2025.
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Restoration Research Award Program Open
The Chesapeake Bay Trust, along with several partner organizations, announced a Request for Proposals for the Restoration Research award program. The goal of this research program is to answer several key restoration questions that are a barrier to watershed restoration project implementation. Funding partners hope that answering these questions will ultimately lead to increased confidence in proposed restoration project outcomes, clarification of the optimal site conditions in which to apply particular restoration techniques, how to bolster practice adoption using social science, information useful to regulatory agencies in project permitting, and information that will help guide monitoring programs. This program supports the Pooled Monitoring Initiative which is designed to connect key stormwater and stream restoration questions posed by the regulatory and practitioner communities with researchers. This program also supports research for pollutants of emerging concern, social science, “trade-offs” and more. The deadline to apply is January 23, 2025.
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Bedford County CAP Targets Streambanks in an Impaired Watershed
The Yellow Creek watershed in Bedford County is a trout-fishing mecca with a catch-and-release, fly-fishing-only special regulations section, but the creek and most of its larger tributaries are impaired for aquatic life due to siltation and/or nutrient loading from agricultural sources. Since the 19990s, groups like Fort Bedford Trout Unlimited (FBTU) and neighboring chapters have undertaken small projects to improve fish habitat and stabilize streambanks. USDA NRCS has worked in this watershed as well, assisting farmers with manure storages, heavy use areas, and watering systems while the Bedford County Conservation District promoted conservation tillage and cover crops.
Adding to the incremental progress made in the watershed, the county’s participation in the CAP process has enabled funding for various streambank and habitat improvement projects. During 2022, FBTU completed a stream bank restoration/habitat improvement project on a 1,240 feet section of Beaver Creek, a tributary of Yellow Creek which is impaired by agricultural nutrients and siltation. This work is estimated to reduce sediment by 8.34 tons/year. In 2023, the Western PA Conservancy (WPC) used CAP funding to complete a project on the main stem of Yellow Creek at the Brown farm that installed best management practices (BMPs) on a 1,421 feet section and reduced sediment by 118 tons/year. The Brown farm stream work was followed up by a four-acre riparian buffer planting on the same reach.
In 2024, three stream bank stabilization projects were completed in the Yellow Creek watershed using CAP implementation funding. Two of these were constructed on Potter Creek, by FBTU and WPC, in partnership with the PFBC. These projects installed modified mudsills, log-framed deflectors, and log grade controls. Their combined sediment reduction was estimated at 66 tons/year. The third project was installed along the main stem of Yellow Creek on the Snyder farm near Loysburg, PA. This project was managed by WPC with design and construction by the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife at Penn West University-California, PA. The Snyder project encompassed 4,062 feet of stream bank with 10 mudsills, 14 single vanes (either rock or log), 7 rock cross vanes, 6 log cross vanes, 34 random boulder clusters, 112 feet of brush mattress, 55 feet of bank grading, 265 feet of two-tiered rock wall, and 169 feet of rock toe. This is estimated to reduce sediment by 158 tons/year. The cost for the project was $281,791. Construction was completed on September 30, 2024, with a riparian planting of approximately 185 trees and 50 shrubs on about 1.5 acres.
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Yellow Creek Snyder Project streambank stabilization and fish habitat improvement work featuring a modified mudsill under construction (left), a rock cross vane (center), and a log cross vane (right) (Provided by WPC).
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Chester County Conservation District and Agricultural Cooperators Spend a Day on the Bay
One of the goals in the Chesco Chesapeake Communities Action Plan is general ag-focused education and outreach. To achieve that goal, Chester County Conservation District (CCCD) reached out to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) to see if they had a program that would be appropriate and engaging for some agricultural cooperators who farm in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
On August 7, 2024, seven CCCD staff, the CCCD intern, Chairman of the CCCD Board of Directors, and three agricultural cooperators took a trip down to Rock Hall, MD for a day on the Chesapeake Bay, generously hosted by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF). The group was introduced to Adam Snyder of Horizonview Farms upon arrival, one of the agricultural operators of the 464 acres of CBF’s Harry C. Green Wildlife Preserve. Adam led a walking tour of the farm, discussing cover cropping on their soybean fields. The group also toured Orchard Point Oyster Company, an aquaculture business that runs part of their operation out of the preserve.
After the farming tours, the group departed on a CBF boat to explore Browns Cove on Greys Inn Creek and ventured out into the Chester River. There they measured salinity, dissolved oxygen, and temperature at the surface and at different depths. They also pulled a trawl net to see what was living in the conditions they measured. The PA farmer participants filled the trip with insightful questions, great stories, and enthusiasm for learning.
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CBF’s Captain Bart Jaeger explains conservation practices to the group with a natural wetland buffer in the background (left), and CCCD staff prepare tanks to temporarily house trawl net specimens (right) (Provided by CCCD).
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Franklin County Conservation District Holds Conservation Excellence Tour for Legislators
The Franklin County Conservation District (FCCD) recently held a tour for local legislators to showcase key projects and conservation efforts. The tour included a warehouse facility, a large solar farm, a floodplain restoration site, and a farming operation with newly constructed improvements. In 2023, Franklin County was the recipient of over $3 million in grant funding for stream restoration work and ag-related improvements for area farmers. Legislators were granted an in-person glimpse of the efforts FCCD staff has put forth in maximizing the recent substantial increases in funding.
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Chad Reichard, PA Representative Paul Schemel, Alan Gift, and PA Senator Doug Mastriano pose at the Gift farm during a recent tour of projects completed by the FCCD (Provided by FCCD).
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Juniata County Conservation District Holds BMP Tour
On November 8, 2024, the Juniata County Conservation District (JCCD) held an Agriculture BMP Tour. The event highlighted projects completed through the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program. Participants of the event learned about the impact of nonpoint source pollution, how it relates to agriculture, and the partnerships that made these projects possible. Partners include the SCC, JCCD, NRCS, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, and CACAT. Participants visited three farms within Juniata County that utilized ACAP funding to minimize the impact of nonpoint source pollution.
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Participants touring ACAP projects that reduce nonpoint source pollution (Provided by JCCD).
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Lebanon County Water Quality Sampling Within the Quittapahilla Creek Watershed
In 2018, the Quittapahilla Watershed Association began developing a systematic water quality monitoring program involving weekly sampling at several sites within the watershed. While it takes many years of data collection before trends can be identified or conclusions made, the water sampling has helped members of the group deepen their understanding about stream health.
The 22-mile-long Quittapahilla Creek runs through Lebanon and Annville-Cleona before meandering through agricultural lands and finally joining the Swatara Creek near Palmyra. DEP lists streambank destabilization, urban runoff, and pathogens in the stretch near the headwaters as impairment sources impacting aquatic life, according to DEP’s Integrated Water Quality Report – 2024. Pathogens, urban and agricultural runoff, and storm sewers are cited as sources of impairment for aquatic life and recreation in the section south of Cleona.
Of particular concern for water quality are levels of phosphorous and nitrogen. Too much of both can lead to excessive plant growth, which leads to depletion of oxygen in the water, harming aquatic life. Sources of those nutrients include runoff of fertilizer from agricultural fields and residential areas as well as manure.
Monitoring teams collect information on temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and specific conductivity as well as stream depth, channel width, and stream flow. They also collect samples, which are analyzed for metals, sediment concentrations, phosphorus, and nitrogen. Other groups are also contributing to monitoring Lebanon County’s waterways. The Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center conducts quarterly testing of the Conewago Creek with several partners at more than two dozen sites throughout the Conewago watershed. Members of the Swatara Creek Watershed Association also do water quality monitoring on a monthly basis. In addition, both USGS and DEP have gauges on several Lebanon County streams that continuously record water quality data.
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Members of the Doc Fritchey chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Quittapahilla Watershed Association measure the stream depth of Snitz Creek (left) and Katie Hollen, watershed specialist with the Lebanon County Conservation District, and Howard “Willie” Bixler, member of Doc Fritchey chapter of Trout Unlimited, filter sediment out of a sample of creek water to be sent to the lab (right) (Provided by Margaret Hopkins).
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Master Watershed Stewards Naturalize Stormwater Basin in York County
This fall, Master Watershed Stewards in York County set forth to retrofit a stormwater basin, an engineered structure designed to capture stormwater from nearby development, to make it function more naturally. They worked together to design and develop a native planting plan. The basin was formerly turfgrass, which did little to improve water quality. The team replaced the turfgrass with a more diverse mix of native plants, including flowering perennials, grasses, sedges, and rushes. The native plants are aesthetically pleasing and will help filter pollutants, improve infiltration, provide wildlife habitat, resist drought and pests, and will not require frequent mowing.
The team of Master Watershed Stewards and North York Rotarians planted and watered over 2,500 native plant plugs within the basin. The project is located along the York County Heritage Rail Trail along Codorus Creek and educational signage will help educate park visitors about stormwater and the benefits of naturalizing stormwater basins.
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Volunteers plant and water plugs to naturalize a stormwater basin (Provided by Jodi Sulpizio).
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“Pennsylvania's portion of the [Chesapeake Bay] watershed is significantly improving because we’ve brought people together and invested in Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts. This is a great example of what’s possible when we work together—not just across different levels of government here in Pennsylvania—but across state lines and with the federal government as well. My Administration is proud of this progress—and we’re going to continue to work to restore the Chesapeake Bay for years to come."
- Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania
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Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101
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