July 29, 2026

Stretching from Maryland up to New York’s Catskill Mountains, the Kittatinny Ridge plays a critical conservation, recreation, and national defense role in Pennsylvania.

The Ridge’s long, uninterrupted forest cover makes it a globally significant migratory route for birds. In Pennsylvania, it contains more than 160 miles of the Appalachian Trail. And it’s home to Fort Indiantown Gap, the busiest National Guard training center in the country.

“It’s a migratory super-highway for millions of songbirds and raptors,” said Jenn Sliko, program specialist at Audubon Mid-Atlantic. “And not just songbirds and raptors but also amphibians and mammals as well.”

Local, state, and federal partners recently came together at a joint meeting of the Kittatinny Ridge Conservation Landscape and the Kittatinny Ridge Sentinel Landscape. They explored ways to cooperate to protect the Ridge’s many values.

“Protecting the Ridge matters for so many reasons, but for national defense, it’s really about ensuring military readiness,” said Tanya Dierolf, coordinator for the Kittatinny Ridge Sentinel Landscape. “Limiting light pollution is really critical. It ensures that our military is ready for real-world scenarios.”

Our latest Grant Success Story video explores this landscape and how DCNR grants and partnerships are helping conserve this globally significant stretch of Pennsylvania.

The Outdoor Business Alliance of Pennsylvania recently announced a new grant opportunity for Pennsylvania’s outdoor businesses.

It’s called the Trout Tank grant program.

The grants range in size from $500 to $2,500 and can cover a wide variety of business needs.

Applicants selected as finalists will be invited to a virtual pitch session called “Trout Tank”—a PA-inspired, friendlier version of Shark Tank. Awardees will be determined following the pitch session.

Applications are due by 5:00 PM on Friday, August 7.

Congratulations to the Schuylkill River! Earlier this summer, the river earned designation as a National Water Trail by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

It’s the first river in Pennsylvania to receive this designation.

The Schuylkill River Water Trail is a 120-mile paddling route within the Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area, one of Pennsylvania’s 12 designated Heritage Areas.

For those interested in paddling the trail, Schuylkill River Greenways hosts an interactive map of the trail on their website.

Alongside its national designation, the Schuylkill River is also one of Pennsylvania’s 28 state-designated water trails.