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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 local water quality in Pennsylvania’s share of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
For more details on the Phase 3 Watershed Implementation Plan (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. Anyone interested in their county’s Phase 3 WIP County Wide Action plan can sign up to get involved. And help spread the word! Share this newsletter or the subscribe page. — 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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$19.3 Million Awarded in 2024 Countywide Action Plan (CAP) Implementation Grants
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) BWRNSM awarded $19.3 million in 2024 Countywide Action Plan (CAP) Implementation Grants to county teams across Pennsylvania’s share of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. These grants support their efforts in reducing nutrient and sediment pollution to restore the health of local streams, rivers, and lakes.
The 2024 CAP Implementation Grant round brought in applications for 226 projects that will be completed in the next 12 to 18 months, resulting in an estimated reduction of over 170,000 pounds/year of nitrogen, 122,000 pounds/year of phosphorus, and 36.3 million pounds/year of sediment.
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Programs and Projects by Local, State and Federal Partners
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Shapiro Administration Invites Applicants for the 2024 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence
The Shapiro Administration announced an invitation to all Pennsylvanians who have recently worked on a successful environmental project to apply for the 2024 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence, the state’s top environmental honor. Any Pennsylvania business, farm, government agency, educational institution, or nonprofit organization that has developed or participated in a project that promotes environmental protection and stewardship in the Commonwealth may apply.
DEP oversees the award selection process, evaluating projects on eight criteria: commitment to protecting the environment, partnership, environmental education and outreach, economic impact, innovation, climate change, sustainability, and environmental justice. The Governor’s Office will then select the awardees.
Projects must have been completed between October 11, 2022 and October 31, 2023. Applications are submitted online. Find more information on eligibility and the application at the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence. DEP will accept applications through January 3, 2024, at 5:00PM.
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Shapiro Administration Invests $175.7 Million In Water Infrastructure Projects Across the Commonwealth
Governor Josh Shapiro announced the investment of $175.7 million for 25 drinking water and wastewater projects across 16 counties through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST). The projects include replacing lead pipes, rehabilitating aging water pumps, and reducing costs resulting from water loss. The Shapiro Administration is committed to ensuring every community in the Commonwealth has access to clean drinking water, safeguarding public health and advancing environmental justice.
The funding for these projects originates from a combination of state funds approved by voters, Growing Greener, Marcellus Legacy funds, the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, federal grants to PENNVEST from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and recycled loan repayments from previous PENNVEST funding awards. These updates will support Pennsylvania communities as they address backlogged water system needs and help ensure high-quality drinking water for Pennsylvanians.
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Shapiro-Davis Administration Announces Infrastructure Investments Are Making Communities More Resilient, Making Air and Water Cleaner
Lt. Gov. Austin Davis stopped by the Boys & Girls Club of Harrisburg to see how investments by Capital Region Water and the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) will help keep the Susquehanna River clean and ensure the stormwater system can handle severe storms, as climate change makes those storms more frequent.
PENNVEST funding for projects originates from a combination of state funds approved by voters, including but not limited to, Growing Greener and Marcellus Legacy funds, and federal funds under the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, as well as federal grants to PENNVEST from EPA for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund programs and recycled loan repayments from all of these sources as well as previous PENNVEST funding awards.
This Capital Region Water stormwater project is funded through PENNVEST with the federal Clean Water State Revolving Funds as a programmatic financing award. The Boys & Girls Club of Harrisburg project is phase four of the overall stormwater infrastructure project, which is being done to comply with a federal consent decree to reduce combined sewer overflows. PENNVEST provided $13 million in low-interest loan funds to help fund the project, which has a total project cost of $17.5 million.
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DCNR Announces 2,500 Acre Addition to Pinchot State Forest
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced that the agency has added the 2,500-acre Miller Mountain property in Wyoming County, and the property is now included in Pinchot State Forest.
Miller Mountain’s inclusion into Pinchot State Forest marks the first state forestland in Wyoming County. The 2022 addition of 669-acre Vosburg Neck State Park was the first state parkland in the county.
Miller Mountain is located in Endless Mountains Heritage Region and within a half-mile of an Important Bird Area. The land provides critical habitat for migratory birds, black bears, white-tailed deer and bobcats. The mountain is open to the public, however DCNR is establishing the state forest boundary lines and assessing the property for public access and recreational opportunities.
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Federal and State Officials Launch New Training Center for Agricultural Professionals in Pennsylvania
Officials from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) joined representatives of Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission to launch the new Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training (the Center).
Through the Center, this partnership aims to provide resources and technical expertise to Pennsylvania’s conservation professionals to further implement agricultural conservation practices. The Center will also help ensure healthy land and water throughout the Commonwealth by leveraging funding and partnerships.
The Center will specialize in creating and hosting technical trainings, assuring conservation practices meet the highest quality standards, offer continuing education credits to conservation professionals, and further conservation practice implementation in the Commonwealth. In addition to these activities, there will be a newsletter produced titled “Ag Conservation Currents: News That Infiltrates and Transpires.” With communication tools such as the newsletter, the community can be updated on progress and success stories that are being made at the Center. Trainings are not just set to include county conservation districts and NRCS staff; rather the doors are open to a range of private and public professionals offering conservation technical support.
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Shamokin Creek Restoration Alliance and Partnering Groups Receives EPA Grant for Acid Mine Drainage Efforts
Shamokin Creek Restoration Alliance (SCRA) has received a $500,000 grant from EPA as part of the Biden administration’s Investing in America agenda. SCRA applied and received the grant and will partner with FAR Better Together and Shamokin Community Gardens and Pocket Parks. The local award will establish a brick-and-mortar presence in the Shamokin Area and provide a full-time community coordinator position. Area non-profits will be invited to participate in the pooling of resources, volunteers and services.
“This EPA grant will allow the Shamokin Creek Restoration Alliance and its partners to coordinate efforts on acid mine drainage cleanup and other projects from a new storefront where they can also build stronger relationships between community members and organizations that will work together to improve the quality of life in the region,” said U.S. Senator Bob Casey.
The grant is through an EPA program designed to address environmental justice projects across Pennsylvania as part of the Investing in America agenda. The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) program intentionally targeted small, nonprofit organizations that historically struggle to receive federal funding.
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Rapid Stream Delisting Partnership Meeting
In November 8, the Chesapeake Conservancy sponsored a meeting of over 45 conservation partners from across a six-county area in central Pennsylvania to advance the rapid stream delisting program for select sediment-impaired streams. The partners meet regularly to evaluate challenges and opportunities to accelerate the pace of stream restoration in focused geographies and sediment-impaired streams.
The rapid stream delisting strategy aims to delist 30 streams from Pennsylvania’s list of agriculturally impaired waterways by the year 2030. The strategy builds on existing momentum, bringing together dozens of partners to overcome challenges toward improving water quality and wildlife habitat. It is now underway for 56 streams across two regions, with 19 streams in the central PA area (Huntington, Centre, Clinton, Lycoming, Union, and Snyder counties).
DEP’s northcentral and southcentral Watershed Managers participated in the workshop which highlighted the two main challenges the partnership is currently facing: staffing and fundraising. Breakout sessions also explored streamlining paperwork and processes, scaling riparian buffer maintenance, increasing soil health practice adoption, workforce development opportunities, mentoring, and understanding monitoring priorities of partner organizations.
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New GIS Dashboard Incorporates Twenty Years of Land Trust Census Data
WeConservePA GIS Analyst Irina Beal compiled data from twenty years of Pennsylvania Land Trust Census Reports and designed a GIS dashboard for visitors to explore and engage with Pennsylvania land trust successes through the decades.
Next year, 2024, is another biennial census year. Beal will be sending a survey out to capture the last two years of achievements. She created this dashboard to provide transparency in the reporting process and to provide an opportunity for land trusts to send her corrections or additions for their organization. For updates and/or corrections, please email Irina Beal at ibeal@WeConservePA.org.
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Registration is Open! Become an NRCS-Certified Technical Service Provider (TSP) Program
Learn about the USDA-NRCS’s Technical Service Provider (TSP) Program, its benefits, opportunities, private lands financial assistance, and the application process with qualification details at its virtual live webinar on January 24 from 9:00 – 10:00am. Registration is required to attend.
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Chesapeake Healthy Watershed Assessment 2.0 Announced
The Chesapeake Bay Program’s Healthy Watershed Goal Team announced the Chesapeake Healthy Watershed Assessment 2.0 (CHWA 2.0) release. CHWA 2.0 was developed with support from a 2021 EPA funding project to improve, refine and finalize the existing Chesapeake Healthy Watershed Assessment.
The CHWA 2.0 can help Chesapeake Bay Program partners understand the condition of State-Identified Healthy Watersheds based on a standard set of criteria and metrics, assess the condition of all watersheds and their vulnerability to land-use changes, and be used to identify potentially healthy watersheds as targets for protection.
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Chesapeake Bay Program Workgroup Call for At-Large Member Nominations
The following Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) groups are calling for nominations for the workgroup positions listed below. Interested partners may self-nominate if you have interest in being part of the Bay Program workgroups that have impact on our work together. Please contact pickford.jacqueline@epa.gov with any questions.
Agriculture Workgroup: deadline Thursday, Jan 18th, 2024
Vice Chair (1 position), 2-year term
At-Large Members (6 positions), 2-year term
Land Use Workgroup: deadline Thursday, Jan 18th, 2024
Vice Chair or Co-Chair (1 position), 2-4-year term
At-Large Members (3 positions), 2-year term
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Understand Your Tree Canopy
New county fact sheets are now available for all Chesapeake Bay watershed counties sharing tree cover status, benefits (from i-Tree) and change information over the 2013/14 to 2017/18 time periods. Use the map viewer to locate a county’s fact sheet. Municipal fact sheets will be produced in 2024.
Visit the Data Guide for more information on the data sources included in the fact sheets, as well as additional resources. Access to land use/land cover map viewers, GIS datasets, and detailed methods documentation are available from Chesapeake Conservancy.
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The Chesapeake Bay Sees its Smallest Dead Zone in 39 Years
According to calculations from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), the Chesapeake Bay’s 2023 summer dead zone was the smallest since scientists began tracking it in 1985.
The dead zone is an area of low oxygen that forms when the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus wash into the Bay and spike algae growth. After blooming rapidly, the algae die off, which sucks oxygen out of the water and creates hypoxic (low oxygen) conditions that crabs, oysters, striped bass and other organisms can’t survive in.
Since 1985, researchers have been calculating the size of the Bay’s dead zone each summer, when it's at its largest. Both DNR and VIMS rely on routine water quality tests and statistical calculations to determine the size of the summer dead zone, although the agencies take slightly different approaches to calculate the overall size.
This year, DNR and VIMS each reported a historically low measurement: .52 cubic miles for DNR and .58 cubic miles for VIMS. Both calculations are the lowest on record, and well below the long-term average of .97 cubic miles.
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US Fish & Wildlife Service, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Award $7.4 Million In Grants to Restore Chesapeake Bay Watershed Habitats
On November 13, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced 25 grants totaling $7.4 million for projects that support wildlife habitat, climate resilience, community conservation partnerships, and equitable access to nature in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Nearly $1.8 million of the total was awarded to Pennsylvania projects.
This year’s grants will advance the goals of the Chesapeake Watershed Investments in Landscape Defense (Chesapeake WILD) Program and leverage more than $12 million in grantee matching funds, for a total conservation impact of $19.4 million. Funding recipients in Pennsylvania include the American Bird Conservancy, ClearWater Conservancy, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, and Ruffed Grouse Society.
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NFWF Soliciting Proposals for Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction (INSR) Grants Program
TNFWF, in partnership with EPA and the federal-state Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) partnership, is soliciting proposals through the Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction (INSR) Grants program to accelerate the rate and scale of water quality improvements through the voluntary implementation of best management practices in the Chesapeake Bay watershed that cost-effectively reduce nutrient and sediment pollution to local rivers and streams and the Chesapeake Bay.
For 2024, this includes both INSR Partnership Grants supporting the coordinated and collaborative efforts of sustainable, regional-scale partnerships implementing proven water quality improvement practices more cost-effectively, as well as INSR Infrastructure Grants for projects working to implement critical natural and nature-based watershed restoration infrastructure at scale.
All proposals must be submitted no later than February 21, 2024. NFWF will host an optional applicant webinar at 2:00PM on January 8. Interested parties must register for the webinar. For those who cannot participate, a recording of the webinar will be posted to NFWF’s website by Thursday, January 11. NFWF anticipates awarding up to $25 million.
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NFWF Announces Release of 2024 Request for Proposals for Conservation Partners Program
NFWF announced the release of the 2024 Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Conservation Partners Program. NFWF manages the Conservation Partners Program with generous support from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Cargill, General Mills, and The J.M. Smucker Co. and Nestlé. This program not only enhances water quality, soil health, wildlife habitat and carbon sequestration, it also provides important benefits to rural communities.
This year, the program will award up to $12.4 million in grants to projects that emphasize regenerative agriculture practices while providing important economic benefits to agricultural producers and improving ecosystem function. Grant recipients will provide technical assistance to landowners and operators to help them develop management plans; design and implement BMPs; participate in Farm Bill programs; and share their experiences and lessons learned. Grants are geographically targeted to place expert staff where they can both fulfill unmet technical assistance needs and maximize the soil, water and wildlife benefits of Farm Bill conservation programs.
Conservation Partners Program grant proposals are due February 28, 2024, and the full RFP can be found here. An applicant webinar will be held January 11, 2024 (register here).
The Conservation Partners Program provides vital grant funding to support organizations that provide staff and technical assistance to private landowners in order to maximize the benefits of Farm Bill programs on working lands.
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Innovative Finance for National Forests Grant Program Grant Round Open
The US Forest Service and US Endowment for Forestry and Communities are excited to announce the next round of the Innovative Finance for National Forests grant program (IFNF). Applications are due no later than April 22, 2024.
The IFNF grant program supports the development and implementation of innovative finance models that leverage private and public capital other than US Forest Service appropriations to enhance the resilience of the National Forest System and deliver commensurate returns to stakeholders.
The IFNF team is hosting an informational webinar on January 17 at 1:00PM to provide more information on the program and application process. To attend the webinar, please register using this form.
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Watershed Alliance of Adams County Accomplishments
Established in 1999, the Watershed Alliance of Adams County (WAAC) dedicated volunteers monitor, improve and protect water resources and educate Adams County residents. Adams County waters flow through a combined 1,300 miles of streams to the Chesapeake Bay via two major watersheds: the Potomac River and the Susquehanna River watersheds. All streams uniquely originate from headwaters within Adams County. Consequently, as a community, Adams County is uniquely positioned to protect and improve local water resources. WAAC operates in close partnership with the Adams County Conservation District to mutually serve the missions of both organizations.
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Lancaster County Leads State in Stream-Restoration Projects
Lancaster County has become a magnet for stream restorations and accompanying streamside buffers of native plants, trees and shrubs that are clearing up streams. In the last five years, 62 stream-restoration projects have been done throughout the county, totaling nearly 15 miles, according to the Lancaster County Conservation District. And that’s not counting all the tree-planting along stream sides that don’t include in-stream work.
The Lancaster Clean Water Partners and Chesapeake Conservancy used satellite imagery to come up with a novel approach called “rapid delisting.” High-resolution aerial images were used to identify sections of 21 streams around the county where a concentration of stream buffers and on-the-farm conservation practices can dramatically improve water quality in a relatively short period of time. The goal is to have the stream sections removed from the state’s impaired list by 2030.
And the county’s largest stream restoration to date is underway on the Little Conestoga Creek in suburban Lancaster. The Little Conestoga Creek Blue/Green Corridor Project, which will also include a 2.7-mile streamside public trail, is a model of cooperation. It involves 40 landowners, four municipalities and a kickoff grant of more than $1 million from the Steinman Foundation.
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ExtraGive Allows Lancaster County Residents to Directly Help the Clean Water Cause
On November 17, the Lancaster County Community Foundation held its annual ExtraGive event, a 24-hour celebration of giving and support of local causes. The ExtraGive enables Lancaster County residents to collaborate with conservation-minded organizations and contribute directly to clean water projects and make a tangible difference in local waterways.
Within the network of partners, Lancaster Conservancy received $400,873 from 1,268 donors. Funds will be used to find, fund, preserve, and maintain natural lands in Lancaster and York counties. Lancaster Farmland Trust received $82,748 from 410 donors. The fund will go toward permanent protection and stewardship of farmland. Lower Susquehanna Riverkeepers Association received $22,781 from 198 donors. Funds will be used to ensure drinkable, fishable, swimmable water on the Lower Susquehanna River. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation received $22,104 from 176 donors, which will be used for planting trees and inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards through environmental education. The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay received $11,212 from 115 donors. Funds will be used to bring innovative solutions to support farmers, businesses, residents, and municipalities in making tangible changes that heal our local waterways, ecosystems, and communities.
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Snyder County Conservation District Holds Tour
The Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD) held a tour this summer that showcased BMPs installed on farms to prevent nutrient and sediment pollution. The SCCD cooperated with USDA NRCS Middleburg Field Office and other agency staff to offer the tour. Twenty-six participants learned about various conservation programs, including the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). This CREP education and outreach event was funded by a $3,000 CREP Mini grant for Conservation Districts.
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Perry County Dairy Producer Gives Inside Look at Rotational Grazing Operation
In the Center for Dairy Excellence’s latest episode of the “Cow-Side Conversations” podcast, Neil Hertzler of Rock Hollow Dairy LLC in Perry County, shared how his family transitioned their dairy operation to a rotational grazing model years ago.
With the start of winter and many grazing herds moving their cows off the grass, Neil described some of the rewards of a pasture-based model, including strong milk production, herd health and longevity, and lower equipment costs. He also shared some of the challenges, including weather patterns, moving large groups of cattle, heat spells and lameness. Neil described the size and scale of his family’s dairy operation. He farms alongside his wife and four sons as well as his brother-in-law, sister, and a few employees. All together, they farm approximately 600 acres. Half of that acreage is a permanent pasture system.
As a seasonal dairy farm, they average about 240-270 milking cows, and breed for the spring and fall, so they can match when the grasses are growing strong. His father initiated the rotational grazing model when Neil came home from college in 1999.
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Lycoming County Countywide Action Plan Story Map
Lycoming County’s Countywide Action Plan (CAP) was created in 2020 and serves as the framework for the county and its partners in achieving its specific clean water goals. The plan and its priority initiatives, finalized with local stakeholders and shared with DEP in February 2021, aim to accomplish the community objectives while seeking to protect Lycoming County's natural resources for future generations.
Lycoming County has created a story map that provides background of the Phase 3 Watershed Implementation Plan WIP), a summary of Lycoming County’s clean water goals, and highlights of the progress the county has already made towards those goals.
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"These [CAP] grants have proven to be effective in boosting projects restoring Pennsylvania streams, rivers and lakes. Since 2021, we’ve seen teams implement everything from streambank tree plantings to livestock crossing installations. I’m excited to see the ingenuity and progress made by this year’s grant recipients. Their work benefits not only their communities, but our Commonwealth and beyond.”
- Jessica Shirley, DEP Interim Acting Secretary
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Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101
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