The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday announced more than $2.2 million in grants to help fund 19 projects in the Susquehanna River Watershed to improve urban stormwater management.
The grants will fund projects to reduce stormwater runoff through best management practices like stream restoration, rain gardens, and other green infrastructure.
“Reducing stormwater runoff is a key component of improving local water quality,” said Acting DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “These grants help to improve communities and clean up Pennsylvania’s streams and rivers.”
A list of projects awarded funding is available online.
The awards are part of the Local Stormwater Best Management Practice (BMP) Implementation Program, which helps cut down on sediment and nutrient runoff into waterways.
Currently the grants are limited to communities within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Many of the projects have financial matching or in-kind contributions in addition to the grant from DEP.
Projects eligible for funding under the program include (but are not limited to) urban stream restoration, rain gardens, urban tree planting, and green roofs.
For more information, visit DEP’s Local Stormwater Best Management Practice eLibrary webpage.
For more information, visit DEP’s Local Stormwater Best Management Practice eLibrary webpage.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA
Harry Campbell, Executive Director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA issued this statement after the Department of Environmental Protection announced the awarding of $2.2 million in grants to reduce stormwater in the Susquehanna River watershed—
“Stormwater runoff is a significant source of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution that is damaging Pennsylvania rivers and streams. This funding from DEP is a welcome investment in projects that can reduce polluted runoff and improve water quality throughout central Pennsylvania.
“These stormwater grants will be used for stream restoration, rain gardens, tree plantings, and other projects that can reduce polluted runoff and be positive steps toward getting the Commonwealth back on track to meeting its clean water commitments. In addition to reducing pollution, these projects also improve the quality of life in local communities.
“About 19,000 miles of Pennsylvania waterways are polluted and the Commonwealth has a Clean Water Blueprint and a ‘rebooted’ strategy to restore and protect our rivers and streams. But without the commitment of adequate resources, those clean water plans will fail.
“DEP has announced that Pennsylvania will not meet its Blueprint goal of having 60 percent of the pollution-reduction practices necessary to restore its waters in place by 2017. The Commonwealth must do more if it is to reach the second goal of 100 percent in place by 2025.”
For more on Chesapeake Bay-related issues in Pennsylvania, visit the CBF-PA webpage. Click Here to sign up for Pennsylvania updates (bottom of left column). Click Here for a copy of CBF-PA’s most recent newsletter.
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