On December 18, the Department of Environmental Protection announced the award of a $1.6 million grant to the Centre County Conservation District to implement stream restoration and riparian buffers at four agricultural sites in Centre County.
This Growing Greener grant will be used to establish 23.4 acres of forest buffers and protect 8,000 linear feet of streambank.
These improvements will reduce pollution into the Susquehanna watershed, eliminating an estimated 418 tons of sediment and more than 13,000 pounds of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution annually.
“Planting trees and other buffers between agricultural fields and waterways is one of the best ways to reduce runoff pollution,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “These practices pay dividends downstream as well, with better water quality and fish habitat.”
One of the largest investments to improve Pennsylvania’s environment, Growing Greener projects have been instrumental in cleaning up abandoned mine lands, preserving farmland, and protecting and restoring watersheds throughout the Commonwealth.
The Growing Greener grant program is supported by the Environmental Stewardship Fund, which receives its funding from landfill tipping fees and a transfer from the Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund.
Resources
For more information on buffers, financial and technical assistance available, visit DCNR’s Forest Buffers webpage.
New DCNR Grant Round
To learn more about grant opportunities to support riparian buffer, trail and recreation projects, visit DCNR’s Community Conservation Grant Program webpage. A new grant round is opening January 22 and will close April 10.
Forest Buffer Summit
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Western PA Conservancy will be hosting a Riparian Forest Buffer Summit on February 20-21 at the Best Western Premier Conference Center, 800 East Park Drive in Harrisburg.
(Photo: example of a new forested buffer from Lancaster County.)
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