Chesapeake Bay Foundation Applauds Gov. Wolf's Support For $737 Million Chesapeake Bay Resilient Farms Initiative; Urges Legislature To Move Water Cleanup Bills

On September 7, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation issued a statement from Pennsylvania Executive Director Shannon Gorit, commending Gov. Tom Wolf for urging U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to implement the $737 million Chesapeake Bay Resilient Farms Initiative (CRFI).  [Read more here]

The CRFI, which CBF also supports, would “support Pennsylvania farmers in taking a stand against climate change by implementing on-farm efforts for more sustainable agriculture practices that reduce nitrogen output, improve water quality, and effectively decrease negative impacts of climate change on agriculture,” according to a press release from Gov. Wolf’s office.

Ms. Gority said:

“Increased investments in agricultural conservation practices in Pennsylvania are good for farm productivity and mitigating climate change by keeping soil and nitrogen on the land instead of running into local waters.

“As the 2025 deadline to achieve the Clean Water Blueprint looms, this initiative is among several  federal and state investment opportunities to get Pennsylvania back on track toward its goals for cleaner local rivers and streams and saving the Bay.

“We urge the Commonwealth to seize opportunities in the proposed Clean Streams Fund (Senate Bill 832), which proposes that $250 million of the $7 billion in American Rescue Plan money Pennsylvania received go into a fund that would establish and support the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP).  [Read more here]

“Senate Bill 465 will create ACAP, essentially an agriculture cost-share program which is an opportunity to fund local farm projects through county conservation districts.  [Read more here]

“Farmers have shown they are willing to invest their time, land, limited funds, and effort to clean and protect local rivers and streams and leave a legacy of healthy soils and clean water. But they need greater investments from state and federal sources if they are to expand and finish the job.

“We appreciate Gov. Wolf’s support. Clean water is essential to our quality of life, health, and economy.”

For more on Chesapeake Bay-related issues in Pennsylvania, visit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA webpage.  Click Here to sign up for Pennsylvania updates (bottom of left column).  Click Here to support their work.

Also visit the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership to learn how you can help clean water grow on trees.

CBF has over 275,000 members in Bay Watershed.

PA Chesapeake Bay Plan

For more information on Pennsylvania’s plan, visit DEP’s Chesapeake Bay Office webpage.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates.

How Clean Is Your Stream?

DEP’s Interactive Report Viewer allows you to zoom in on your own stream or watershed to find out how clean your stream is or if it has impaired water quality using the latest information in the draft 2020 Water Quality Report.

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-- Gov. Wolf: Calls On U.S. Dept. Of Agriculture To Implement $737 Million Chesapeake Bay Resilient Farms Initiative 

-- Chesapeake Bay Commission Proposes $737 Million USDA Clean Water & Climate Resiliency Initiative In Federal Infrastructure Bill For Bay Watershed

-- Bay Journal: Conservation Opportunity - A New Focus On Leased Farmland 

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation: What Does Hurricane Ida Mean For The Chesapeake Bay? 

[Posted: September 7, 2021]  PA Environment Digest