DEP Chesapeake Bay Update: Results Of PA In The Balance Ag Conference; Leadership Change At DEP, State Conservation Commission; Grants Announced; Much More

The latest Chesapeake Bay Program newsletter is now available from DEP and includes articles on a variety of topics

PA In The Balance Ag Conference

On December 12-14, over 100 leaders in agriculture and conservation gathered to collaboratively explore the development of a policy and resource support network to ensure Pennsylvania can fully take advantage of these resources. 

Convened by the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, PA in the Balance 2022 marked the latest in a series of these conferences aimed at providing a forum where motivated leaders in agriculture and the environment work collaboratively to identify new, innovative solutions that can help ensure thriving, productive agriculture while meeting water quality goals for Pennsylvania’s local streams and the Chesapeake Bay. 

After three highly productive days, clear themes and early recommendations emerged that can significantly advance Pennsylvania agriculture as the solution to major environmental challenges and ensure it remains a thriving and growing sector of Pennsylvania’s economy, communities, and quality of life. 

Recommendations include--

-- Streamline the conservation funding delivery system.

-- Invest in workforce development and training to position Pennsylvania as the nation’s career and innovation hub for agricultural and natural resources conservation.

-- Support local partnership and implementation coordination to ensure resources are deployed efficiently and tailored to local needs.

-- Extend the agricultural and conservation partnership network to businesses and corporations.

-- Position Pennsylvania partnerships for climate-smart commodities as centers for innovation and market development.

Click Here for a more comprehensive list of recommendations.

Other Topics

-- Gov. Shapiro nominates Richard Negrin As DEP Secretary, retains Cindy Dunn at DCNR and Russell Redding at Agriculture

-- State Conservation Commission Executive Secretary Karl Brown retires, Doug Wolfgang named to serve

-- Senate Committees hold information session on agriculture and the Chesapeake Bay

-- 2022 Program Progress Report Submitted To EPA

-- Flinchbaugh’s Orchard & Farm In York County Receives Leopold Conservation Award

-- PACD now accepting applications for CREP Mini-Grants

-- Counties Provide Update On Water Quality Plan Implementation

-- EPA releases 2022 PA Animal Agriculture Program Assessment

-- DEP updates 2022 State Water Plan Digital Water Atlas

-- DEP Bureau of Watershed Restoration gets webpage makeover

Click Here to read the entire newsletter.

How Clean Is Your Stream?

Check DEP’s 2022 Water Quality Report to find out how clean streams are near you.

Visit DEP’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed webpage to learn more about cleaning up rivers and streams in Pennsylvania's portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates on Pennsylvania’s progress.

NewsClips:

-- HuntingdonDailyNews: Huntingdon County Stream Restoration To Benefit From Growing Greener Grant

-- Scranton Times: Sweet Arrow Lake To Host Tree Seedling Sale

Related Articles:

-- DCNR: Susquehanna River North Branch Named 2023 Pennsylvania River Of The Year  [PaEN]

-- PA American Water Now Accepting Applications For 2023 Environmental Grants  [PaEN]

-- York Conservation District Hosts March 2 Writing Your Own Manure Management Plan Workshop [PaEN]

[Posted: January 25, 2023]  PA Environment Digest