PA Environment Digest Blog: ClearWater Conservancy Receives $99,000 Grant To Install Forested Riparian Stream Buffers In Centre County; Next DCNR Grant Round Opens Jan. 21

On November 20, the ClearWater Conservancy of Central Pennsylvania announced it has been awarded a $99,700 grant from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to install six acres of riparian forest buffers along waterways in the Susquehanna River Watershed.

The funding will help protect water quality, reduce soil erosion, and enhance wildlife habitats in the region.

Riparian buffers, the transitional area between land and waterways, have important roles in our ecosystem.

By planting these areas with native trees and shrubs, they act as natural filters that trap pollutants from stormwater and agricultural runoff, preventing them from reaching our waterways.

These buffers also provide critical wildlife habitats, stabilize stream banks, improve in-stream fish habitat, and reduce flooding and soil erosion.

The goal of ClearWater’s Riparian Conservation Program is to improve water quality throughout Central Pennsylvania through the program’s four areas of focus: stream assessment, stewardship, restoration, and protection.

The program educates streamside landowners on the role of vegetated buffers, restores streamside buffers with native trees and shrubs, and then stewards the young forests utilizing our volunteer group of Streamside Stewards.

The funding comes from DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2), which supports environmental projects across the state to develop new parks, rehabilitate existing spaces, and protect vital natural habitats.

This grant will directly contribute to ongoing efforts to improve water quality and restore natural ecosystems within the Susquehanna River Watershed.

“We’re so grateful to receive funding from DCNR to continue our work restoring forested riparian buffers in the region,” said Jennifer Dombroskie, Riparian Program Manager at ClearWater Conservancy. “These buffers will not only protect our local waterways but also contribute to the overall health of the entire watershed, benefiting communities, wildlife, and future generations.”

The grant is part of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ broader initiative to promote sustainable environmental practices and improve the health of the Commonwealth’s natural resources.

ClearWater Conservancy’s project is expected to begin in 2025 with landowner outreach and will complete the plantings by 2027.

For more information about natural resource conservation efforts, visit the ClearWater Conservancy website.

Next DCNR Grant Round Opens Jan. 21

DCNR will start accepting the next round of Community Conservation Partnership Grant Program on January 21. The deadline for applications is April 2.

Click Here for a list of related DCNR grants opening.

Click Here for a list of Grant Application Workshops On Demand.

Resource Links:

-- DCNR Announces $79.4 Million In Grants To Support 307 Recreation, Land Conservation, Tree Planting Projects Across Pennsylvania; Next Grant Round Opens Jan. 21 [PaEN]

-- DCNR Grants Update: Grant Application Workshops Available; Conservation Easement Assistance Grants; Other Funding Opportunities

Related Articles This Week - Watersheds:

-- Penn State Center For Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training Seeks Input On Shaping Agenda For ACAP Ag Conservation Con 2025 In April [PaEN]

-- Berks Nature: New Data On The Annual Economic Value Of Nature Documents $853 Million In Savings, $938 Million In Outdoor Recreation Benefits To Citizens of Berks County [PaEN]