PA Environment Digest Blog: Western PA Conservancy Announces Award Of 14 BHE GT&S Grants To Watershed Groups In Western PA

On April 25, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and BHE GT&S announced the award of 14 grants, totaling $29,650, to 14 different local environmental organizations in eight counties across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as part of the 2025 Watershed Mini Grant Program.

For years, financial support for the Watershed Mini Grant Program has been provided through the generosity of BHE GT&S and its predecessor companies.

To date, the grant program, now in its 20th year, has awarded a total of $566,609 to 143 organizations between 2005 to 2025.

Since 2005, the grant program has aided the region’s watershed organizations with awards that cover program expenses in three areas: water quality monitoring, watershed restoration, and organizational promotion and outreach.

Grants were recently awarded to the following organizations:

-- Allegheny CleanWays, Allegheny County, $2,500

-- Aultmans Watershed Association for Restoring the Environment, Indiana County, $2,050

-- Barrels by the Bay, Allegheny County, $2,500

-- Centre County Pennsylvania Senior Environmental Corps, Centre County, $3,166

-- ClearWater Conservancy, Centre County, $2,500

-- Conemaugh Valley Conservancy, Cambria County, $750

-- Evergreen Conservancy, Indiana County, $1,600

-- Genesee Headwaters Watershed Association, Potter County, $1,630

-- Sewickley Creek Watershed Association, Westmoreland County, $2,200

-- Sugar Valley Watershed Association, Clinton County, $1,160

-- Turtle Creek Watershed Association, Allegheny County, $3,500

-- Upper Allegheny Watershed Association, Potter County, $1,200

-- Upper Chartiers Creek Watershed Association, Washington County, $1,394

-- Watersheds of South Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, $3,500

Don Houser, director for external affairs for BHE GT&S’ northeast region, says he is pleased to continue the philanthropic efforts that help improve local rivers and streams.

“It’s an absolute privilege to support these organizations as they complete meaningful conservation work in our communities. BHE GT&S has been inspired by the commitment showcased by the mini-grant recipients and congratulates this year’s organizations for their outstanding work and commitment to water quality,” he adds.

Jenifer Christman, vice president of watershed conservation for WPC, says this funding source is vital to local communities. “The Conservancy thanks BHE GT&S for continuing this commitment to provide funding assistance to small, local watershed organizations in our region with projects that directly benefit and improve water quality in their communities,” she says. “Many of these projects, which are making a difference, just wouldn’t happen if not for this funding.”

The Conservancy and BHE GT&S will begin accepting applications for the 2026 Watershed Mini Grant Program in fall 2025.

For more information about the program, visit WPC’s Watershed Mini Grant Program webpage.

Click Here for the WPC announcement.

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