DEP Chesapeake Bay News Highlights County Water Quality Action Planning Process, Watershed Restoration Projects, Funding Opportunities

The latest DEP Healthy Waters Chesapeake Bay newsletter highlights the county water quality action planning process that is the keystone of Pennsylvania’s efforts to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution in its portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

The new Countywide Action Plans Case Study documents how partners at all levels--  federal, state, local, private, landowners, and nonprofits--  came together to forge a new path to address clean water challenges in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. 

The case study reviews how the strategy empowers county-based teams to lead local water quality improvement efforts, supported by state partners and other partners who provide data, technical assistance, funding, and other resources.

It also identifies lessons learned on how to improve and expand efforts under the revised Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.

Other Highlights

The newsletter also features articles on--

-- PA's Nutrient Credit Trading Program Helps Facilities Meet Permitted Nutrient Cap Loads While Generating Permanent Nutrient Reductions

-- PennVEST's Clean Water Procurement Program Helps the Commonwealth Achieve Nutrient and Sediment Reductions

-- Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds (FPW) Awards Grants for Waterway Restoration

-- National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Solicits Proposals for Small Watershed Grants Program

-- Cocalico Creek Watershed Association Receives Permit for Wetland Restoration Project In Lancaster County

-- Chester County Mushroom Operation Completes Mushroom Waste Storage Project

-- Clearfield County Completes Dairy Farm Heavy Use and Manure Stacking Project

-- Franklin County Completes Licking Creek Floodplain Restoration Work Alongside Shimpstown Road Relocation

-- Lebanon County Completes Three Stream Projects

-- Tioga County Completes Stream Stabilization Project

-- Clean Water Academy Updates Trainings and Adds New Webinars

-- Pasa To Hold Sustainable Agriculture Conference Feb. 5-6 

-- Mike Roth, State Conservation Commission, Discusses Innovation

Click Here to read the entire newsletter.  Click Here to sign up for your own copy.

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.

How Clean Is Your Stream

DEP’s draft 2026 Water Quality Assessment includes a mapping tool that allows you to check on the status of water quality near you.

Click Here to check how clean your stream is.

Related Article This Week: 

-- Guest Essay: Pennsylvania Has Leadership, Momentum, And Legislation For Cleaner Waters At Home And The Chesapeake Bay - By Julia Krall, PA Executive Director, Chesapeake Bay Foundation  [PaEN] 

[Posted: February 2, 2026]  PA Environment Digest