Pennsylvania DEP Awards 106 Grants to Protect, Improve Watersheds in 40 Counties

HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Environmental Protection announced today that it will invest more than $18.7 million in watershed protection projects intended to improve watersheds, stormwater runoff, acid mine drainage and educational programs, among other environmental efforts.

"Protecting the waters of the commonwealth is key to DEP's mission," DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said. "Providing these grants is a major component of continued excellence in water quality."

This year, the Growing Greener program, which is funded by the Environmental Stewardship Fund, will award $13,225,594 for 78 projects around the state. Five additional projects, funded by the Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Grant, will receive $1,185,588. Two additional grants, totaling $252,400, are funded by the Acid Mine Drainage Set-aside program.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Program, which was created through the federal Clean Water Act to help reduce water pollution from nonpoint sources, is funding 21 additional projects, which total $4,062,368.

These projects will reduce nonpoint source pollution in watersheds where streams are impaired by implementing agricultural and stormwater best-management practices; developing, repairing or installing passive systems to treat abandoned mine drainage; and supporting the establishment of riparian buffers, among other objectives.

One of the Growing Greener program's goals to invest in projects that protect watersheds from impairment due to nonpoint source pollution or those that will restore damaged waterways. Some examples of priority areas are restoration activities to reduce pollutant load in impaired watersheds for which total maximum daily loads have been developed; projects in priority watersheds that would reduce the source of impairment; and priority activities that lead to water quality restoration and protection.

In this latest grant round, 169 eligible applicants requested about $38.8 million. Applications came from counties, authorities and other municipalities; county conservation districts; councils of governments; watershed organizations that promote local watershed conservation efforts; and other authorized organizations involved in restoring and protecting the environment.

For more information about Growing Greener or to see the complete list of grant recipients, email [email protected]; call 717-705-4500; or visit DEP's website at www.dep.state.pa.us, keyword: Growing Greener.

Media contact: Amanda Witman, 717-787-1323

Editor's note: The 106 organizations that were awarded grants are listed below, alphabetically by county, with the project location and funding amount.

Adams
Adams County Conservation District, Beaverdam Creek Watershed, $31,500

Allegheny
Borough of Jefferson Hills, Peters Creek, $145,500
Etna Borough, Etna Borough green streetscape, $44,500
Peters Creek Watershed Association Inc., Peters Creek Watershed, $15,771
Peters Creek Watershed Association Inc., Sleepy Hollow Run, $11,275

Armstrong
Armstrong Conservation District, agricultural best-management practices, $147,764
Armstrong Conservation District, Carnahan Run, $96,926
Armstrong Conservation District, Redbank Creek, $174,964
Armstrong Conservation District, Watson and Hill Run, $17,000

Bedford
Broad Top Township, Sandy Run, $42,500
Broad Top Township, Six Mile Run, $289,950

Berks
Partnership for the Delaware Estuary Inc., Maiden Creek and Tulpehocken Watersheds, $23,885

Blair
The Trust for Tomorrow, Poplar Run and Frankstown Branch, $272,600

Bradford
Wysox Creek Watershed Association, Bullard Creek, $244,720

Cambria
Cambria County Conservation District, Glendale Lake, $16,580
Cambria County Conservation District, West Branch Susquehanna River, $65,512
Cambria Township, Howell's Run, $134,680
Clearfield Creek Watershed Association, Laurel Run, $535,733

Cameron
Bucktail Watershed Association, Sinnemahoning Creek, $14,485

Centre
Centre County Conservation District, develop manure management plan, $89,250
ClearWater Conservancy of Central Pennsylvania Inc., Halfmoon Creek, $185,000
Penns Valley Conservation Association, Elk Creek, $94,708
Wildlife for Everyone Endowment Foundation, Halfmoon Creek, $60,427

Chester
Brandywine Conservancy Inc., Brandywine and Chesapeake Watersheds, $207,966
Brandywine Valley Association Inc., Little Buck Run, $56,500
Chester County Conservation District, Brandywine Creek, $102,863
Green Valleys Association of Southeastern PA Inc., Valley Creek Watershed, $200,000

Clinton
Susquehanna River Basin Commission, Birch Island Run, $403,437
Susquehanna River Basin Commission, Sandy Run, $148,104

Dauphin
Dauphin County Conservation District, Little Wiconisco Watershed, $210,179

Delaware
Haverford Township, Darby Creek, $46,750
Villanova University, Villanova University stormwater management, $178,000
Villanova University, Villanova University stormwater management, $126,745

Fayette
Mountain Watershed Association Inc., Glade Run Watershed, $32,915
Mountain Watershed Association Inc., Marsolino-Leighty acid mine drainage, $186,888
Mountain Watershed Association Inc., Morgan and Glade Run, $47,943

Greene
Stream Restoration Incorporated, Whiteley Creek, $99,983

Huntingdon
Huntingdon County Conservation District, Hartman Run, $43,000
Huntingdon County Conservation District, Huntingdon County impaired streams, $706,005

Indiana
Blackleggs Creek Watershed Association, Blackleggs Creek, $32,476
Indiana County Conservation District, Plum Creek, $410,272

Lackawanna
Lackawanna County Conservation District, Elm Brook, $126,217

Lancaster
City of Lancaster, Lancaster City green infrastructure, $379,457
Cocalico Creek Watershed Association, Little Cocalico Creek, $30,000
Conservation Foundation of Lancaster County, Chesapeake Bay Watershed, $12,387
Donegal Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Conowingo Creek, $216,200
Save Speedwell, Speedwell Forge Lake, $432,509
Stroud Water Research Center Inc., Lancaster County impaired streams, $369,245

Lawrence
Lawrence County Conservation District, Sugar and Honey Creek Watersheds, $733,245

Lebanon
Jonestown Borough, Jonestown Borough stormwater management, $99,271

Lehigh
Salisbury Township, Salisbury Township stormwater basin, $15,106
Wildlands Conservancy Inc., Little Lehigh Creek Watershed, $331,565

Luzerne
Earth Conservancy, Bliss Bank, $46,750
Luzerne County Conservation District, Luzerne County waterways, $397,778
Pennsylvania Environmental Council Inc., Nanticoke, $11,999
Weatherly Borough, Hazle Creek, $10,500

McKean
McKean County Conservation District, Lillibridge Creek and Rock Run, $280,155

Mifflin
Mifflin County Conservation District, Hungry Run Stream, $151,147

Montgomery
Hatfield Township, Hatfield Township stormwater basin, $41,750
Upper Gwynedd Township, Skippack Creek Watershed, $150,000

Northampton
Bethlehem City, Stefko Boulevard Swale, $203,000

Northumberland
Northumberland County Conservation District, Schwaben Creek and Hallowing Run, $356,000

Perry
Marysville Borough, Marysville Borough stormwater management, $18,100

Potter
Potter County Conservation District, Sinnemahoning and Pine Creek Watersheds, $99,000

Schuylkill
Schuylkill County Conservation District, Good Spring Creek, $151,022
Schuylkill Conservation District, Oak Hill Borehole and West Creek, $129,904
Schuylkill Headwaters Association Inc., Schuylkill River, $69,254

Sullivan
Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Lewis passive treatment system, $96,914 

Susquehanna
Susquehanna County Conservation District, DuBois Creek, $205,000
Susquehanna County Conservation District, Susquehanna River Basin, $122,187

Tioga
Babb Creek Watershed Association Inc., Rock Run, $163,007
Tioga County Conservation District, Wilson Creek, $166,350

Union
Union County Conservation District, Buffalo Creek, $180,404
Union County Conservation District, Union County waterways, $173,140

Venango
South Sandy Creek Watershed Association Inc., Gadsby acid mine drainage, $243,456

Wayne
Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Management District, Lake Wallenpaupack stormwater management, $76,050

Westmoreland
Jacobs Creek Watershed Association, Mt. Pleasant stormwater management, $131,250
Jacobs Creek Watershed Association, Scottdale green streetscape, $436,301
Jacobs Creek Watershed Association, Southmoreland High School stormwater management, $57,000
Sewickley Creek Watershed Association, Andrews Run, $182,782
Stream Restoration Inc., Ninemile Run, $614,909
Westmoreland County Conservation District, Beaver Run, $70,000

Wyoming
Lake Carey Welfare Association, Lake Carey, $111,610
Mehoopany Creek Watershed Association Inc., Rogers Hollow Stream, $152,388

Multiple Counties
Broad Top Township, Six Mile Run, $191,000
Conemaugh Valley Conservancy,Inc., Conemaugh River Basin, $45,000
Conemaugh Valley Conservancy Inc., Kiski Conemaugh River Basin, $78,000
Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, acid mine drainage in eastern Pennsylvania, $125,000
Headwaters Charitable Trust, Clarion River, $104,000
Headwaters Charitable Trust, Smith Run Watershed, $250,000
Keystone College, Keystone College stormwater management, $155,000
League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Citizen Education Fund, municipal education, $100,000
Montour County Conservation District, Chillisquaque Creek, $288,861
North-central Pennsylvania Conservancy, Chesapeake Bay Watershed, $165,630
Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts Inc., Statewide Non-Point Source Education Office, $329,200
Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts Inc., technical assistance for Pennvest projects, $93,000
Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts Inc., technical assistance, $996,640
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, southeast Pennsylvania, $200,000
Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers Inc., watershed education, $60,000
Pennsylvania State University, Lake Erie Watershed, $371,843
Pocono Northeast Resource Conservation and Development Council, Consortium for Scientific Assistance to Watersheds, $500,000
Stream Restoration Inc., passive treatment systems technical support, $88,211
Stream Restoration Inc., passive treatment systems technical assistance, $160,000
Trout Unlimited Inc., acid mine drainage assistance, $160,000
Western PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, acid mine drainage in western Pennsylvania, $125,000
Western PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, quick response program, $100,000  

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection