Winter 2024
EPA Grant Means New Buffers and Care for Existing Ones
CBF received a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to design and implement 100 forested riparian buffer acres and maintain buffers on agricultural lands in a dozen Pennsylvania counties.
This EPA grant, selected by the state Department of Environmental Protection, amplifies Governor Josh Shapiro's commitment that the Commonwealth is all in, and plans to continue its clean water work to benefit local waters and the Chesapeake Bay for the long haul.
Trees and shrubs planted streamside as forested riparian buffers absorb and filter runoff before it reaches the water. "These investments help continue our decades-long partnerships with farmers in Lancaster County and elsewhere," Kristen Heberlig, CBF Resiliency Program Manager in Pennsylvania added. "The supported projects help landowners create a legacy of healthy soils and resilient farms."
CBF Begins Watershed Plans in Lancaster and Centre Counties
CBF is in the early stages of creating watershed management plans for the Conejohela Flats and Little Fishing Creek areas of Lancaster and Centre Counties. Conservation partners, water quality experts, and local residents will work together to develop and implement pollution reduction strategies like riparian buffers, streambank fencing, cover crops, no-till agriculture, and more.
The Conejohela Flats plan will focus on 10 separate streams feeding directly into the Susquehanna River, draining 17.6 square miles of Lancaster County. "The neat thing about the Conejohela's watersheds, is their diverse mix of urban, suburban, rural, and natural spaces, all connected by the Susquehanna," said Brian Gish, CBF Pennsylvania Senior Watershed Planner. Of the Little Fishing Creek Watershed's 58 miles of streams eight are impaired because of sedimentation.
"Trout Unlimited and others have been doing work on Fishing Creek, so it is a way to connect with efforts happening downstream," CBF Pennsylvania Senior Watershed Planner Caitlin Glagola said.
Admiral Levine Talks Climate Change with CBF
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel Levine, MD, visited with CBF staff in Harrisburg in October to discuss climate change, environmental justice, and to learn more about CBF's work in Pennsylvania.
"People have talked a lot about emissions and carbon credits, but not had a lot of discussions about the health impacts of climate change," Admiral Levine said. "In the end, of course, that is the most important issues. The other is environmental justice issues that are not necessarily related to climate change and more toward pollution and challenges that communities have had because of pollution."
CBF staff briefed Admiral Levine on the value of riparian buffers and the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership that is adding new trees to Pennsylvania. Also highlighted was CBF's work to improve local waters so that they are resilient in the future, advocacy and legislative efforts, and environmental justice concerns.
Admiral Levine served as Pennsylvania's Secretary of Health from 2018 to 2021 under Governor Tom Wolf and has a home near Hershey.
—Julia Krall
Pennsylvania Executive Director
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
