A grant of $500,000 to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) was one of a dozen new grants totaling more than $3.4 million announced this week that will improve water quality and fish and wildlife habitat in parts of Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay watershed and other watersheds.
The grants, announced on Wednesday, are funded by the Section 319 Grant program from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and selected by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The Section 319 Grant program provides funding to projects that address nonpoint source runoff, such as from certain agricultural activities.
The grant to CBF is for designing and implementing 100 new forested riparian buffer acres and maintaining existing buffers on agricultural lands, prioritizing projects in Lancaster, York, Cumberland, Franklin, Adams, Bedford, Centre, Clinton, Lebanon, Lycoming, Mifflin, and Juniata counties.
Trees and shrubs planted streamside as forested riparian buffers absorb and filter runoff before it reaches the water.
Julia Krall, Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) Executive Director for Pennsylvania, said:
“The 12 grants awarded from the EPA and selected by the DEP amplify 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.”
Kristen Heberlig, CBF Resiliency Program Manager in Pennsylvania said:
“The $500,000 grant to CBF strengthens our forested riparian buffer work already underway in critical Lancaster, York, Cumberland, Franklin, Adams, Bedford, and Centre counties. Just as important, it allows us to expand the vital conservation practice of buffers in Clinton, Lebanon, Lycoming, Mifflin and Juniata counties.
“The investments help continue our decades-long partnerships with farmers in Lancaster County and elsewhere. The supported projects help landowners create a legacy of healthy soils and resilient farms.”
