DCNR Announces $2.2 Million Investment In Rivers Conservation & Riparian Forest Buffer Projects
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On November 7, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced the investment of $2.2 million in 27 rivers conservation and riparian forest buffer projects.

The announcement was made in Northampton County where the award of a $150,000 grant will support a dam removal, streambank stabilization, stream restoration and planting streamside forest buffers along Monocacy Creek in Bethlehem City and Bethlehem Township on a section of the creek in the Archibald Johnston Conservation Area.  Click Here for more.

The grants were funded with a variety of state and federal funding sources including, the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund, which includes Key-Community and Key-Land Trust; and the Environmental Stewardship Fund.

The investments announced, by county, include--

Allegheny

-- Economic Development South, Inc., $73,250, Prepare a Master Site Development Plan for the over 700-acre Saw Mill Run stream corridor between the Liberty Tunnels and Route 88 in Pittsburgh City, Allegheny County. Work to include a written, bound report.  Lisa Brown, (412) 884-1400 ext. 104, ESF

-- Riverlife, $85,000, Prepare a vision plan and investment framework for connecting communities to the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio riverfronts in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County. Work to include a written, bound report.  Pete Mendes, (412) 258-6636, ESF

Armstrong, Cambria, Indiana and Westmoreland

-- Allegheny Ridge Corporation, $15,000, Prepare and print updated maps and management plan for the Kiski-Conemaugh Water Trail in Armstrong, Cambria, Indiana, Somerset and Westmoreland counties. Work to include updated maps and a written, bound report.  Laura Hawkins, (724) 858-0463, ESF

Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Fulton, Huntingdon, Potter and Somerset

-- Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, $50,000, Construction of approximately 14 acres of riparian forest buffers along waterways in the Juniata, Potomac, and West Branch Susquehanna River watersheds, Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Fulton, Huntingdon, Potter, and Somerset counties. Work to include landowner outreach and engagement; buffer plantings and post-planting establishment; and other related site improvements. Jennifer Farabaugh, (814) 696-9356, ESF

Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Northampton, Schuylkill and Wayne

-- Wildlands Conservancy, Inc., $50,000, Complete riparian forest buffer related outreach to streamside landowners in the Lehigh River Watershed, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Work to include implementation of an outreach strategy; landowner education; and installation of two riparian forest buffer demonstration sites. Work to include a written summary report. Kate Ebel, (610) 965-4397 ext. 137, ESF

Blair, Centre and Huntingdon

-- ClearWater Conservancy of Central PA, Inc., $71,600, Construction of approximately 8 acres of riparian forest buffers along waterways in the Susquehanna River Watershed, Centre and Huntingdon counties. Work to include landowner outreach and engagement; buffer plantings and post-planting establishment; and other related site improvements. Colleen DeLong, (814) 237-0400, ESF

Bucks

-- Warrington Township, $188,360, Rehabilitation and further development of Lions Pride Park, Warrington Township, Bucks County. Work to include wetland restoration; construction of a boardwalk and observation platform, pedestrian pathways; ADA access, landscaping, project sign and other related site improvements. Barry Luber, (215) 345-9350, Key - Community

Cambria

-- Johnstown City, $225,000, Development of Inclined Plane Riverfront Park in Johnstown City, Cambria County. Work to include construction of a boat launch, fishing pier, pedestrian pathways; ADA access, landscaping, project sign and other related site improvements. Ryan Kieta, (814) 421-5681, Key - Community

Crawford, Erie, Mercer and Venango

-- Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, $25,000, Prepare an update to the River Conservation Plan for the French Creek Watershed in Crawford, Erie, Mercer and Venango counties. Work to include a written, bound report.  Kylie Maland, (814) 776-1114, ESF

Lackawanna, Lehigh, Northampton and Wayne

-- Wildlands Conservancy, Inc., $88,000, Construction of approximately 15 acres of riparian forest buffers along waterways in the Lehigh River Watershed, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Work to include landowner outreach and engagement; buffer plantings and post-planting establishment; and other related site improvements. Kate Ebel, (610) 965-4397 ext. 137, ESF

Lancaster

-- Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Inc., $500,000, Construction of approximately 120 acres of riparian forest buffers along waterways in the Susquehanna River Watershed, Lancaster County. Work to include landowner outreach and engagement; buffer plantings and post-planting establishment; and other related site improvements. Jenna Mitchell, (717) 405-9687, Key Rivers

Lehigh

-- Wildlands Conservancy, Inc., $131,000, Restoration of Jordan Creek at Trexler Nature Preserve, Lowhill Township, Lehigh County. Work to include dam removal; streambank stabilization; installation of in-stream habitat structures and riparian forest buffers; project sign and other related site improvements. 

Kristie Fach, (610) 965-4397 ext. 124, ESF

Mercer

-- Ducks Unlimited Inc., $53,290, Prepare a Wetland Restoration Plan for the 126-acre Celery Swamp wetland in Liberty Township, Mercer County. Work to include a written, bound report.  Jim Feaga, (717) 965-3144, ESF

Monroe

-- Smithfield Township, $91,290, Rehabilitation and further development of Waterfront Wellness Park, Smithfield Township, Monroe County. Work to include construction of recreation pods, fishing pier; relocation of a gazebo; pedestrian pathways; ADA access, landscaping, project sign and other related site improvements. Robert Lovenheim, (570) 223-5082, Key – Community

Northampton

-- Northampton County, $150,000, Restoration of 0.5 miles of Monocacy Creek in Archibald Johnston Conservation Area, Bethlehem City and Bethlehem Township, Northampton County. Work to include dam removal; stream restoration; streambank stabilization; installation of in-stream habitat structures, riparian forest buffers; project sign and other related site improvements.  Bryan Cope, (610) 829-6290, Key - Community

-- Plainfield Township, $100,000, Restoration of 1,000 feet of Little Bushkill Creek and its tributaries, Plainfield Township, Northampton County. Work to include floodplain restoration; streambank stabilization; project sign and other related site improvements.  Tom Petrucci, (610) 759-6944 ext. 102, Key - Community

-- Wildlands Conservancy, Inc., $100,000, Restoration of Oughoughton Creek, Lower Mount Bethel, Upper Mount Bethel, and Washington Townships, Northampton County. Work to include floodplain restoration; streambank stabilization; installation of riparian forest buffers; project sign and other related site improvements.  Kristie Fach, (610) 965-4397 ext. 124, ESF

-- Wildlands Conservancy, Inc., $50,000, Restoration of Upper Bushkill Creek, Bushkill Township, Northampton County. Work to include dam removal; streambank stabilization; installation of fish habitat and riparian forest buffers; project sign and other related site improvements.  Kristie Fach, (610) 965-4397 ext. 124, ESF

Susquehanna

-- Susquehanna Depot Borough, $20,000, Study the feasibility of removing the Oakland Dam on the North Branch Susquehanna River in Susquehanna Depot Borough, Susquehanna County. Work to include a written, bound report.  Lisa Hollingsworth-Segedy, (412) 727-6130, Key - Community

Washington

-- Mon Valley Progress Council, $157,250, Further development of Riverfront Park in Charleroi Borough, Washington County. Work to include rehabilitation of a boat launch and parking area; construction of retaining wall, pedestrian pathways; ADA access, landscaping, project sign and other related site improvements.

Ben Brown, (724) 565-5641, ESF

Next Round Of Applications Due April 22

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is now accepting applications for the next round of Community Conservation Partnership Grants.  The deadline for applications is April 22.

Workshops on how to apply for the grants have been scheduled around the state in November.

Click Here for more information.

Watershed Restoration Grants

These grant programs are now accepting applications for watershed restoration projects--

November 30-- PECO Service Territory Green Region Tree Planting Grants

December 1-- DEP Farm, Small Business Advantage Grants

December 3-- NRCS Regional Farm Conservation Partnership Grants

December 15-- Coldwater Heritage Partnership Watershed Grants

December 20-- DEP Growing Greener Plus Watershed Restoration Grants

December 20-- Western PA Conservancy Dominion Energy Watershed Mini Grants

December 30-- USDA Rural Stormwater, Water Infrastructure Funding

December 31-- OSI Delaware Watershed Protection Fund Transition & Catalyst Grants

January 31-- DEP Pilot Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Proposals

January 31-- Talk To Your State Senator Student Video Contest: Idea - Fund Farm Conservation

April 1-- DEP Chesapeake Bay Farm Conservation Plan Grants

April 22-- DCNR Community Conservation Partnership Grants

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[Posted: November 8, 2019]


11/11/2019

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