PA Environment Digest Blog: DEP, Partners Celebrate Earth Day At Schuylkill County Stream Restoration Project; Announce Opening On Next Round Of Growing Greener Plus Grants

On April 22, the Department of Environmental Protection announced the opening of the next round of Growing Greener Plus Grants with a field visit to the Swatara Creek Floodplain Restoration site near Pine Grove Borough with the Schuylkill County Conservation District and other local officials.

Click Here for a video from the event.

“Growing Greener is one of the most successful conservation programs in Pennsylvania history, and it is great to see the positive impact that these projects can have for our communities. These grants empower communities to build environmental improvements right where they live - ensuring cleaner water, healthier ecosystems, and more resilient infrastructure,” said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “We’re proud to open the next round of funding on Earth Day to recognize that protecting the environment benefits our communities and the people of Pennsylvania.”

Growing Greener grants can be awarded to watershed groups, local or county government, municipal authorities, county planning commissions, county conservation districts, educational institutions, or non-profit organizations.

To date, Growing Greener Grants have provided almost $420 million in funding to more than 2,800 environmental projects.

DEP also highlighted the partnership with the Schuylkill Conservation District in celebration of Conservation District Week. Conservation districts have sponsored many of the Growing Greener projects across Pennsylvania.

The announcement took place during a site visit to the Swatara Creek Floodplain Restoration Project, within Pine Grove Borough, where DEP Acting Secretary Shirley and Deputy Secretary of the Office of Water Programs Jill Whitcomb viewed the impact of the program firsthand.

This project received almost $1.8 million in Growing Greener funding.

Since 2004, Pine Grove has endured more than 10 major flood events, causing significant harm to both residents and local businesses.

Targeted restoration efforts were implemented to reduce these impacts.

The project restored 20.9 acres of floodplain, created 8.1 acres of wetlands, and stabilized 8,139 linear feet of streambank.

These efforts not only reduced flooding in Pine Grove but also improved water quality in the watershed and contributed to the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

For more information on the Growing Greener Plus Grant Program, application guidance, and to apply, visit DEP’s website, Growing Greener Plus Grants Program.

Click Here for the DEP announcement. Click Here for a video from the event.

How Clean Is Your Stream?

The draft 2024 report has an interactive report viewer that allows you to zoom in to your own address to see if the streams near you are impaired and why.

Click Here to check out your streams. Click Here for a tutorial on using the viewer.

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website. Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; sign up for DEP’s eNotice; Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.