Big news! $1,731,835 to five high impact implementation projects in Lancaster!

$1,731,835 to five high impact implementation projects in Lancaster!

The Lancaster Clean Water Fund, administered by the Lancaster County Community Foundation and managed by the Partners, is awarding $1,731,835 to five projects in the most recent grant round (Implementation Large Grant only). Projects include agricultural conservation practice implementation, stream restoration, and wetland restoration. Each project is not only creative and collaborative, but focuses on accomplishing Lancaster’s Countywide Action Plan (CAP).

Congratulations to the following projects!

Amos Herr Park Wetland Restoration within the East Hempfield Township Municipal Complex
Collaborative Water Quality Improvement in the Upper Conestoga River Watershed
Conewago Creek Stream Restoration in Mount Joy Township, managed by Londonderry Township
Eshelman Run streambank stabilization project in Strasburg Borough
Turtle Hill Streambank Restoration Project in West Earl Township

Funding for these projects is from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Countywide Action Plan Implementation grant to Lancaster.

Photo at a tree and shrub planting at 2020 Clean Water Fund Implementation Large Grant site.

Grab your waders and don’t forget your paddle

Lancaster Water Week returns for a sixth year from June 3 – 11, 2022. Join the Conservancy during Water Week for over 20 events as we paddle, stomp, explore, volunteer, and take action as a community to protect our streams and rivers for the future!

Lancaster Water Week celebrates the 1,400 miles of streams and rivers in Lancaster County. These cricks and creeks are the source of our drinking water, drive economic and agricultural growth, and allow us to escape into nature to fish, paddle, and swim. Many of these beautiful streams are polluted, but there is an incredible effort underway to bring them back to health in our lifetime.

EPA states PA WIP falls short

The EPA issued a statement that it finds Pennsylvania’s Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) falls short of mandated pollution reductions. The EPA plans to “step up federal actions” starting immediately. The release acknowledges that Pennsylvania has made “noteworthy progress” and “tremendous effort.” The missing link, though, is creating dependable state funding and programmatic changes to finance the work outlined in the state WIP.

Learn More

Field Trip! Stormwater BMP Tour

Join the Stormwater Action Team on May 4 at 1 p.m. to explore the Penn Township Sustainability Park to learn about riparian buffers, rain gardens, meadows, and solar panels in one place! A tour of the site will be led by Penn Township Public Works Director, Daryl Lefever. He will explain the history of the park and how it has evolved over time, the maintenance needed to grow the riparian buffer and other practices, and lessons learned.

The Ever-Growing "Plate"

Justin Evans, Manager and Zoning Officer of Mount Joy Township, believes people have the power to create change for good in many ways--especially with clean water--despite our “ever-growing plate” of duties and responsibilities. There’s a role for all of us in achieving clean and clear water by 2040! Read Justin’s blog to learn more about his time on the Partners’ Steering Committee thus far and how municipalities are actively engaged in the collective effort for improving local water quality.

Township uses ARPA funds for clean water work

West Donegal Township will complete a 2,000 linear feet stream restoration project on the Conoy Creek. The township had initially searched for grant funding, but once American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding came in it was used for engineering and construction of the entire project. Using ARPA funds for clean water projects can achieve local community goals and improve efficiencies. Reply to this email with your stories so we can share more of Lancaster’s inspirational work.

For more information on the project, contact Charity Burkhart at cburkhart@dmai.com.

NEWS, RESOURCES, AND OPPORTUNITIES

Hublits Wildlife Grant, Allegheny Group Sierra Club
Applications due May 1
Proposals are sought to help protect animal wildlife and wildlife habitat in Pennsylvania. Preference will be given to proposals that work in partnership with Sierra Club and are aligned with the goals of local PA Sierra Club Groups and require a support letter from the local group. If interested in applying, please contact Joni Hauck, Treasurer of Sierra Club - Lancaster Group, at sierraclubevent@gmail.com before applying.

Spotlighting Successful Green Teams, Interfaith Partners of the Chesapeake
May 5 at 7 p.m.
Join Interfaith Partners of the Chesapeake to hear stories from green teams that are taking action to care for Creation. You’ll learn from several congregations that are implementing amazing and healing programs and projects to support watershed stewardship and healing of the earth.

Susquehanna Riverlands Mini-Grants, Lancaster Conservancy
Letter of Intent due May 6 by 5 p.m.
The Susquehanna Riverlands Mini-Grant Program provides targeted funding opportunities in the form of small competitive grants, ranging from $2,500 to $15,000, towards projects that advance the mission of the Susquehanna Riverlands Conservation Landscape.

Project Manager Job Opening, Chesapeake Conservancy
Applications due on May 6
Chesapeake Conservancy, a nonprofit organization based in Annapolis, Maryland is seeking a Project Manager to support their geospatial technologies team, the Conservation Innovation Center. Chesapeake Conservancy’s Conservation Innovation Center (CIC) has become a recognized leader in producing data, analyses, and web applications to advance precision conservation and restoration.

Lower Susquehanna Source Water Partnership Meeting, Susquehanna River Basin Commission
May 19 9-12:30 p.m. // Zoom and in-person option
Register by noon on May 16
Registration is now open for the next Lower Susquehanna Source Water Protection Partnership meeting. Presentation topics include bipartisan infrastructure law with PennVest Executive Director Brion Johnson and how Pennsylvania’s approach to the Bay Phase 3 Watershed Implementation Plan overlaps with source water protection interests and activities with Jill Whitcomb, Chesapeake Bay Office director.

Session Proposals for Chesapeake Watershed Forum, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
June 3 at 11:59 p.m.
Interested in connecting your area of expertise with over 400 restoration and protection practitioners across the watershed? The Alliance is looking for a combination of theme-related sessions that spotlight a case study or introduce new, innovative, and/or hot topics or more in-depth presentations that facilitate discussion and application to activities and organizations at the local level.

MS4orum Save the Date, Stormwater Action Team
June 14 from 8 - 3:30 p.m.
Immerse yourself in valuable stormwater content from stormwater experts and peers! This will be an all-day event that is packed with informational presentations and vendor booths with a stormwater focus. There will be topics appropriate for public works, office staff, and elected officials. Presentations are being picked specifically to help municipalities address MS4 requirements and meet water quality improvement goals. It's a great opportunity to learn and connect.

Sustainable Stormwater BMP Management for Crews Certificate, Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional
June 29 from 9-3 p.m.
Designed for maintenance crews and crew leaders who have not completed the CBLP level 1 training. The training focuses on engagement, interaction, and hands on learning with topics covering managing invasive plants, BMP maintenance tasks, and best plants for BMPs. Scholarships may be awarded. Contact Katie Pinkham at katie@cblp.org with questions.

The Lancaster Clean Water Partners is a countywide, collaborative partnership of diverse partner organizations that come together with a shared vision of clean and clear Lancaster waterways by 2040.

Learn more at www.lancastercleanwaterpartners.com.

Our mailing address is:

Lancaster Clean Water Partners

1383 Arcadia Road

Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17601

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