Pennsylvania
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
Assessment of Northern Snakehead Feeding in the Delaware River Estuary (NJ, PA)
Assess the feeding impacts of Northern Snakehead on alosines and species of management concern in the Delaware River Estuary through site surveys by boat electrofishing. Project will guide future management and predict potential impacts for species of management concern such as striped bass, American eel, American shad and herring species.
$75,046
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
Delaware River Restoration Fund Project Impact Assessments – II
Deploy novel, high-resolution modeling techniques to quantify the positive impact of DRWI-associated restoration projects. Project will develop and implement a series of Application Program Interfaces that enable DRWI grantees to run geospatial queries on project areas and model annual pollutant load reductions of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment reduced.
$212,751
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
Delaware River Restoration Fund Project Impact Assessments for Phase 2 (NJ, PA)
Conduct preliminary selection and design of monitoring plans for a subset of restoration projects funded under the Delaware River Restoration Fund. Project assessments will include monitoring water chemistry, habitat, macroinvertebrates, fish and algae at these sites as they inform its success in improving stream ecosystems.
$280,956
Allegheny County Parks Foundation
North Park Riparian Buffer Restoration and Streambank Rehabilitation (PA)
Restore 2.1 acres of riparian buffer and 2,000 linear feet of streambank of North Fork Pine Creek in Allegheny County to mitigate stormwater impacts and improve soil health, water and air quality while providing food and habitat for wildlife. Project will stabilize eroded stream bank, remove invasive species and plant native species of trees, shrubs and meadow mix while providing monitoring and engagement opportunities.
$49,751
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
Leveraging New Corporate Clean Water Partnerships in Lancaster and Lebanon Counties (PA)
Engage corporate partners to install agricultural best management practices on farms within Lancaster and Lebanon counties, Pennsylvania. Project will support dairy farmers in reducing nutrient and sediment pollution from their work.
$500,000
American Bird Conservancy
Restoring Dynamic Forest Structure for Priority Birds in the Delaware River Watershed (PA) - V
Develop and implement a comprehensive forest management strategy targeting long-term availability of diverse forest age classes and structural complexity benefiting the entire reproductive cycle of golden-winged warbler, cerulean warbler and wood thrush. Project will draft comprehensive plans for three new Dynamic Forest Restoration Blocks and will continue to implement previously planned management and avian-response monitoring activities.
$749,999
American Rivers
Paper Mill Dam Removal and Restoration (PA)
Remove the Paper Mill Dam and restore the adjacent riparian corridor in Reading, Pennsylvania. Project will restore river flows and natural processes in Cacoosing Creek, benefit local fisheries, improve recreation, eliminate outdated infrastructure, remove a public safety hazard and restore native riparian vegetation.
$154,314
American Rivers
Assessing Opportunities for Mill Creek Riparian, Floodplain and Stream Restoration (PA)
Identify viable opportunities for riparian and floodplain restoration and dam removal in Mill Creek in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Project will look at the causes of impairment and sources of sedimentation to identify how dam removal and floodplain restoration work could align with current stormwater management practices in order to holistically restore watersheds and reduce sediment pollution to the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers and streams.
$49,955
Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania
Habitat Restoration and Enhancement for Pollinators in Pennsylvania
Support monarch butterflies and other pollinators in Pennsylvania by planting flowering trees and shrubs, cultivating milkweed seedlings, conducting invasive species control, adjusting mowing practices and monitoring bumble bees. Project will restore 145 acres, improve 130 acres, propagate 6,800 seedlings and reach 1,000 people on private agricultural lands and public nature reserves.
$91,703
Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania
Restoring and Improving Rights-of-Way for Pollinators (PA)
Restore and improve over 150 acres of rights-of-way in Pennsylvania to provide habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators by implementing invasive species control, planting native species and monitoring bumble bees. Project will restore 95 acres, improve 56 acres and propagate 4,400 milkweed seedlings.
$99,280
Blair County Conservation District
Connecting Urban and Agricultural Sectors for Accelerated Water Quality Improvements (PA)
Install stream restoration projects, riparian buffers and green infrastructure through municipality partnerships, and partner with farmers to stabilize farm lanes and in-field erosion/scouring sites and host workshops to encourage the adoption of these practices. Project will accelerate water quality improvements by networking with existing and new partners to install sound water quality improvements in Blair County - the Beaverdam, Frankstown and Little Juniata watersheds.
$664,428
Bradford County Conservation District
Bradford County Accelerated Watershed Implementation Plan Development – II (PA)
Accelerate planning of Bradford County’s Watershed Implementation Plan in the areas of stream rehabilitation, agricultural management, stream crossing replacement and forestry. Project will create designs for stream rehabilitation and crossings, comprehensive nutrient management, riparian buffer installation and reforestation.
$49,995
Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art
Hoffman’s Mill Dam Removal (PA)
Improve aquatic habitat and restore free-flowing waters across the full width of Brandywine Creek. Project will build upon dam removal efforts downstream in the State of Delaware and contribute to efforts to restore migratory shad to the Brandywine after a 200-year absence.
$151,723
Brandywine Red Clay Alliance
Developing a Watershed Restoration Plan for the Red Clay Creek Watershed (PA)
Develop a watershed restoration plan for the Lower West Branch Red Clay Creek Watershed. Project will address impairments to the stream and riparian habitats to improve water quality and restore aquatic and riparian buffer habitats, acting as a road map to prioritize and aggregate best management practices including floodplain reconnections, stream restoration projects and stormwater management retrofits.
$78,502
Canaan Valley Institute
Coordinating Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture Strategies and Goals (multiple states)
Continue the activities of the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture in the historic range of the species. Project will refine the strategic objectives and key conservation priorities of the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture using the results of the recently completed status assessment of wild brook trout at the catchment scale.
$74,999
Conservation Foundation of Lancaster County
Lancaster Clean Water Partners Collaborating and Scaling Up Stormwater Management (PA)
Coordinate stormwater management projects in priority catchments where Lancaster County’s agriculture and stormwater land uses intersect in unique ways. Project will accelerate efforts to implement the Countywide Action Plan, advancing conservation education, sustaining outreach, delisting up to half-mile segments of stream in priority catchments and extending the impact of the Lancaster Clean Water Partners’ collaborative effort.
$969,326
Cumberland County Commissioners
Clean Water Cumberland Scaling Up Implementation in Cumberland County (PA)
Provide infrastructure to bundle contracting of agricultural best management practices across several priority farms. Project will formalize and enhance capacity of Clean Water Cumberland and create impactful improvements to water quality in Cumberland County and downstream.
$500,000
Delaware River Basin Commission
Water Management Studies to Inform Basin-wide Resource Planning (DE, NJ, NY, PA)
Advance research in water management through completion of three studies focusing on water quality, contaminants of emerging concern and future water availability. Project will address future water supply projects, wastewater assimilative capacity, evaluation of pass-by flows, conservation releases, consumptive use mitigation triggers, freshwater flow needs to address sea-level rise and potential flow targets.
$499,126
Ducks Unlimited
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge Henderson Marsh Restoration (PA)
Restore the hydrology of 150 acres of tidal marsh habitat in the Henderson Marsh at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge. Project will improve marsh function to reduce flooding in local underserved communities, enhance and expand recreational opportunities for kayaking and fishing and increase public access for environmental education of diverse audiences.
$750,000
Franklin County Conservation District
Developing a Watershed Action Plan for Franklin County (PA)
Develop a Priority Watershed Action Plan for Franklin County to determine sources of nutrients and sediment in seven subwatersheds in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Project will identify best management practices for implementation to assist with the pollution reduction targets and water quality improvement goals identified in Franklin’s Countywide Action Plan.
$50,000
Glenolden Borough
Improving Wildlife and Aquatic Habitat in Glenolden Community Park (PA)
Stabilize 550 linear feet of streambank, establish a riparian buffer and redirect flows to a wetland in Glenolden Community Park, Philadelphia. Project will become a feature of the park that provides valuable water quality and habitat improvements in the area and is made possible through a robust partnership between the Borough and eight other municipalities as well as several nonprofit organizations and county agencies.
$175,000
John Bartram Association
A Riverfront Classroom on the Schuylkill: Community Engagement in Southwest Philadelphia (PA)
Construct a new watershed education facility to complement the forthcoming freshwater mussel hatchery at Bartram’s Garden with the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Project will provide unparalleled hands-on opportunities for public and K–12 watershed education, focusing on community access and youth-driven, collaborative stewardship.
$250,000
Lititz Borough
Designing a Stormwater Treatment Plan in Lititz Borough (PA)
Design a stormwater treatment plan for the Lititz Borough Regional Stormwater Facility to assist in managing existing stormwater runoff. Project will determine the best method for achieving large stormwater treatment, volume control and water quality benefits in the project area and in the catchment.
$20,000
Lititz Run Watershed Alliance
Designing Floodplain Restoration in Santo Domingo Creek (PA)
Conduct site assessments and design for a floodplain restoration project along 2,500 feet of the Santo Domingo Creek within the Lititz Run priority subwatershed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Project will include a geomorphic site assessment, detailed topographic survey and evaluation of bank erosion rates, culminating in a design including a report and detailed design drawings.
$50,000
Manheim Township
Restoring Priority Stream in Manheim Township (PA)
Restore and improve the overall stream health and function of local and regional bodies of water in Manheim Township. Project will restore the degraded stream channel along approximately 1,507 linear feet of an unnamed tributary to the Conestoga River, 1,172 linear feet of Landis Run and 1,567 linear feet of Bachman Run; providing pollutant load reductions of approximately 190,560 pounds of sediment, 217 pounds of nitrogen and 100 pounds of phosphorus annually.
$457,500
National Audubon Society
Avian Monitoring and Evaluation for the Sustain our Great Lakes Program (multiple states)
Assist in monitoring NFWF’s impact on migratory shorebirds, waterfowl and marsh-nesting birds for NFWF’s Sustain our Great Lakes Program.
$484,097
National Audubon Society
The Philadelphia Pollinator Project: Working at the Intersection of Community and Conservation (PA)
Improve urban habitat conditions for year-round and migratory pollinators and birds, improve access to and condition of open spaces for underserved Philadelphia neighborhoods, and support monitoring and data collection efforts in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Project will create a framework for a community-led pollinator habitat network in Philadelphia, deepening community engagement, sparking community action through volunteerism and creating employment opportunities for local youth.
$460,809
National Audubon Society
Improving Forest Management to Benefit Birds in Upper Allegheny and Sinnemahoning Watersheds (NY, PA)
Scale up previous efforts in the Sinnemahoning and Upper Allegheny watersheds of Pennsylvania and New York to implement strategies that improve habitat in large forest blocks. Project will educate 1,500 landowners about forest management, connect Audubon-trained foresters with 20 of those landowners, provide financial assistance to loggers doing cost-prohibitive harvests and restore 500 acres of young and mature forest habitat for golden-winged warbler, cerulean warbler and wood thrush.
$197,389
National Wild Turkey Federation
Expanding Pollinator Habitat for Monarch Butterflies and Pollinators at Letterkenny Army Depot (PA)
Increase the quantity and quality of habitat for frosted elfin, regal fritillary and other pollinators at Letterkenny Army Depot in Pennsylvania through mechanical forestry cutting, prescribed burning, herbicide application, disking and planting diverse seed mixes. Project will restore 201 acres from forest to grassland and enhance 1,632 acres.
$99,999
Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
Developing Propagation and Rearing Methods for Freshwater Mussels in the Lower Delaware River Basin (DE, PA)
Develop propagation and rearing methods for three rare species of freshwater mussels that inhabit the tidal freshwater zone of the Delaware River Basin. Project will address a key bottleneck in the restoration and damage mitigation for these species and will also contribute to immediate and future water quality goals as progeny produced by the study will be planted into pilot living shoreline projects where they can deliver ecosystem services.
$164,002
Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
Evaluating Outcomes of Coastal Salt Marsh Intervention Efforts (DE, NJ, PA)
Develop the Marsh Futures Ecological Mapper system to provide landscape-level evaluation of changes to key salt marsh ecosystem services of proposed habitat-specific restoration efforts. Project will fill a vital evaluation gap in protecting coastal marshes by providing a mechanism to understand how specific intervention efforts can either support or diminish landscape-level ecosystem services of salt marshes with applicability across the Atlantic Coast.
$300,000
Pasa Sustainable Agriculture
Creating a Regenerative Organic Dairy Industry (PA)
Integrate dairy farms to an education and peer-to-peer learning network, coordinate regenerative farm business plan processes for dairy farms to regenerate soil and set the farm on a sustainable and profitable pathway, certify dairy farms in the Regenerative Organic Certified standard. Project will work with project partners TeamAg and the Origin Milk Company to pioneer a model of 100% grass-fed dairy that grows soil health, improves water quality and sustains family farms.
$997,350
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Creating Healthy Watersheds through Partnerships and Implementation in Flourishing Landscapes (PA)
Accelerate implementation pace of watershed forestry best management practices like riparian forest buffer, urban forest planting and conservation landscaping implementation through partner-funded outreach, large contract plantings, investments in professional development and creation of experiential learning labs. Project will galvanize Pennsylvania’s existing riparian forest buffer and lawn conversion partnerships to elevate their ability to outreach and implement.
$1,000,000
Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust
Farmstead Park Green Stormwater Infrastructure – I (PA)
Improve green stormwater infrastructure and restore habitat at Farmstead Park, transforming a little-used and inaccessible park space into a showcase for several types of green stormwater infrastructure that are appropriate to the unique soils, hydrology and riparian conditions of the area. Project will utilize a cost-effective and targeted approach to improve water quality, flood resilience and enable utilization of the park while also serving to connect the community to the waterway.
$345,917
Regional Science Consortium
Controlling Invasive Species to Enhance Wetland Habitat at Presque Isle State Park (PA)
Restore and enhance 400 acres of wetland habitat at Presque Isle State Park through invasive species control, plant propagation, seed bank collections and wildlife monitoring. Project will include: 1) the re-treatment and expanded treatment of invasives; 2) propagation and installation of head-started native plants; 3) plant success assessment, 4) seed bank development and 5) the monitoring of plants, macroinvertebrates, freshwater mussels, fish, amphibians, bats and bird populations.
$784,645
Ruffed Grouse Society
Increasing Technical Assistance to Implement Management Plans that Improve Habitat on Private Forestland (PA)
Expand the availability of funding, technical support and coordination capacity for existing forest management plans to overcome barriers to sustainable forest management on public and private lands in the Laurel Highlands and Pennsylvania Wilds landscapes in Pennsylvania. Project will restore 484 acres of young forest habitat to benefit golden-winged warbler and monitor 500 acres using autonomous recording units and point counts to document species response to best management practices.
$200,000
Salisbury Township
Restoring Floodplain by Addressing Legacy Sediment in Pequea Creek (PA)
Restore floodplain along approximately 1,427 linear feet of an unnamed tributary to Pequea Creek in Salisbury Township, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Project will provide water quality benefits, flood reduction, native habitat creation and enhancements and additional ecosystem services to the Pequea Creek Watershed, other downstream waters and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay.
$500,000
Sand County Foundation
Midpoint Evaluation of NFWF’s Great Lakes Business Plan (multiple states)
Evaluate the success to date of the Great Lakes Business Plan in achieving its dedicated conservation objectives in the areas of streams, coastal wetlands, and water quality. Project will include a review of the ten sub-objectives within these three priority areas, as well as of the sixteen focus areas expected to achieve multiple overlapping outcomes.
$195,526
Schuylkill Conservation District
Little Mahanoy Creek Headwaters Restoration Plan Development (PA)
Develop a detailed watershed restoration plan for the headwaters of Little Mahanoy Creek Watershed. Project will provide a blueprint for managing stormwater in the watershed, restoring habitat in the headwaters and improving water quality to protect the unimpaired downstream sections where trout are reproducing naturally.
$50,000
South Londonderry Township
Stream Stabilization and Riparian Forest Buffer Installation in Killinger Creek (PA)
Improve water quality and stream health in Killinger Creek by reducing the pollutant loading rates that contribute to existing stream impairments and increasing in-stream and forested habitat for wildlife species. Project will stabilize and restore 1,700 feet of Killinger Creek, plant a 35-foot riparian forest buffer on both streambanks, and educate the community on why these projects are important for clean water.
$220,000
Stroud Water Research Center
Accelerating Best Management Practice Implementation in Lancaster and Chester Counties (PA)
Develop comprehensive nutrient management plans for farms in Lancaster and Chester counties. Project will support farmers interested in agricultural best management practices by removing a barrier to implementation and incentivizing the installation of forest buffers.
$499,797
Stroud Water Research Center
Delaware River Restoration Fund Project Impact Assessments for Phase 2 – Stroud Monitoring (NJ, PA)
Monitor the impact of Delaware River Restoration Fund field practices on soil health and water quality and impact of farm restoration on stream health at a total of 10 selected project sites. Project will collaborate with the Academy of Natural Sciences in monitoring at nine of these sites.
$295,000
The Little Conestoga Creek Foundation
Restoring Floodplain to Improve Water Quality in Little Conestoga Creek (PA)
Implement best management practices to restore floodplain and address nitrogen, phosphorous and sediment in Little Conestoga Creek in Pennsylvania. Project will restore floodplain, reduce flooding, provide habitat creation and restore biodiversity.
$440,000
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
Improving Public Access and Recreation in the Pennsylvania Portion of the Delaware River – II
Improve public fishing and boating access and recreation by providing grants to public entities, including townships, boroughs, municipal and county governments as well as to nonprofit groups for the planning, acquisition, development, expansion and rehabilitation of public boating facilities located in the Pennsylvania portion of the Delaware River Watershed. Project will ensure that boaters and anglers in the Delaware River watershed have safe, clean and updated boating facilities.
$400,000
Tioga County Soil and Water Conservation District of New York
Watershed Approach to Stream Corridor Restoration in the Headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay (NY, PA)
Assess and implement improvements to address water quality, stormwater retention, habitat restoration and watershed resiliency on a small subwatershed scale. Project will provide citizen stewardship opportunities and result in 57,439 pounds of sediment, 28 pounds phosphorus and 177 pounds of nitrogen being avoided annually within the Upper Susquehanna and Chemung River Watersheds.
$500,000
Tioga County Soil and Water Conservation District of New York
Expanding Nutrient Management Across the Headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay (NY, PA)
Expand Nutrient Management Planning efforts to improve water quality across agricultural and urban landscapes within the Headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay watershed in New York and Pennsylvania. Project will develop agricultural nutrient management plans to improve nitrogen and phosphorous management on farmland and urban nutrient management plans to minimize adverse environmental effects on high risk and priority urban areas.
$500,000
University of Pittsburgh
Automated Acoustic Monitoring of Focal Bird Species in the Delaware River Watershed (PA)
Deploy 600 automated acoustic recorders to monitor populations of golden-winged warbler, wood thrush, cerulean warbler and four additional bird species in five dynamic forest restoration blocks located in the Delaware River watershed. Project will analyze the recordings with machine learning species classifiers and expert human listeners, estimate species occupancy and abundance at each site, and develop a handbook and new software interface for partners in the watershed.
$162,194
University of Pittsburgh
Implementing Automated Acoustic Monitoring in the Laurel Highlands and Pennsylvania Wilds (PA)
Monitor population responses of golden-winged warbler, cerulean warbler and wood thrush in four large forest blocks in the Laurel Highlands and Pennsylvania Wilds focal geographies that are being managed to create a diversity of habitats. Project will place automated acoustic recorders at 500 locations over 3,875 acres in three State Game Lands and in Ohiopyle State Park, to collect an estimated 87,500 hours of observation and develop a standardized monitoring protocol for future efforts.
$198,748
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
Restoring Habitat for Native Brook Trout by Removing Barriers and Improving Instream Habitat (PA)
Restore aquatic habitat for eastern brook trout on the Middle Fork of the East Branch of the Clarion River in Pennsylvania by removing barriers to aquatic organism passage, improving instream habitat through the addition of large wood, and stabilizing stream banks and adjacent roadways. Project will replace seven barriers with bridge structures, remove two road-stream crossings and one relic jack dam, and reconstruct the stream channel using Stream Simulation and Design methods.
$199,452
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
Reconnecting 40 Miles of Habitat for Key Brook Trout Populations in the Middle Youghigheny River (PA)
Restore aquatic connectivity for native eastern brook trout by removing barriers to aquatic organism passage on Dunbar Creek and Ramcat Run, tributaries of the Youghigheny River in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania. Project will remove three barriers to fish passage on two streams that will open up 40 miles of high-quality historic habitat, and will conduct 100 new culvert assessments.
$199,903
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
Assessing and Prioritizing Restoration Actions in the First Fork Sinnemahoning Creek watershed (PA)
Complete a comprehensive assessment of the First Fork Sinnemahoning Creek watershed to develop prioritized restoration projects for collaborative implementation. Project will develop a framework to implement best management practices aimed towards reducing nutrient and sediment contributions and improving eastern brook trout habitat.
$49,559
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
Assessment of Pennsylvania Cold-water Streams to Determine the Presence of Native Brook Trout
Coordinate the sampling of previously unassessed cold-water streams in Pennsylvania for the presence or absence of wild trout so the state can designate qualifying streams with a higher level of protection from development activities. Project will sample at least 1,000 streams across the state and analyze results to determine how many streams can be designated as Class A wild trout streams, the highest level of protection.
$63,423
White Clay Watershed Association
Development of a Targeted Watershed Assessment Report and Restoration Plan in Avondale Borough (PA)
Identify restoration opportunities that mitigate flooding in Avondale Borough, Pennsylvania while also improving water quality and habitat in the White Clay Creek National Wild and Scenic Watershed. Project will complete a watershed assessment study and develop a comprehensive restoration plan to inform future restoration projects to benefit an at-risk environmental justice community.
$75,000
Wildlands Conservancy
Stream Restoration in the Mud Run Watershed (PA)
Remove an obsolete dam, stabilize the streambanks and establish new riparian buffer areas at two critical locations in the Mud Run Watershed, Pennsylvania. Project will restore free-flowing conditions, improve habitat and water quality for native trout populations and filter pollutants and nutrients from stormwater runoff from roadways adjacent to the stream through installation of riparian buffer plantings.
$75,113
Wildlands Conservancy
Dam Removal and Streambank Restoration in Durham Township (PA)
Remove a dam and complete streambank replanting in Durham Township, Pennsylvania. Project will restore 3.5 miles of stream, mitigate streambank erosion, flooding and water quality issues while benefiting key species including American eel, freshwater mussels and native fish species such as brook trout.
$105,000
Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority
Accelerating Green Infrastructure Implementation in Wyoming Valley (PA)
Implement green infrastructure demonstration projects, form a stormwater steering committee, recommend updates to municipal codes and policies to remove implementation barriers, provide education and training for design and assess areas for further opportunities. Project will scale up green infrastructure implementation, build broader public and private sector acceptance, accelerate the rate of water quality improvements and cultivate and enhance partnership and network growth.
$848,440