This site is designed to promote and foster watershed protection measures throughout Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES	SPECIAL EVENTS
No events scheduled at this time	EPA's Watershed Academy to sponsor free Webcast on Implementing a Rain Garden.  On Wednesday, December 3rd EPA will conduct a free webcast on the benefits of rain gardens, how to build them, and how to develop and implement a successful rain garden program in your community.  Registration will open the third week of November at www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts/ Lancaster Green Drinks Event at the John J. Jefferies Bar in The Lancaster Arts Hotel on Wednesday, December 10th from 5-7 PM.  Green Drinks International is an organization that promotes getting together to talk environment over drinks once a month.  Members may include anybody who wants to talk green.  This creates opportunity - to meet new friends or professional contacts, generate ideas, perhaps find employment, or learn about something new and in the end, hopefully help the environment as well.  Join us each month and bring along some friends.  Contact them at lancasterpagreendrinks@yahoo.com or www.greendrinks.org A draft of the Lancaster County Green Infrastructure Plan can be found at www.co.lancaster.pa.us/planning
TIMELY FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
The Fish America Foundation is currently accepting Conservation Grant Program applications for locally led water improvement efforts.  Projects that directly enhance water quality, habitat or sportfish populations are eligible to receive funding, with an average award being $7,500.  Guidelines and applications can be downloaded at www.fishamerica.org/grants/. Year-round grant cycle. With funding from an EPA Targeted Watershed Initiative Grant, the Center for Watershed Protection (CWP) is currently inviting proposals to its Technical Capacity Mini-Grant Program, awarding direct assistance and financial support to a wide range of small watershed organizations.  Up to ten $5,000-15,000 grants will be awarded to strengthen the technical capacity of these groups in the area of stormwater and watershed management.  these grants may be awarded in the form of direct assistance from CWP staff.  Alternatively, mini-grant recipients may also receive cash assistance and tailored information where necessary.  Year-round grant cycle at www.cwp.org/Calendar/CWPMinigrantsRFP.pdf SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund are currently calling for applicants for projects focused in one of the following five categories: Aquatic Species Research, Terrestrial Species Research; Habitat Protection; Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation; and Conservation Education.  Awards range between $5,000 and $25,000 for a one-year term.  All applications received by December 1st will be reviewed by the board in the spring of 2009.  For more information on the grant policies, past projects and the online application process is available on their website at www.swbg-conservationfund.org American Rivers seeks proposals for river restoration project grants s part of its partnership with the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Community-based Restoration Program.  Program funding is provided through NOAA's Open Rivers Initiative, which seeks to enable environmental and economic renewal in local communities through the removal of stream barriers.  All details and documents are available at www.americanrivers.org/NOAAGrants.  This Partnership funds stream barrier removal projects that help restore riverine ecosystems, enhance public safety and community resilience, and have clear and identifiable benefits to diadromous fish populations.  Grants are provided for three distinct project phases: Feasibility Analysis, Engineering Design, & Construction; and range between $25,000-$50,000.  Applications are currently being accepted, with a deadline of December 3rd. The Coldwater Heritage Partnership is now accepting applications for the Coldwater Conservation Grant Program to protect and conserve the health of Pennsylvania's coldwater ecosystems.  The grants are designed to help develop conservation plans that identify the values and threats to the health of our coldwater ecosystems that have naturally reproducing trout.  the collected information can be used as a catalyst for more comprehensive planning of for development of watershed improvements projects.  The partnership will award grants averaging around $5,000 to organizations to outline strategies that best conserve and protect our coldwater fisheries.  Applications are due December 15th.  For an application package contact, www.coldwaterheritage.org/grant_application.htm The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for 2009 Environmental Educations Grants.  The grants provide funding to schools, universities, nonprofit organizations, and county conservation districts to create or develop projects that support environmental education in the Commonwealth.  Grants range from $3,000 for mini-grants to up to $20,000 to provide environmental education on timely and critically important topics, including: sustainable energy sources, air quality, & watersheds & wetlands.  Applications are due December 12th.  Grant application packages will be posted on www.depweb.state.pa.us/enved/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=473483&envedNav= in the coming months.  Pennsylvania will invest $500,000 in the Illegal Dump Cleanup Grant Program for communities and nonprofit groups.  The program will focus on the cleanup of illegal dumps; site restoration and beautification; surveillance of existing dump sites and remediated sites; enforcement of littering and illegal dumping ordinances; and public awareness and education to inform local citizens about illegal dumping, littering and clean-up activities.  Grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded with a match of at least 50% of the grant amount by the grantee.  Grant deadline is December 19th.  the grants are available on a competitive basis to any existing local government or incorporated nonprofit organization currently located in Pennsylvania.  For more information visit; www.depweb.state.pa.us key word "Illegal Dumping".

For more information on the Lancaster County Conservation District's Watershed Program:

Matthew W. Kofroth, Watershed Specialist - matt.kofroth@pa.nacdnet.net or 717-299-5361 ext 124