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

Presentation & Comments from the Lancaster County Watershed Association Chesapeake Bay TMDL Forum (January 12, 2010)

• Forum PowerPoint Presentation
• Comments & Ideas Discussed at the Forum

January 2010 Watershed Newsletter

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES	SPECIAL EVENTS
Lititz Run Watershed Alliance Spring Cleanup Day - Saturday, March 20th from 8-noon throughout the Lititz Run Watershed.  Volunteers will gather at various locations for this annual event.  Anything from cleanuping trash to planting trees will be involved during this event.  If you would like to volunteer for this event please contact Warwick Township at 626-8900.	Lancaster Green Drinks Event at the Lancaster Brewing Company on Tuesday, March 9th 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 & in the end, hopefully help the environment as well.  Join us each month & bring along some friends.  Contact them at www.greendrinks.org Rain Barrel Workshop - Saturday, March 27th from 9-11 AM at the Lancaster County Parks Environmental Center.  Registration is currently OPEN for this workshop which will feature an informational session on rain barrel functions, water pollution, water conservation, & how to install a rain barrel.  Participants will leave this workshop with their own rain barrel & a better understanding on how to set it up and utilize it for stormwater controls.  There is a small fee for this workshop and other documentation needed before registration is complete.  Please download the Registration/Home Assessment and Liability Waiver documents and follow instructions.  For further information contact Matt Kofroth, Watershed Specialist. Donegal Fish & Conservation Association's Annual Kids Fishing Derby - On Saturday, April 10th from 8 AM-Noon at the Donegal Presbyterian Church join kids of all ages for this great annual fundraiser for the DFCA.  The fishing derby takes place at the Donegal Creek Spring Head.  Trout of varying sizes are available to catch and keep.  For those who catch their limit early refreshments are always available.  Come early to get your spot and make a great morning out of it.  Registration for the derby is free and all food proceeds go to the improvement of the Donegal Creek.  For more information on this event visit the DFCA website. Octoraro Watershed Association Annual Dinner - Thursday, April 22nd at Black Rock Retreat, Route 472, Quarryville.  Join OWA and other dedicated watershed volunteers at this annual event.  Kids activities, raffle, and dinner are all part of this great family event.  Activities start as 5:30 PM with dinner at 6:30 PM.  To register or to find out more please visit the OWA website.
TIMELY FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Pennsylvania American Water is continuing its Environmental Grant Program in 2010 and encouraging those within their service territory to apply.  PA American Water is seeking innovative and collaborative programs that result in positive and sustainable environmental changes.  Watershed protection activities, biodiversity projects and hazardous waste collection efforts are just a few examples of potential winners through our 2010 Environmental Grant Program.  If your community or organization is planning to launch an environmental initiative that focuses on watershed or water source protection, you may be eligible to receive a grant.  Applications are due March 22nd.  Please review the Grant Application for further details.  Or contact Terry Maenze, Director of Communications & External Affairs, 800 West Hersheypark Dr., Hershey, PA 17033 (610-670-7789 ext 123) Through its Water Resources Education Network (WREN) Project, the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Citizen Education Fund (LWVPA-CEF) will accept proposals for watershed education projects sponsored by community based partnerships that educate, build awareness, and promote water-sustaining public policies and/or behavior change.  Project should be designed to encourage individual or collective action that will protect and improve local water resources.  Projects which educate how to protect, improve or remediate the watershed from the impacts of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution are of high priority.  LWVPA-CEF invites partnerships of local or regional organizations, such as watershed associations, civic groups, community water systems, governmental entities, and other public interest organizations to carefully review the WREN Grant Application Guidelines and Application Form and submit an application by Friday, March 26th.  Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded for projects to take place between July 2010-June 2011.  For more information visit the WREN website.  The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is now accepting applications for Community Conservation Partnerships Program Grants.  Funding is available for; River Conservation Projects to develop river conservation pans and fund implementation projects involving acquiring land, and planning or developing facilities such as trails and fishing access areas along fiver corridors; Education, Training and Implementation Projects that develop, promote or conduct training or educational programs; prepare and distribute technical assistance or educational manuals, brochures or videos and/or otherwise provide for the training and education of both professionals and the general public on a local, county, regional or statewide basis. During the month of February a series of seven free grant workshops are scheduled throughout the State.  Applications are due April 21st.  For more information on this grant, on the local grant assistance workshops, or how to apply visit the DCNR website. The mission of Wildlife Forever is to preserve America's wildlife heritage through conservation education, preservation of habitat, and management of fish & wildlife.  Grants from Wildlife Forever support habitat restoration and acquisition, research and management, educational projects throughout the United States.  Special emphasis is placed on grassroots programs that involve local conservation, sportsmen's, or outdoor recreation groups.  All Wildlife Forever grants are challenge grants, and funds must be matched on at least a one-to-one basis.  The application deadline is July 1st.  Visit the Wildlife Forever Website to review the grant-making criteria and download the application forms.

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