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

• April 2009 Lancaster County Watershed Newsletter

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES	SPECIAL EVENTS
No events at this time	Lancaster Green Drinks Event at the Lancaster Brewing Company on Tuesday, September 8th 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 lancasterpagreendrinks@yahoo.com or www.greendrinks.org Rain Barrel Workshop – Saturday, September 26th from 9-11 AM at Lancaster County Central Park's Environmental Center.  Once again Lancaster Investment in a Vibrant Economy (LIVE) and the Lancaster County Conservation District are partnering to provide low cost rain barrels to county residents.  Through this workshop participants will learn about local water quality, water conservation, watersheds, and how to save water using rain barrels and rain gardens.  There is a fee for the workshop which pays for a part of the rain barrel each attendee receives.  For more information and registration information visit the Rain Barrel Flyer.   Rain Barrel Workshop – Saturday, November 7th from 9-11 AM.  Once again Lancaster Investment in a Vibrant Economy (LIVE) and the Lancaster County Conservation District are partnering to provide low cost rain barrels to county residents.  Through this workshop participants will learn about local water quality, water conservation, watersheds, and how to save water using rain barrels and rain gardens.  There is a fee for the workshop which pays for a part of the rain barrel each attendee receives.  For more information and registration information visit the Rain Barrel Flyer.
TIMELY FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
The Growing Greener Watershed Restoration Program will be ten years old in December and to help celebrate 10 groups have come together to invite watershed groups to share their success stories on a special Growing Greener website.  Thanks to the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds, two $250 Grants will be given to the watershed groups with the best article and photo or video each month through December.  Visit the Growing Greener website and learn how you can earn $250 for your watershed group by sharing your Growing Greener success story. The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for Growing Greener Watershed, Flood Protection Grants.  DEP will invest in projects that will ultimately protect and/or restore the Commonwealth's watersheds from impairment due to nonpoint source pollution.  Examples of special priority areas include: Watershed Renaissance-comprehensive watershed plan implementation in a small watershed; projects located in "priority" watersheds that reduce the source of impairment; and "priority" type activities that lead to water quality restoration protection.  Examples of eligible projects could include reducing nonpoint source pollution in watersheds where streams are impaired; integrating stormwater management and flood protection into watershed management; encouraging the beneficial use of abandoned mine pool water; and water conservation strategies and projects that will help reduce Total Maximum Daily Load pollutants.  Applications are due July 17th.  For more information or an application package visit the Growing Greener webpage. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is offering a Standard Grants Program to assist organizations, individuals, and other entities in wetland conservation projects throughout the United States. under the the guidelines of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act of 1989.  Funding will be available at a 1:1 matching ration. (Federal funds may be used in the projects, but they cannot count towards the matching funds.)  The U.S. Standard Grants Program funds projects that involve long-term protection, restoration and/or enhancement of wetlands and associated habitats.  The deadline for applications is July 31st.  For more information visit the USFWS website.   The Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds will accept applications for projects in 2009 which protect, restore, and preserve watersheds.  Applications are due August 21st.  Due to the large number of applications received, the Foundation will not longer accept proposals that do not follow the posted guidelines.  The Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds, formerly known as the Western Pennsylvania Watershed Program, is a grant-making foundation that invests in efforts to protect healthy, natural streams around the state - and also to clean up pollution and repair damaged wildlife habitat.  To-date, the Foundation has assisted more than 150 different groups, funded more than $5 million in projects, leveraged more than $75 million in additional investments and restored more than 550 miles of polluted streams and rivers.  If you have any questions about the process, please contact Branden S. Diehl by calling 814-669-4244 or email projectwater@verizon.net.  The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is offering a Small Grants Program to assist organizations, individuals, and other entities in wetland conservation projects throughout the United States. under the the guidelines of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act of 1989.  Funding will be available at a 1:1 matching ration. (Federal funds may be used in the projects, but they cannot count towards the matching funds.)  The U.S. Small Grants Program funds similar projects as the Standard Program, but these projects are typically smaller in scope and involve fewer project dollars.  Grant requests cannot exceed $75,000, and funding priority is given to new applicants.  The deadline for applications is October 29th.  For more information visit the USFWS website. The Fund for Wild Nature is currently accepting applications to provide funding for campaigns to save and restore native species and wild ecosystems, including actions to defend wilderness and biological diversity.  Eligible projects include: advocacy, litigation, public policy work, development of citizen science, and similar endeavors.  Ineligible projects include: basic scientific research, private land acquisition, individual action or study, or conferences.  Application deadline is November 1st.  For more information visit; www.fundwildnature.org/proposal.html. Natural Resource & Conservation Service (NRCS) in Pennsylvania has access to funds under the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) to provide financial assistance to restore wetlands.  WRP is a voluntary program offering landowners the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands on their property.  NRCS provides technical and financial support to help landowners with their wetland restoration efforts.  The NRCS goal is to achieve the greatest wetland functions and values, along with optimum wildlife habitat, on every acre enrolled in the program.  This program offers landowners an opportunity to establish long-term conservation and wildlife practices and protection.  Applications are accepted by NRCS on a continuous basis throughout the year.  For information visit the WRP/NRCS website at; www.pa.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/WRP/index.html.

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