Great news for forest buffers and other water quality practices:  The Farm Service Agency has just announced that the Chesapeake is a pilot for CLEAR-30, a new program under the 2018 Farm Bill.  Clean Lakes, Estuaries and Rivers (CLEAR) is a practice devoted to riparian buffers, wildlife habitat buffers or wetland buffers that will remain…

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources organized a riparian forest buffer webinar series during the month of April. The PA Association of Conservation Districts and the Department of Environmental Protection recorded each webinar session and have made them available on their Clean Water Academy website.  

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has extended its deadlines for the 2020 Small Watershed Grants (SWG) and Pennsylvania Local Government Implementation (PA-LGI) Grants programs in light of continued impacts from the current global health crisis. SWG applications will now be due by April 28th PA-LGI applications will be due April 30th NFWF will continue…

NFWF Now Accepting Proposals for the Pennsylvania Local Government Implementation (PA-LGI) funding opportunity NFWF Request for Proposals The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), is soliciting proposals for projects to implement one or more high-priority nutrient and sediment…

The Chesapeake Bay Forestry Workgroup offers these recommendations to the US Department of Agriculture to strengthen the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Programs (CREPs) –specifically for Riparian Forest Buffers –which will be critical to reaching their mandated water quality goals. Need for adequate cost-share:  Adequate cost share for stream fencing, crossings and alternative water development is critical…

USDA’s Farm Service Agency began accepting applications June 3, 2019, for  the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and certain practices under the continuous Conservation Reserve Program. All Chesapeake states have CREP programs in place. It is the primary program  for landowners to restore riparian forest buffers.  Prior to reopening, the Program had been closed since…

New York State is increasing the incentive rate offered to producers for enrolling land as a Riparian Forest Buffer (CP-22) through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program within the Upper Susquehanna Watershed.  The new incentive rate, per acre, will be 20 X the Soil Rental Rate.  This incentive will be paid to producers effective immediately as…

NFWF 2019 Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund Applicant Webinars Recorded and Available to Watch A reminder that the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the federal-state Chesapeake Bay Program partnership, is soliciting proposals to restore water quality and habitats of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary…

NFWF Request for Proposals The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the federal-state Chesapeake Bay Program partnership, is soliciting proposals to restore water quality and habitats of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers and streams. NFWF estimates awarding a total of up to $14 million…

Great video series from Stroud Water Research Center titled “Stories from the Streams.” The first episode is “Back to Our Roots” that, “demonstrates how planting trees along a stream can filter out pollutants and dramatically improve water quality,” but also shows the touching relationship between a scientist and private landowner connected by the shared goal…