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Partnerships Bring Erie to Pittsburgh Trail Closer to Reality

July 28, 2023

The vision of a trail connecting Erie and Pittsburgh is a little closer to reality. The Erie to Pittsburgh Trail Alliance received funding from DCNR for trail development, capacity building, and training. Trail groups learned sustainable self-building techniques and how to leverage volunteer time to secure more funding. Funding came from the Environmental Stewardship Fund. The Erie to […]

Project Type: Revitalize Communities | Region: Northwest, Southwest

Restoring Warrior’s Mark Run

December 4, 2018

  Warrior’s Mark Run is a stream in Huntingdon County (classified as a high-quality coldwater fishery) that has been polluted by grazing cows from nearby farms; cow manure overloads the water with nutrients, disrupting aquatic ecosystems and killing fish and other animals. Funding from the Environmental Stewardship Fund enabled the Huntingdon County Conservation District (HCCD) […]

Project Type: Protect Water Quality | Region: Southcentral

Improving Farms in McKean County

November 30, 2018

  From 2012 to 2018, the McKean County Conservation District used grants from the Environmental Stewardship Fund to implement best management practices (BMPs) on 11 family farms in the area. The BMPs have helped reduce pollution and sedimentation in nearby tributaries to the Allegheny River by as much as 50%. These projects included: Stream crossings […]

Project Type: Protect Water Quality | Region: Northcentral

Protecting 1,600 Acres Along Blue Mountain

November 16, 2018

  In 2018, a grant from the Environmental Stewardship Fund helped The Nature Conservancy (TNC) permanently conserve 1,600 acres in Perry County that was in danger of being turned into a housing development. The property is located along Blue Mountain, which stretches across Pennsylvania from the Maryland border to New Jersey. The iconic ridgeline is […]

Project Type: Conserve Land and Wildlife, Protect Water Quality | Region: Southcentral

Bliss Bank Mine Reclamation

November 15, 2018

Decades ago, the Blue Coal Corporation used Bliss Bank to store mine waste. After the area was abandoned, it sat idle for years, a toxic eyesore of piled mine waste and pools of stagnant water. The neglected site was a hotbed for illegal activity, including trash dumping and ATV trespassing. Runoff from the site also […]

Project Type: Restore Damaged Land | Region: Northeast

Better Farming Practices, Cleaner Water

November 15, 2018

  Funding from the Environmental Stewardship Fund enabled the Lycoming County Conservation District (LCCD) to implement a number of agricultural best management practices (BMPs) that drastically reduced the amount of polluted water flowing from a local farm into nearby waterways. The heaviest-used area of the farm—a steep hillside where the herd of cows congregated—caused most […]

Project Type: Protect Water Quality | Region: Northcentral

Restoring Mill Run

November 14, 2018

  The Mill Cove Environmental Area and Education Center is a popular spot for outdoor recreation and nature education in Tioga County. The area features hiking trails, a camping area, picnic pavilions, wildlife habitat, and fishing spots, including Mill Run, which flows into Mill Cove. However, erosion along Mill Run had become a major problem. […]

Project Type: Protect Water Quality | Region: Northcentral

Nature-Based Stormwater Solutions at IHM Center

November 14, 2018

  After attending a presentation about stormwater runoff, nuns of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) congregation in Scranton became concerned about pollution harming the nearby Lackawanna River. They wanted to do something to reduce stormwater runoff from the impermeable surfaces on the IHM property, which includes a church and community center. An opportunity arose […]

Project Type: Protect Water Quality | Region: Northeast

Heritage Conservancy Protects 37 Acres of Critical Habitat

September 16, 2015

In 2010, Heritage Conservancy received a Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2) grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for open space preservation in Durham Township, Bucks County. Funds were used to acquire conservation easements on approximately 37 acres of land along Mine Hill Road. The area is now known as the Rattlesnake and Mine Hill Wildlife Preservation Trust property.

Project Type: Conserve Land and Wildlife | Region: Southeast

Forrest R. Mellott Sports Complex

September 10, 2015

Southern Fulton County is known for its gently rolling hills and expansive farms and pastures. The area’s rich agricultural history has traditionally lent itself to an abundance of open space and few venues for organized sports. Recognizing this deficiency, in 2000 the Southern Fulton School District commissioned a private consulting firm to determine the feasibility […]

Project Type: Revitalize Communities | Region: Southcentral

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This website is maintained by WeConservePA with support from the Community Conservation Partnership Program, Environmental Stewardship Fund under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.

Please note that WeConservePA does not manage Growing Greener or the Environmental Stewardship Fund. Nor does the Growing Greener Coalition. This is the responsibility of the state agencies authorized under law: DCNR, DEP, PDA, and PennVEST. For information on the Keystone Park and Recreation Fund, click here.

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