On January 23, PA American Water announced applications are now being accepted for the company’s 2023 Environmental Grant Program for communities and organizations within its service territories. The deadline for applications is March 31.

The program offers funding for innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and groundwater supplies in local communities.

“So many of our communities and local organizations work to improve our environment and our water resources,” said Marcus Kohl, director of water quality and environmental compliance for Pennsylvania American Water. “We’re proud to continue offering this grant to support those initiatives and positively impact our natural resources.”

To qualify, proposed projects must be:

-- Located within the Pennsylvania American Water service area

-- Completed between May and November of the grant funding year

-- Be a new, innovative community initiative or serve as a significant expansion to an existing program

-- Be carried out by a formal or informal partnership between two or more organizations

-- Provide evidence of sustainability (continued existence after the grant monies are utilized)

A panel of judges will evaluate the applications based on environmental need, innovation, community engagement and sustainability. Information and applications can be found on the Environmental Grant Program page of the company’s website, under News & Community. For additional information, please contact pa.communityrelations@amwater.com.

In 2022, the program awarded nearly $75,000 to 13 recipients, including: Berks Nature (Berks County); Dormont Stormwater Authority (Allegheny County); Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (Luzerne County); East Pikeland Township (Chester County); Ellwood City (Lawrence County); Fairview Township (York County); Indiana County Conservation District; Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority (Lackawanna County); Lackawanna River Conservation Association (Lackawanna County); Three Rivers Waterkeeper (Allegheny County); Silver Spring Township (Cumberland County); Warren County Conservation District; and Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley (Northampton County).

Established in 2005, this annual grant program has donated more than $650,000 to fund more than 135 projects to protect and improve the environment across the Commonwealth.

Last year, 13 organizations received funding for their community-based projects, including the Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley. Funding was used to plant live-stake nurseries to be used for future riparian zone plantings and streambank stabilization projects.

One of these nurseries was planted in Lake Heritage, Adams County. More information about this nursery planting can be found on Pennsylvania American Water’s YouTube page.

(Photo: Lake Heritage tree nursery project.)

Related Articles This Week - Water:

-- DEP Releases Final 2022 Pennsylvania State Water Plan, Digital Atlas Of Water Resources And Use  [PaEN]

-- DEP Chesapeake Bay Update: Results Of PA In The Balance Ag Conference; Leadership Change At DEP, State Conservation Commission; Grants Announced; Much More  [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Revised Post-Construction Stormwater Management Manual  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Reminder: Grant Application Period Now Open For Recreation, Conservation, Watershed Projects Until April 5

-- Coldwater Heritage Partnership Now Accepting Applications For 2023 Coldwater Conservation Grants  [PaEN]

-- PA American Water Now Accepting Applications For 2023 Environmental Grants  [PaEN]

-- DCNR: Susquehanna River North Branch Named 2023 Pennsylvania River Of The Year  [PaEN]

-- Bob Donnan’s Blog: DEP Finds Valley Brook Country Club Responsible For Pesticide Runoff Causing 7-Mile Long Fish Kill In Chartiers Creek, Washington County

-- DEP Releases Bid Solicitation To Plug 19 Abandoned Conventional Gas Wells In Forest County All At Taxpayer Expense  [PaEN]

-- DEP Blog: Plugging PA’s Abandoned Conventional Oil And Gas Wells

-- Damascus Citizens For Sustainability Files Lawsuit Challenging The Delaware River Basin Commission Fracking Wastewater Rule Generally And For Allowing Road Dumping Of Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater Creating Widespread Pollution  [PaEN]

-- Delaware River Basin Commission Feb. 8 Hearing, March 8 Business Meeting  [PaEN]

-- EPA: Pennsylvania One Of 4 States Participating In Accelerated Lead Water Service Pipe Replacement Project In Underserved Communities

-- Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership To Use Growing Greener Grant To Improve Stormwater Management At Congregation Adath Jeshurun In Elkins Park, Montgomery County  [PaEN]

-- Registration Now Open For Lehigh Valley Watershed Conference With Events On March 12, 13, Main Conference March 14 At Lehigh University  [PaEN]

-- DEP Teaching Green: New PA Gateway To Green Education Hub; PA Digital Water Atlas; Grant; Programs; Much More!  [PaEN]

-- Stroud Water Research Center News: Tracking Road Salt In Streams; Scouts From 12 Troops Tackle Merit Badge Program; Much More  [PaEN]

-- Reminder: PA Master Naturalist Spring Training Sign Ups Happening Now  [PaEN]

[Posted: January 23, 2023]

1/30/2023