Many organizations across Pennsylvania have announced the dates for their 2012 sojourns. For most sojourns, registration has not yet begun. Mark your calendars now! Swatara Creek – May 5 to 6 Allegheny-Kiskiminetas-Conemaugh Rivers – May 17 to 20 West Branch of the Susquehanna – May 20 to 24 Kiskimenitas-Conemaugh Rivers Sojourn – May 31 to [...]
Many organizations across Pennsylvania have announced the dates for their 2012 sojourns. For most sojourns, registration has not yet begun. Mark your calendars now!
- Swatara Creek – May 5 to 6
- Allegheny-Kiskiminetas-Conemaugh Rivers – May 17 to 20
- West Branch of the Susquehanna – May 20 to 24
- Kiskimenitas-Conemaugh Rivers Sojourn – May 31 to June 3
- Schuylkill River – June 2 to 8
- Perkiomen Creek – June 9
- Juniata River – June 15 to 20
- Stonycreek River – June 16
- Lehigh River June 22-25
- Delaware River – June 24 to 30
We know there are others who haven’t announced yet, so there’s more to come!
Also, if you and your organization are interested in organizing a sojourn on your river, check out our planning guide and min-grant opportunity.
American Water is now accepting applications for grant funding for innovative projects within their service area (including Pennsylvania.) Eligible projects must be completed between May and November of the grant funding year and be a new or innovative community initiative, or serve as significant expansion to an existing program. For more info on this opportunity, check [...]
American Water is now accepting applications for grant funding for innovative projects within their service area (including Pennsylvania.)
Eligible projects must be completed between May and November of the grant funding year and be a new or innovative community initiative, or serve as significant expansion to an existing program.
For more info on this opportunity, check out this link.
We are now accepting applications for grants to partly fund river sojourns during the 2012 paddling season. The grant application will close on March 2, 2012 at 5:00 pm. Download the 2012 application (pdf) here. Grants are made based on available funding for up to $900 per water day. Organizers are eligible to apply for [...]
We are now accepting applications for grants to partly fund river sojourns during the 2012 paddling season. The grant application will close on March 2, 2012 at 5:00 pm.
Download the 2012 application (pdf) here.
Grants are made based on available funding for up to $900 per water day. Organizers are eligible to apply for an initial 60% of the grant amount to offset the upfront costs. Upon completion of the scheduled events, organizers submit a request for the final 40% of the grant along with a complete expense summary, event report, insurance forms, and media coverage report.
This Sojourn Planning Overview (pdf) can help local organizers in planning their event and completing the grant application.
All applicants are encouraged to contact Josh Karns, Program Manager, to discuss your plans prior to submitting an application. Josh can be reached at 717-230-8044 x 12 or at jkarns@pecpa.org. Grant recipients will be notified on March 9, 2012.
Get more details on the Sojourn page and come back to our website over the coming weeks as we release additional information about planning a successful sojourn.
The Water Resources Education Network (WREN) is now accepting applications for their 2012-2013 watershed education grants. This is a great opportunity to secure funding for your innovative education project. The WREN Watershed Education Grant Program seeks to raise public awareness, encourage behavior change, and improve public policies to protect water resources in Pennsylvania. WREN invites [...]
The Water Resources Education Network (WREN) is now accepting applications for their 2012-2013 watershed education grants. This is a great opportunity to secure funding for your innovative education project.
The WREN Watershed Education Grant Program seeks to raise public awareness, encourage behavior change, and improve public policies to protect water resources in Pennsylvania. WREN invites grant proposals for Watershed Protection Education projects from local coalitions that will raise awareness and educate Pennsylvania citizens, local officials, and other community stakeholders about their roles as environmental stewards to protect, improve, or remediate the watershed from the impacts of polluted runoff.
The League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Citizen Education Fun invites partnerships of local or regional organizations, such as watershed associations, civic groups, community water systems, governmental entities (including municipal authorities), and other public interest organizations to carefully review the WREN Grant Application Guidelines and Application Form and to submit an application to LWVPA CEF. Applications are due by Friday, March 23, 2012. Successful applicants will be notified by May 16, 2012. Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded for projects to take place July 1, 2012-June 30, 2013.
If you like kayaking, fishing, walking, biking or any other activity along the Delaware River, then become a Tidal Delaware River Ambassador! River Ambassadors are volunteer leaders who organize trips and cleanups, make presentations and other activities – whatever your interest and schedule! Through these activities, Ambassadors provide new opportunities for friends, colleagues and community [...]
If you like kayaking, fishing, walking, biking or any other activity along the Delaware River, then become a Tidal Delaware River Ambassador! River Ambassadors are volunteer leaders who organize trips and cleanups, make presentations and other activities – whatever your interest and schedule! Through these activities, Ambassadors provide new opportunities for friends, colleagues and community members to experience the Tidal Delaware River, and educate people about the importance of the river as a natural resource.
Organized by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Ambassadors undergo 8 weeks of training from regional leaders in Delaware River history, ecology, recreation, watersheds, human impacts, and policies/plans. The training sessions are also a great way to network with others and visit some unique places along the river – like Pennsbury Manor, Palmyra Cove Nature Park, Heinz Wildlife Refuge or Fort Mifflin.
Visit www.pecpa.org/ambassador to learn more!
The first “class” of Ambassadors were trained last year, and since then have organized a dozen events last summer including fishing derbies, clean ups, presentations, sailboat tours and more.
The Stonycreek River, flowing through Cambria and Somerset counties, has been named the 2012 River of the Year following public, online voting across the state. For the second year in a row, public voting determined the selection from among four candidates for River of the Year honors. Among more than 12,000 ballots cast, Stonycreek River [...]
The Stonycreek River, flowing through Cambria and Somerset counties, has been named the 2012 River of the Year following public, online voting across the state.
For the second year in a row, public voting determined the selection from among four candidates for River of the Year honors. Among more than 12,000 ballots cast, Stonycreek River received 5,674 votes.
“The Stonycreek has it all — near-wilderness, pristine trout waters; nationally acclaimed white-water adventure; and a watershed steeped in natural and historical resources,” said Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Richard Allan. “Our newest River of the Year has rebounded from abandoned mine drainage threats of the past to unlimited recreational potential of the future.
“Once again the River of the Year designation raises awareness of the river and its conservation needs, while the public voting format continues to generate local enthusiasm for conservation and recognition of the importance of our waterways.”
The three other finalists were: Kiskiminetas River, Middle Monongahela River and Upper Juniata River.
DCNR and the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers, or POWR, administer the River of the Year program. Local organizations submit nominations.
“Each of the waterways that were nominated is special and important in its own way,” Allan said. “We extend hearty congratulations to the local groups who nominated their rivers, and rallied support for them not only for this vote, but through all of their continued activities and advocacy.”
POWR helps train and organize local watershed associations, as well as the groups who lead a dozen sojourns on rivers around the state each year.
“This year saw record participation in the River of the Year selection process,” said POWR Project Manager Joshua Karns. “Congratulations to the supporters of the Stonycreek River, and thanks to the thousands of Pennsylvanians who voted. We look forward to working with the communities in the Stonycreek Watershed to promote and protect their river, and all of Pennsylvania’s waterways.”
Before emptying into the Conemaugh River in Johnstown, Stonycreek River flows 46 miles across the Allegheny Plateau in southern Cambria County and northern Somerset County. Anglers are drawn to Stonycreek Gorge’s nine miles of near-wilderness trout water, while the Stonycreek Canyon offers 15 rapids in four miles — the longest set of continuous rapids in the eastern United States.
Its waters now rebounded from the deadly effects of abandoned mine drainage, the Stonycreek River carves out a 468 square-mile watershed that is bordered by the Allegheny Front and Laurel Ridge, and contains rolling farmland, active and reclaimed strip mines, woodlands, and classic former coal-mining communities. The river corridor contains the historic Forbes Trail and Flight 93 National Memorial, Quecreek Mine Rescue Site, Quemahoning Lake, Greenhouse Park and Whitewater Park — the first constructed set of rapids for boaters in Pennsylvania.
There are a number of organizations working in partnership to support conservation and recreation activities along Stonycreek River. Primary is the Stonycreek Quemahoning Initiative Inc., a not-for-profit corporation formed by representatives of recreational, sporting, conservation, economic development and historical groups. Its mission is development and presentation of Stonycreek River heritage corridor’s assets.
Several events throughout the year will celebrate the Stonycreek’s designation, including a sojourn offering canoeists, kayakers and other paddlers a chance to experience life on the river, and encourage greater understanding of its challenges and potential.
The Stonycreek River also will be celebrated with an annual Rivers Month poster issued in June.
Pennsylvania’s River of the Year has been presented annually since 1983.
For more sojourn event information, visit www.pawatersheds.org or contact Joshua Karns at info@pawatersheds.org.
To learn more about DCNR’s Rivers Program, visit www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/rivers.
Today we have two more great grant opportunities to share with you. Both of these are regional opportunities for small grants to fund heritage programs. The eligible projects for each opportunity, however, include a lot of the kinds of projects typically done in watershed protection and education. One key to successfully funding your projects is [...]
Today we have two more great grant opportunities to share with you. Both of these are regional opportunities for small grants to fund heritage programs. The eligible projects for each opportunity, however, include a lot of the kinds of projects typically done in watershed protection and education. One key to successfully funding your projects is to look for unexpected funding sources. This might be the chance you’ve been waiting for.
The Lumber Heritage Region of Pennsylvania, based in the PA Wilds part of the state, is accepting applications for their 2012 mini-grant program. Eligible projects include implementation of elements of a watershed management plan, among other things. Click here for more details.
The Endless Mountains Heritage Region in Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties also has opened their 2012 mini-grant cycle. This program has more specific priorities, but there still may be room within them for your watershed project. Check out their site to see if your project qualifies.
The Southeast PA Treevitalize Watersheds program is currently accepting applications for funding to conduct tree planting in riparian zones and the naturalization of stormwater basins. Through this program, dozens of watershed restoration projects are conducted every year, resulting in thousands of trees planted in those sensitive water protection zones. The program receives funding from the Pennsylvania [...]
The Southeast PA Treevitalize Watersheds program is currently accepting applications for funding to conduct tree planting in riparian zones and the naturalization of stormwater basins. Through this program, dozens of watershed restoration projects are conducted every year, resulting in thousands of trees planted in those sensitive water protection zones. The program receives funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and corporate sponsor Aqua PA, as well as substantial in-kind contributions from various partners.
If you are interested, please hurry! The application period closes on December 30, 2011. For more information, visit the Treevitalize website.
The environmental Protection Agency has announced a request for proposals for the Urban Waters Small Grants program. Grants of up to $60,000 will be awarded for projects that will contribute to improved water quality and community revitalization. The goal of these Urban Waters Small Grants is to fund research, studies, training, and demonstration projects that [...]
The environmental Protection Agency has announced a request for proposals for the Urban Waters Small Grants program.
Grants of up to $60,000 will be awarded for projects that will contribute to improved water quality and community revitalization. The goal of these Urban Waters Small Grants is to fund research, studies, training, and demonstration projects that will advance the restoration of urban waters by improving water quality through activities that also support community revitalization and other local priorities.
Proposals are due by January 23. For all the details, visit the EPA website.
On December 8, Nick DiPasquale, director of EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program, will present a program entitled “Chesapeake Bay Restoration: Making our watersheds healthy again.” The event will be held at the Brandywine River Museum in Chadds Ford, PA. Refreshments and a self-guided holiday tour of the Brandywine Museum Galleries will be held from 6:00 to [...]
On December 8, Nick DiPasquale, director of EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program, will present a program entitled “Chesapeake Bay Restoration: Making our watersheds healthy again.” The event will be held at the Brandywine River Museum in Chadds Ford, PA.
Refreshments and a self-guided holiday tour of the Brandywine Museum Galleries will be held from 6:00 to 7:00. The main program will follow from 7:00 to 9:00.
If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Marti Coats at 610-388-8351.
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