Seventy-two grants totaling nearly $31 million have been awarded through the Chesapeake Bay Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction (INSR) and Small Watershed Grants (SWG) programs, generating a combined conservation impact of $75 million. Notable projects include:
- Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay: $171,500 to convert marginal agricultural land into forest.
- The Nature Conservancy: $1.6 million for stream, wetland, and floodplain restoration in the Cocalico Creek watershed.
- Stroud Water Research Center: $1.999 million to install forested buffers at 45 farms, creating nearly 16 miles of new buffers.
- The Trust for Public Land: $150,000 to expand the Community Schoolyard model in northeastern Pennsylvania.
- Watershed Alliance of York: $847,682 to survey freshwater mussels and implement riparian buffers.
The initiatives are part of the EPA’s larger investment strategy for the Chesapeake Bay, aimed at improving water quality and habitats while fostering economic growth. Both programs support local conservation efforts and align with the commitments of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.
