Pennsylvania farmers are playing a vital role in revitalizing the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and on Tuesday, they received a significant boost with a $14.3 million grant announcement. EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, along with Pennsylvania environmental leaders and Chesapeake Bay partners, gathered at a Lancaster County dairy farm to make the announcement.
The funding will be directed to Pennsylvania through EPA's Chesapeake Bay Program, made possible by the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This year, the Most Effective Basins (MEB) program will receive $23 million, a substantial increase from its usual $8 million annual allocation.
The MEB program focuses on delivering funding to areas with the greatest impact on downstream water quality. For Pennsylvania, 60% of this year's funding, $14.3 million, will directly support farmers in implementing conservation practices that benefit farms, local streams, and the Chesapeake Bay.
The grant program specifically targets states with excess nitrogen loads in river basins throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The funds will be utilized to implement best practices, such as forest buffers, manure storage, and fencing, to reduce agricultural runoff entering nearby streams.
Sen. Bob Casey emphasized that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act not only improves infrastructure but also provides vital support to farmers for the protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. He noted that improved conservation practices benefit both the environment and farmers' bottom line.
In addition to the increased funding, officials highlighted new means to efficiently deliver funds to grantees. At least $3 million of the MEB funding will be directed to a block grant in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to expedite conservation funding to farmers. An additional $4 million will support the work of Conservation Districts through the state Department of Agriculture and State Conservation Commission.
With this funding, Pennsylvania farmers are equipped to continue their important conservation efforts, ensuring cleaner water, healthier farms, and a revitalized Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Photo Credit: environmental-protection-agency
Categories: Pennsylvania, General