BETHLEHEM (January 5, 2024) – State Senator Lisa Boscola announced today that the Department of Environmental Protection has awarded $474,802 in state funding through the Growing Greener program and Act 167 grant program for four projects in the Lehigh Valley.
“The Growing Greener Program has a long history of making a positive impact on our Commonwealth’s environment and natural resources and this state investment to further protect the Delaware River and Bushkill Creel is another prime example,” Boscola stated. “Funding through the Act 167 program will allow the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission to make necessary updates to the Lehigh Valley Watershed Assessment to further protect waterways throughout our region.”
The following grants were awarded:
- Wildlands Conservancy – $175,000 – Dam Removal and Stream Restoration on the Bushkill Creek in Northampton County – Site #4;
- Bushkill Stream Conservancy – $120,000 – Bushkill Creek Restoration at Binney and Smith Preserve;
- Partnership for the Delaware Estuary – $149,802 – Expansion of Delaware River Innovation Partnership for Water Quality Improvement in Delaware River;
- Lehigh Valley Planning Commission – $30,000 – Lehigh Valley Watershed Assessment – Act 167 Update
One of the primary goals under Pennsylvania’s Growing Greener Program is to invest in projects that restore waterways damaged by non-point source pollution. Some examples of priority activities are restoration work to reduce pollutant load in impaired watersheds for which total maximum daily loads have been developed; projects in priority watersheds that would reduce the source of impairment; and priority activities that lead to water quality restoration and protection.
Under Act 167, The Pennsylvania Stormwater Management Act of 1978, counties are required to prepare and adopt a watershed stormwater management plan (“Act 167 Plan”) for each watershed located in the county as designated by DEP, in consultation with the municipalities located within each watershed, and must periodically review and revise such plans at least every five years. In the Lehigh Valley, Lehigh and Northampton counties have delegated the role of plan preparation to the LVPC.
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