BETHLEHEM, December 30, 2020 – State Senator Lisa Boscola announced today that the Department of Environmental Protection will invest $506,071 in 5 projects to clean up and protect waterways throughout the Lehigh Valley under the Growing Greener Program.

“The Growing Greener has a long history of making a positive impact on our environment and natural resources and these projects will make a needed impact on protecting our waterways across the Lehigh Valley,” Boscola stated. “I am very pleased to see the Friends of Johnston awarded a Growing Greener Grant to continue the work they are doing to protect and sustain the Johnston Preserve.”

The recipients of the Growing Greener Grants in the Lehigh Valley are as follows: 

  • Friends of Johnston, Inc for its Johnston Preserve  Storm Water Management Engineering and Permitting: $94,016
  • Wildlands Conservancy, Inc., Lehigh Valley and Lehigh River Watershed Landowner Outreach Phase II, $88,500
  • Lehigh County Conservation District, Cedar Creek Enhancement, South Whitehall Township, $60,375
  • Forks Township, Ramblewood Basin Retrofit, $163,180
  • Plainfield Township, Little Bushkill Stream Restoration, $100,000

Two of the primary goals under Pennsylvania’s Growing Greener Program are to invest in projects that protect watersheds from impairment due to nonpoint source pollution and to 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. 

“I am pleased that these state funds will assist these organizations and municipalities to continue to address the needs of our natural environment,” Boscola said.

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