Grant funding available to improve Lebanon County creek watersheds

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is seeking applications from conservation partners for projects to be conducted in the Quittapahilla and Tulpehocken creek watersheds in Lebanon and Berks counties.

Deadline for grant applications is 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19. Grant recipients will be notified by the end of February.

Funds are available through a settlement agreement between the commission and Helix Ironwood LLC related to the operation of an electric generation facility located in South Lebanon Township. Money is to be used solely for projects that will improve aquatic habitat, water quality, improve or expand recreational use of the fishery, or studies related to these issues in these watersheds.

During this round of grants, there is a total of $188,000 available to fund projects.

The Quittapahilla Creek watershed covers 77 square miles in Lebanon County. The Tulpehocken Creek watershed encompasses 219 square miles in Lebanon and Berks counties and includes Blue Marsh Reservoir.

According to the project application, proposals must provide one or more of the following aquatic resource benefits:

• Improved aquatic habitats (lakes, streams, wetlands) for fisheries and aquatic life.
• Improved water quality, recreational fishing and boating opportunities.
• Studies related to these topics.

Grants can be used for stand-alone projects or to supplement other funding for larger projects that are designed to improve aquatic habitat, water quality, or recreational use.

Examples of acceptable project activities include instream fishery habitat restoration or enhancement, instream barrier removal to restore aquatic organism passage, riparian buffer plantings, wetland restoration/protection, fish stocking, maintenance or creation of facilities to encourage, improve or expand recreational angler and/or boater access, and studies related to these issues.

According to the release, groups eligible to submit a grant application for consideration include nonprofit organizations such as sportsmen’s groups, watershed associations, and conservancies, as well as government agencies at the local, state, or federal level. For this grant period, applicants are required to provide at least a 25% match of the total project cost with a contribution of cash and/or in-kind services (including labor and/or materials).

More information, including application materials, is available on the Tulpehocken and Quittapahilla Watershed Grant Program page at fishandboat.com. Applicants may also contact Jeff Schmid, fisheries biologist, at (814) 762-1523 or jschmid@pa.gov.