CENTRE COUNTY — The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced on Wednesday, Nov. 20, that the organization has awarded two environmental-based projects in Centre County nearly $400,000 to further support conservation efforts.
College Township will receive about $300,000 of the funds from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Community Conservation Partnerships Program for the development of ClearWater Conservancy’s Community Conservation Center along Spring Creek. The funding for the center follows $2 million from the federal government announced in October and another $750,000 from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program announced earlier this month.
“I am proud to support this new center which will be a cornerstone for community building and environmental stewardship,” Representative Paul Takac, D-College Township, said in a statement. “It will provide new and unique opportunities for folks to engage with nature, learn about conservation and actively participate in hands-on projects to protect our environment and the Spring Creek watershed. This long-awaited and innovative project will create jobs, attract visitors and showcase the incredible natural beauty of our region.”
The DCNR grant for the planned 12,000-square-foot facility will support the foundational work, the construction of a pedestrian walkway, an access drive, a parking area, ADA-accessible pathways, lighting, utilities, landscaping and other infrastructure aspects.
Additionally, a separate grant of $99,700 was awarded to ClearWater Conservancy to install six acres of riparian forest buffers in the Susquehanna River Watershed.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, a riparian forest buffer is an area adjacent to a body of water (stream, lake, wetland) consisting of trees and other shrubbery that are managed differently than the surrounding wildlife to provide conservation benefits.
“Riparian buffers, the transitional area between land and waterways, have important roles in our ecosystem. By planting these areas with native trees and shrubs, they act as natural filters that trap pollutants from stormwater and agricultural runoff, preventing them from reaching our waterways,” a press release from ClearWater Conservancy explained. “These buffers also provide critical wildlife habitats, stabilize stream banks, improve in-stream fish habitat and reduce flooding and soil erosion.”
The funding for the riparian forest buffers also comes from the DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program. The program looks to support projects that develop new parks, rehabilitate existing landscapes and protect natural habitats. This grant also contributes to PA DCNR’s broader goal of promoting sustainable environmental practices and improving the health of Pennsylvania’s natural resources.
“Riparian buffers are a win-win for our environment because they reduce pollutants and sediment from entering our waterways while also protecting against erosion, enhancing groundwater recharge and creating habitat to support local wildlife,” Takac emphasized. “These are the kind of forward-thinking investments that help protect our natural resources for generations to come.”
According to ClearWater Conservancy, the project’s goal is to overall improve water quality in central Pennsylvania through four areas: stream assessment, stewardship, restoration and protection. This program will educate streamside landowners on vegetated buffers, restore the buffers with native trees and shrubs and steward the forests with the volunteer group, Streamside Stewards.
The project is expected to begin with landowner outreach in 2025 and will complete the plantings by 2027.
“We’re so grateful to receive funding from the DCNR to continue our work restoring forested riparian buffers in the region,” Jennifer Dombroskie, riparian program manager at ClearWater Conservancy, said. “These buffers will not only protect our local waterways but also contribute to the overall health of the entire watershed, benefiting communities, wildlife and future generations.”
Since 1980, ClearWater Conservancy has worked to protect the natural resources of central Pennsylvania as a nationally accredited land trust and locally formed organization. ClearWater Conservancy currently has protected more than 11,000 acres of land and water in addition to having restored 200 acres of streamside forests along more than 26 miles of stream.
