POTTSTOWN PA – Letters of intent are being accepted now through Feb. 15 (2024; Thursday) from private and government organizations interested in obtaining grants for projects that would improve conditions in the Schuylkill River watershed.
During its 2024 grant cycle, the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund has the potential to award a total of nearly $500,000 in grant money for projects “that improve the quality of water in the watershed,” Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area said in a launch announcement.
Successful projects most often “focus on three major sources of pollution: storm water run-off, agricultural pollution, and abandoned mine drainage,” the heritage area reported.
For more information and materials regarding the grant application process, requirements, and deadlines, see the Restoration Fund webpage, or send an e-mail to Tim Fenchel at tfenchel@schuylkillriverorg.
About the grant program
The grant program is the result of a partnership, begun in 2006, that involves Constellation Energy, the Delaware River Basin Commission, and the heritage area. Funding for the grants is provided by Constellation’s Limerick Generating Station, The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Aqua PA, and the Philadelphia Water Department.
Philadelphia Water will play an even larger role this year, the department noted. Its contribution to the restoration fund for 2024 is rising from $100,000 to $250,000, and the department hopes to maintain that level annually in the future.
“This increase in funding will really allow the (water department) to do more outside the city to protect our resources in the Schuylkill watershed, and to continue to enhance these incredible partnerships and project opportunities,” department Deputy Water Commissioner Marc Cammarata said.
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