THE 2022 GRANT ROUND IS NOW OPEN!
Letters of Intent must be submitted no later than 4 p.m. on February 14, 2022
The Schuylkill River Restoration Fund grants are available to non-profit organizations, watershed organizations, conservation districts and county, municipal and local governments to undertake implementation projects that will improve the quality and/or quantity of water in the Schuylkill River and its tributaries. Full grant program guidelines are below. Any questions about the grant submission process should be directed to Schuylkill River Greenways Deputy Director Tim Fenchel at tfenchel@schuylkillriver.org.
Click here to download 2022 Restoration Fund Grant Guidelines
Click here to download 2022 Land Transaction Assistance Grant Guidelines
As a significant provider of clean energy in our area, we at Limerick Generating Station are committed to the betterment of our community and surrounding environment. We are proud to partner with Schuylkill River Greenways as we all strive towards strengthening the natural beauty and health of our local ecosystem.
- Frank Sturniolo, Limerick Generating Station Site Vice PresidentSRG Distributes $337,500 to water quality improvement projects
The devastating impacts of Hurricane Ida showed the need for restoration projects along local waterways. Towns, homes and businesses near rivers, creeks and streams experienced extreme flooding.
The Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area continues to address this need with the distribution of $337,500 in grants this year to seven projects
helping to improve the regionโs water conditions and natural environment. The projects will improve water conditions through activities such as streambank fencing, mine drainage, and native plant installations to improve areas prone to flooding.
Since it was established in 2006, the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund has supported 121 environmental projects with an investment of $4.6 million.
โThe mission of the fund is to restore natural spaces in order to improve the ecosystem,โ said Schuylkill River Greenways Education Director Sarah Crothers. โOne of the main causes of major flooding, other than increased amounts of precipitation, is the lack of natural absorbent surfaces.โ
Crothers explained man-made surfaces such as concrete donโt soak up water. Natural buffers and landscaping like native trees, shrubs and grasses act as a sponge when it rains.
โThe Schuylkill River Restoration fund is made possible by all of our generous partners who recognize the importance of the awarded projects. Once implemented, projects have an immediate positive impact on the watershed,โ said Schuylkill River Greenways NHA Deputy Director Tim Fenchel.
Exelon has provided more than $3.1 million to the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund since it was founded; the Philadelphia Water Department has contributed $1.2 million over the past twelve years; Aqua PA has donated more than $225,000; and MOMโs Organic Market has donated approximately $10,000.
Press Event & Project Tour took place on Sept. 17, 2021 in Philadelphia
Schuylkill River Greenways, Schuylkill Action Network, Exelon Generation, Delaware River Basin Commission, Philadelphia Water Department, Aqua Pennsylvania, the Environmental Protection Agency and the PA Department of Environmental Protection will held a showcase on Sept. 17, 2021, in Philadelphia to announce the recipients of the 2021 Schuylkill River Restoration Fund. Guests of the showcase took a tour of agricultural projects at Northwestern Stables including runoff and paddock improvements.
In 2020, a total of $307,695 was awarded to nine projects in four Pennsylvania counties that will improve water quality in the Schuylkill River, a source of drinking water for almost 2 million people. The Schuylkill River Restoration Fund also celebrated 15 years. For the past 15 years, through the generous contributions of our program funders, the leadership of the Advisory Committee and the hard work of our applicants and partners, the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund has supported over 120 projects for the conservation and preservation of the Schuylkill River.
The Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area, Schuylkill Action Network, Exelon Generation, Delaware River Basin Commission, Philadelphia Water Department and Aqua Pennsylvania held a virtual press event on Sept. 10, 2020 to announce recipients of the 2020 Schuylkill River Restoration Fund. The online event included presentations by key partners, as well as several premier project videos. The video showcases were of projects in the Schuylkill River Watershed ranging from stormwater projects along the Schuylkill River Trail, to a stream restoration in the Tulpehocken Creek, to coal silt remediation in the headwaters of Schuylkill
