This is not a theoretical question. DEP is currently developing a Clean Water Technical Toolbox for every county in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This toolbox contains a wealth of data on water quality in local streams and identifies potential strategies to reduce pollution through countywide action. DEP has set nitrogen and phosphorus reductions for each county that – if met – will help us all achieve Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay obligations. If counties like yours voluntarily agree to create and implement a countywide action plan to meet the goal, DEP will offer you a dedicated grant to fund the effort, as part of the state’s Phase 3 Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP).
Should you participate? Maybe. Here are a few benefits your county could receive by volunteering:
You can leverage DEP funds to meet local water quality goals and address issues you haven’t had the budget to address previously.
Farms operate on very lean budgets and are under pressure from a dwindling operator population and pressure to sell. For us to truly improve water quality, we need to prove that Best Management Practices exist on farms and build more where improvements are needed. But the agricultural community needs money and help identifying the best approach. This program will do that.
You’ll receive more funding and technical resources to support the agricultural community.
Many of your local communities are struggling to address aging infrastructure and meet the pollutant reduction obligations of MS4 permits, where required. By aligning countywide goals to the actions local communities take, you can provide funding to support their efforts and leverage the resources to do more.
You’ll have the opportunity to tackle acid mine drainage issues.
Many local communities still suffer the effects of acid mine drainage in their local lakes and streams, but there has been little momentum to address this issue. You have the option to craft a plan that meets DEP’s goals while addressing acid mine drainage at the same time.
You’ll be able to hire additional staff to support water quality efforts.
The Phase 3 WIP funding includes money to support additional staff to implement the program. This could be a valuable opportunity for conservation district and planning department staff.
You can influence future changes to stormwater regulations and guidelines.
DEP is working closely with its Phase 3 WIP county partners, and they are using what they learn through these efforts to inform their evolving approach to stormwater guidelines and regulation. This is your opportunity to influence their direction.
You’ll reduce the chance of regulatory obligations later.
If Pennsylvania doesn’t meet its 2025 obligations, it may be forced to move from a voluntary approach to enforceable requirements. If that happens, counties will likely have less say about the approach they take, less freedom to mold the plan to their own local goals, and less grant funding success.
You’ll optimize your chance of receiving other state-funded grants.
Because meeting Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay goals is a major priority for DEP, grant applicants that can demonstrate their projects have a direct impact on those goals are likely to receive preference in the selection process.
Do you want to know more about what preparing a countywide action plan would look like? Read this article on the countywide action plan process.