The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $900,000 to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for protecting wetlands and aquatic resources.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is partnering with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources on this project.
“Wetlands play a significant role in protecting our nation’s water supply, ” said EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin.
“By taking action to protect and restore these valuable resources, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources are protecting sources of drinking water, preventing flooding, and making us more resilient to climate change.”
“Wetlands are vital parts of Pennsylvania’s ecosystem and play an important role in our state economy – they clean our water, provide habitat for wildlife, support the Commonwealth’s hunters and anglers, and protect our homes and businesses against the worst impacts of flooding, ” added Acting DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell.
“With this grant DEP will develop a restoration planning toolkit for wetland and floodplains, among other activities.”
In 2016, EPA’s mid-Atlantic region awarded approximately $2.8 million in Wetland Program Development Grants. Grant recipients also included the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Maryland Department of Environment.