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.
Donor Name: Schuylkill River Greenways National & State Heritage Area
State: Pennsylvania
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/14/2022
Size of the Grant: $20,000-$100,000
Detail:
The goal of the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund is to support projects in the Schuylkill River watershed that are consistent with restoration and water management goals for the entire basin.
Funding Priorities
Implementation Projects
- General Funding Area – Funding will be given to projects that improve water quality and/or quantity in the Schuylkill River watershed resulting from abandoned mine drainage, agricultural runoff, and storm water issues.
- Focus Area 1: Perkiomen Creek – At least 10% of available Exelon funds may be targeted toward implementation projects within the Perkiomen watershed. Eligible projects in the Perkiomen Creek Watershed may include storm water management, agricultural runoff mitigation, and pathogen remediation.
- Focus Area 2: Philadelphia Water Supply – A portion of the available funds will be used for projects that are able to demonstrate protection of the Philadelphia drinking water supply. Eligible projects will address storm water management, agriculture runoff and pathogen remediation within the drainage of, or in areas of significant influence on the Philadelphia drinking water supply in the Schuylkill River and the Schuylkill watershed in Philadelphia.
- Focus Area 3: Source Water Protection – Projects that address source water protection and have a direct impact on drinking water and water supply for communities within the watershed. Projects should align with the objectives outlined in the Schuylkill Action Network Strategic Plan.
Land Transaction Assistance Projects
These funds are directed to assist land trusts and conservation organizations with the transaction costs associated with the preservation of targeted lands within priority watersheds. A separate set of guidelines has been established for this program.
Funding Information
- Grant applicants may request between $20,000 and $100,000.
- Applicants working in the Perkiomen Creek Watershed may request between $5,000 and
- $100,000.
- Since the programs inception in 2006, the average grant award is approximately $40,000.
Grant Period
All projects must be completed by December 31, 2024. A one-year extension may be requested but must be submitted in writing and approved by the Advisory Committee.
Criteria
Evaluation factors:
- The project’s ability to improve the quality and/or quantity of water in the Schuylkill River
- The project exhibits high standards of planning and design, including implementation of Best Management Practices
- The relationship to previous watershed restoration efforts
- The project is consistent with local, state, federal, or other plans, for example, River Conservation Plans, Nutrient Management Plans, Act 167 plans, etc.
- The project is positioned for implementation with project design substantially complete and needing little or no additional planning
- The project is single-phased or in the final phase of implementation. Projects that will require multiple phases to have demonstrable affects on water quality and/or quantity will not be considered unless the submitted phase will result in measurable improvements
- The project will require minimal monitoring following completion to demonstrate positive environmental effects
- The project will effectively leverage the resources of two or more partners, including a sponsoring partner with sufficient capacity to manage and complete the project.
- The projects ability to utilize volunteers
- The project’s ability to positively engage and impact low income or underserved communities. Along with our partners in the Schuylkill Action Network (SAN) the Fund is working to ensure our collaborative action benefits community members fairly across race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, income, age, or ability, with an added intent to connect historically disconnected communities. These and other values of the SAN can be found in their Strategic Plan. (See link in Funding Priorities section)
- The project exhibits innovative, green and sustainable approaches and design.
- Grant funds may not be used for projects being undertaken exclusively to meet state, federal or local regulations and requirements.
- It is expected that all projects will consider climate change issues during both the design and construction phases.
For more information, visit Schuylkill River Restoration Fund.
