Approximately half of Pennsylvania’s impaired waterways are polluted from nonpoint source pollution. Major sources of nonpoint source pollution include urban and agricultural runoff, atmospheric deposition, on-lot sewage systems, earthmoving, stream hydromodification (alteration of natural stream flows and channels), and timber harvesting. When rainfall or snowmelt runs over the land or through the ground, the runoff picks up pollutants, depositing them into rivers, lakes, wetlands, or into groundwater.
The purpose of the Growing Greener Watershed Restoration and Protection Program (Growing Greener) is to address nonpoint source pollution through local, watershed-based planning, restoration, and protection efforts, which will then restore those impaired waters and protect waterways from further nonpoint source pollution.
The priorities for this grant round are BMP implementation, technical assistance projects, agricultural erosion and sediment control or nutrient and manure management plans, and priority projects located in or benefiting Environmental Justice Areas (EJA). Applications will score higher for projects that will have the greatest direct, positive impact that meet Growing Greener’s goals. Applications that are accurate, complete, and propose to perform priority work will score higher during the grant application review process.
All proposals will be competitively reviewed for eligibility, completeness, criteria, and environmental benefits using a standardized scoring rubric based on the grant guidance. Depending on the proposal, applicants may receive a higher score by completing the workplan items that directly relate to the project. To make efficient use of grant funds, DEP collaborates with partnering funding agencies to avoid funding duplicate projects.
Some, but not limited to, examples of projects would be agricultural BMPs, fish habitat structures, floodplain restoration, riparian forest buffers, agricultural erosion and sediment control plans, nutrient or manure management plans, watershed assessment or restoration plans.
2026 Growing Greener application deadline dates are to be announced. If you are interested in the Growing Greener Plus Grant Program, contact SCCD Watershed Specialist Jillian Pagnotti to schedule a site visit: [email protected], 570-782-2105, or visit the following website:
The purpose of the Growing Greener Watershed Restoration and Protection Program (Growing Greener) is to address nonpoint source pollution through local, watershed-based planning, restoration, and protection efforts, which will then restore those impaired waters and protect waterways from further nonpoint source pollution.
The priorities for this grant round are BMP implementation, technical assistance projects, agricultural erosion and sediment control or nutrient and manure management plans, and priority projects located in or benefiting Environmental Justice Areas (EJA). Applications will score higher for projects that will have the greatest direct, positive impact that meet Growing Greener’s goals. Applications that are accurate, complete, and propose to perform priority work will score higher during the grant application review process.
All proposals will be competitively reviewed for eligibility, completeness, criteria, and environmental benefits using a standardized scoring rubric based on the grant guidance. Depending on the proposal, applicants may receive a higher score by completing the workplan items that directly relate to the project. To make efficient use of grant funds, DEP collaborates with partnering funding agencies to avoid funding duplicate projects.
Some, but not limited to, examples of projects would be agricultural BMPs, fish habitat structures, floodplain restoration, riparian forest buffers, agricultural erosion and sediment control plans, nutrient or manure management plans, watershed assessment or restoration plans.
2026 Growing Greener application deadline dates are to be announced. If you are interested in the Growing Greener Plus Grant Program, contact SCCD Watershed Specialist Jillian Pagnotti to schedule a site visit: [email protected], 570-782-2105, or visit the following website:
