HARRISBURG, PA — The health of Pennsylvania’s rivers and lakes is showing measurable gains, with state officials reporting dozens of miles of streams and thousands of acres of public lakes restored, alongside a major infusion of funding aimed at accelerating pollution reduction across the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
On Thursday, December 11, the Department of Environmental Protection released its draft 2026 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment report, the Commonwealth’s biennial snapshot of surface water conditions. The report documents the restoration of 67 miles of streams and 7,105 acres of public lakes since 2024, achievements state leaders say reflect sustained investment and tighter coordination among agencies, local governments, and landowners.
The report, required under the federal Clean Water Act, evaluates rivers and lakes for uses including drinking water, aquatic life, fish consumption, recreation, and a newly added special protection category. Waterways that fail to meet standards for one or more uses are classified as impaired.
DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley pointed to restored recreational use in Presque Isle Bay on Lake Erie and water quality improvements in Hungry Run, a priority Chesapeake Bay watershed, as signs that long-term strategies are delivering results. She said clean water improvements benefit residents, wildlife, industry, and outdoor recreation statewide.
Pennsylvania continues to lead nationally in transparency, offering a fully digital and interactive report that allows residents to check the status of local waterways. This year’s assessment expanded coverage, newly evaluating or reevaluating more than 10,300 stream miles and nearly 18,900 acres of public lakes. Since reporting began in 2004, the state has restored more than 1,099 stream miles and 35,500 lake acres.
The report is open for public comment through Monday, January 27, 2026.
Momentum continued Friday, December 12, when DEP announced $17.7 million in 2026 Countywide Action Plan grants for counties within Pennsylvania’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The funding supports 222 approved projects expected to reduce more than 113,000 pounds of nitrogen, nearly 29,000 pounds of phosphorus, and 11.8 million pounds of sediment each year.
State officials said Pennsylvania has cut more than ten times as much nitrogen pollution in the past five years as it did in the previous decade, with monitoring data showing marked improvements in nutrient and sediment levels.
The funding announcement follows Governor Josh Shapiro’s unanimous selection earlier this month to chair the Chesapeake Executive Council, the first time in two decades Pennsylvania has led the multi-state body. The council also approved a revised Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement committing member states to pollution reduction goals through 2040, with a midpoint review in 2033.
Grants were awarded to conservation districts and county agencies across 28 counties, with the largest allocations going to Lancaster County, Chester County, and a multi-county regional planning commission serving Dauphin, Perry, Juniata, and Mifflin counties. The funding combines state Environmental Stewardship Fund dollars with federal Environmental Protection Agency support, including targeted investments in the Octoraro and Conowingo watersheds.
DEP officials said the Countywide Action Plan model empowers local teams to choose projects that fit community needs, from stream restorations and tree plantings to agricultural best practices and stormwater controls. All 34 counties required to develop action plans are now actively implementing them.
Together, the latest water quality report and Chesapeake Bay investments mark a pivotal moment in Pennsylvania’s long-running cleanup effort, as officials aim to convert years of planning into visible improvements in streams, rivers, and lakes across the Commonwealth.
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