HARRISBURG, PA — In a significant boost to environmental conservation efforts in Chester County, the Brandywine Red Clay Alliance (BRC) has been awarded more than $200,000 in state grants. The funding, announced this week by State Rep. Christina Sappey and State Sen. John Kane, both D-Chester, will support critical flood mitigation projects in the region.
The BRC has been granted a $117,775 Commonwealth Financing Authority award for stream restoration at the East Branch Red Clay Creek headwaters. This initiative aims to enhance water quality by implementing a holistic approach featuring stream restoration across 1,850 feet of the creek, flood plain connection, and an expanded riparian buffer. The project is a continuation of upstream agricultural best management practices aimed at reducing the flow of nutrients and sediments into the headwater stream.
An additional $91,700 from state Growing Greener funds will bolster Pocopson Township’s Pocopson Creek Watershed Restoration Plan. This watershed assessment and planning project will identify known impairments, assess water quality, evaluate riparian buffer habitat and land use data, and prioritize areas for restoration throughout the Pocopson Creek Watershed study area.
The plan will also outline strategies for future restoration, prioritizing sections for riparian buffer habitat improvement, stream restoration, flood plain reconnection, and other best management practices. These efforts are designed to enhance water quality, aquatic habitat, and riparian buffer habitats.
Sappey praised the BRC, expressing her satisfaction with the organization’s receipt of the grant. “They are an outstanding organization with the experience and skill to plan and implement important projects like these that ultimately benefit all residents in the district,” she said.
Kane echoed this sentiment, lauding the project as a model for environmental conservation. He commended BRC’s dedication to reducing contamination and pollution in Chester County. “I take pride in supporting this mission to rejuvenate our watershed and preserve our ecosystem for future generations. Congratulations to the entire team for securing the funds they rightfully deserve.”
These grants, awarded by the Commonwealth Financing Authority through the Watershed Restoration Protection Program and the Department of Environmental Protection’s Growing Greener initiative, underline the state’s commitment to supporting organizations and municipalities that work to improve public parks, recreation areas, greenways, trails, and river conservation.
As these projects move forward, Chester County residents can look forward to cleaner waterways, improved habitats, and more robust flood mitigation — all key to preserving the county’s natural beauty and ecological health for generations to come.
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