AIRVILLE, PA — The Shapiro Administration marked another step in Pennsylvania’s environmental restoration efforts on Thursday, announcing a $130,000 investment to plant 700 trees along Orson Run in York County. The project aims to reduce agricultural runoff, improve local water quality, and support the long-term health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn joined Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay CEO Kate Fritz and local partners at a dairy farm in the Muddy Creek watershed — a tributary of the Susquehanna River — to highlight the value of streamside forest buffers.
“Every tree we plant is a step toward cleaner water, healthier farms, and a better future for our children,” said Secretary Dunn. “These streamside forests protect our waterways, support wildlife, and give farmers a new tool to care for their land. It’s inspiring to see so many partners come together to make a lasting difference for this farm, the Susquehanna River, and the Chesapeake Bay.”
The 2.5-acre riparian buffer will include 35 native tree and shrub species, such as sycamore, swamp white oak, elderberry, and silky dogwood. It is part of a broader 10.35-acre reforestation effort that will eventually include 2,700 trees on the third-generation dairy farm, which supplies milk to Land O’Lakes.
The project is supported through the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s Corporate Sustainability Initiative, which works with farmers and agricultural companies to promote conservation practices and sustainable land management. “The Commonwealth’s grant investments help us leverage other funding and resources available to farmers,” said Fritz. “By collaborating across the agricultural value chain, we can maintain the vitality of these local farms while delivering important ecosystem benefits.”
A Statewide Commitment to Cleaner Water
The tree planting builds on Governor Josh Shapiro’s ongoing environmental agenda, which includes more than 7,700 acres of new forest buffers and 1.5 million trees planted across the Chesapeake Bay watershed over the past two years. In 2024 alone, Pennsylvania invested $10.5 million in tree-planting and lawn-to-habitat conversion projects.
Last year, the University of Maryland’s Center for Environmental Science reported that the Chesapeake Bay reached its healthiest condition in two decades. The Upper Bay, which receives much of its water from Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna River, recorded one of the region’s highest grades — an indication that the state’s upstream efforts are making measurable progress.
“DCNR is responsible for managing and supporting the health of all forests across Pennsylvania — not just our state forests, but also private and community woodlands,” said State Forester Seth Cassell. “Our service foresters are available to work with private landowners, farmers, and municipalities to help them steward their forests and meet their goals.”
Potential Impact
Environmental analysts say the latest investment, though modest in size, represents an important example of how local, state, and private-sector cooperation can yield tangible benefits for Pennsylvania’s waterways. Streamside buffers filter sediment and nutrients before they reach streams, helping to reduce the nitrogen and phosphorus pollution that has long plagued the Chesapeake Bay.
For York County — an area dominated by agriculture — projects like this one can help farmers comply with nutrient management standards while improving soil health and protecting downstream ecosystems. Over time, such efforts could lessen Pennsylvania’s share of the Bay’s pollution load, a key benchmark under federal restoration agreements.
Pennsylvanians can contribute to these initiatives by donating to the Keystone Tree Fund through the state’s online portal or by adding a $3 contribution when renewing a driver’s license or vehicle registration.
With nearly 87,000 farms across the Bay watershed, experts note that scaling up similar partnerships will be critical to maintaining water quality improvements. Thursday’s event in Airville underscores how environmental stewardship and agricultural sustainability can move forward together — one stream, one farm, and one tree at a time.
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