U.S. EPA announces $22.4 million to protect and restore Chesapeake Bay

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on June 25, 2024, $22.4 million in grants to 13 selectees, through the Innovative Nutrient & Sediment Reduction grant program.

The 13 grants will leverage $35.3 million in matching contributions to generate a total conservation impact of $57.7 million.

This program is currently administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) through a grant from the EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program Office. Over $12.4 million in funding for these awards comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), with the remaining $10 million coming from annual EPA appropriations.

The Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction (INSR) program aims to accelerate the implementation of water quality improvements, specifically through the collaborative and coordinated efforts of sustainable, regional-scale partnerships and networks of practitioners with a shared focus on water quality restoration and protection.

Since 2006, the INSR Program has provided more than $200 million to over 250 projects that have reduced 36 million pounds of nitrogen, nine million pounds of phosphorous and nearly 800,000 tons of sediment across the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

A list of the 13 selectees can be found below.

1. Chesapeake Conservancy, INC. – Accelerating Stream Delisting in Central Pennsylvania
2. Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley – Accelerating Clean Water and Conservation Outcomes in Shenandoah Valley (VA)
3. James River Association – Growing Riparian Partnerships to Improve Water Quality in the James River Watershed (VA)
4. Tioga County Soil and Water Conservation District – Stream Corridor Restoration in the Upper Susquehanna Watershed (NY, PA)
5. Sustainable Chesapeake – Improving Manure and Nutrient Management in the Chesapeake Bay Region (MD, NY, VA, PA)
6. Friends of the Rappahannock – Advancing Climate-Smart Conservation Through Innovation and Collaboration (VA)
7. Conservation Foundation of Lancaster County – Reducing Runoff and Reaching New Leaders in Lancaster (PA)
8. Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake – Developing Community Partnerships for Green Infrastructure and Equity Enhancement (PA)
9. Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Inc. – Sustainable Dairy Partnerships and Corporate Investment in the Chesapeake Bay (MD, NY, PA, VA)
10. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources – Implementing Forestry Best Management Practices in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (PA)
11. Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Inc. – Increasing Riparian Forest Buffer Adoption Across the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (MD, PA, VA, WV)
12. Trout Unlimited, Inc. – Improving Water Quality Through Riparian Restoration Practices (VA, WV)
13. The Mid-Atlantic 4R Nutrient Stewardship Association – Accelerating Water Quality Outcomes through Stronger Nutrient Stewardship Partnerships (DE, MD, PA)