Celebrating A Decade Of Growing Greener Watersheds
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The 10th Anniversary of the Growing Greener Program – Program History & Accomplishments
On December 15, 1999 Gov. Tom Ridge and the General Assembly created the five year, nearly $645 million Growing Greener Program which continues to be the largest single investment in cleaning up and restoring the environment in Pennsylvania's history.
The original program invested in watershed restoration, preserving open space, investing in parks and recreation, reclaiming abandoned mines and wells, upgrading sewer and drinking water systems.
In 2002, during the recession following September 11, Gov. Schweiker and the General Assembly expanded the funding for the basic Growing Greener Program by adopting a new $4.25/ton fee on municipal waste disposed in the state, expanding the investment from $650 million to $1.3 billion through 2012.
In 2005 Gov. Ed Rendell and the General Assembly passed Growing Greener II, allocating a $625 million bond issue passed by voters in 2004 and added to the basic Growing Greener purposes.
The program expanded to include alternative energy development projects, downtown redevelopment, historic preservation, funding for an energy efficient appliance tax holiday and funding for the first time to the Game and Fish and Boat Commissions. In addition, each county was provided with funding to do local projects in each of these and the original Growing Greener categories.
As a result of the changes made in 2005, Growing Greener project funding will largely end in 2011 with the spending of the last of the bond issue. Most of the remaining funds from the fee enacted in 2002 will be used to pay off the bond issue.
Fundamental Change
At its core, Growing Greener fundamentally changed the state's approach to cleaning up our rivers and streams by empowering community-based watershed groups to take their own initiatives to clean up their own watersheds using local partners.
Because of Growing Greener we no longer use the old top-down, the state knows best approach.
The change was needed because of a change in the kind of water pollution affecting our streams. We found 96 percent of the streams in Pennsylvania did not meet water quality standards because of abandoned mine land, farmland and stormwater runoff, not wastewater pipes discharging into our rivers.
You could not attack these non-point sources of pollution the same old way. A new grassroots partnership was needed and Growing Greener provided the tools to do it.
Find out more in the following sections on Recognition, Accomplishments, Find Projects In Your Area and the Growing Greener Timeline.
Recognition
The Council of State Governments honored the Growing Greener Program with its coveted 2001 Innovations Award which recommends the program as a model for other states to follow. That same year Gov. Ridge was named Conservationist of the Year by the PA Wildlife Federation and the Pennsylvania Audubon Society based on the Growing Greener Program initiative.
In 2002 the Department of Environmental Protection accepted the River Hero Award from the River Network on behalf of all watershed groups involved in the Growing Greener Program. DEP was also recognized with the Sponsor of the Year Award from Ducks Unlimited as a result of the Growing Greener Program.
In 2003 the Growing Greener Program received the Karl Mason Award from the Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Professionals.
Accomplishments
1999 – 2004
From 1999 to 2004, Growing Greener has produced significant educational and environmental benefits for Pennsylvania’s watersheds. More than $163 million has been awarded in watershed grants. Local sponsors have added another $397 million to that effort in support of these projects.
– Create or restore 5,931 acres of wetlands;
– Complete 737 miles of stream buffer restoration;
– Build 205 miles of stream improvement structures;
– Reclaim 5,239 acres of abandoned mine lands;
– Organize 139 watershed organizations;
– Restore 500 miles of streams from acid mine drainage; and
– Plug 1,670 oil and gas wells.
2005 – 2008
From 2005 to 2008, the Growing Greener II program has provided $179 million to an expanded set of programs, including more than–
– $64 million to reclaim dangerous abandoned mines that also hinder economic development;
– $39 million for watershed protection projects;
– $5.1 million to help municipalities provide safe water to their residents by innovative technologies; and
– $700,000 to ensure the public’s safety by funding projects that improve the effectiveness and integrity of dams and flood-protection measures.
Copies of the annual project lists from 2005-2008 funded by Growing Greener II are available online
Find out more in the Growing Greener Timeline.
Find Projects In Your Area
To find grants awarded in your county, municipality or watershed, visit the Department of Environmental Protection Growing Greener Project Database.
Growing Greener Timeline
1999 —————————
February 2, 1999 – Gov. Ridge Proposes Growing Greener Initiative as Part of Budget Address
July 1999 - First Statewide Acid Mine Drainage/Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference
December 15, 1999 – Gov. Ridge, members of the General Assembly, celebrate signing of Growing Greener into law– the Environmental Stewardship and Watershed Protection Act– to provide nearly $645 million over five years to clean up Pennsylvania's environment. (House Bill 868)
Accomplishments: This first year $37.5 million was distributed to 242 associations, schools, colleges, local governments, clubs and environmental groups. With the help of these funds:
– 3,603 acres of wetlands are being restored;
– 117 miles of riparian buffer are being restored;
– 279 miles of streams impacted by acid mine drainage are being cleaned up;
– nearly 800 acres of abandoned mine lands are being reclaimed; and
– 43 miles of stream improvement structures are being built.
– In this first year, $44.5 million in matching funds supplemented the Commonwealth’s investment.
2000 —————————-
January 4, 2000 - DEP Starts Accepting Growing Greener Applications, schedules grant workshops
January 8, 2000 - First 100 Days of Growing Greener Kicks Off
January 13, 2000 - First Growing Greener Watershed Restoration Grants awarded under Growing Greener Program.
January 20, 2000 - First Growing Greener Open Space and Habitat Grants awarded.
March 3, 2000 - First $3.6 Million Growing Greener Grants Announced for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Watershed Restoration
March 10, 2000 - First $20 Million in Growing Greener Funding for State Park Improvements
March 16, 2000 - First $15 Million in Growing Greener Grants for Local Parks, Recreation, Open Space Projects
March 22, 2000 - First $12.4 Million in Growing Greener Grants Awarded by PennVEST for Clean Water Projects
April 7, 2000 – First Growing Greener Funds Used to Protect Wild Resources
April 18, 2000 – First Full Round of $26 million in Growing Greener Grants Announced in Almost Every County
April 22, 2000 - 30th Anniversary of Earth Day, End of First 100 Days of Growing Greener
April 27, 2000 – Counties Offered Growing Greener Funding for 42 Watershed Specialists
June 2, 2000 – Nearly $4 Million for Mine Reclamation Projects
September 13, 2000 – DEP Accepts First Growing Greener Technical Assistance Proposals
September 26, 2000 – Watersheds.TV an online video website by the GreenTreks Network and Watershed Weekly an Online Newsletter by the PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers Start To Share Inspiring Stories of Watershed Restoration.
October 13, 2000 - First Governor's Award for Watershed Stewardship
- First Statewide Watershed Conference in State College attracts 325
December 1, 2000 - $42 Million in Growing Greener Grants Announced
Accomplishments: This second year $50.1 million was distributed. With the help of these funds:
– 476 acres of wetlands are being restored;
– 71 miles of riparian buffer are being restored;
– 65 miles of stream improvement structures are being built;
– 61 miles of AMD impacted stream are being improved; and
– 818 acres of abandoned mine lands are being reclaimed.
– In this second year, $49.8 million in matching funds supplemented the Commonwealth’s investment.
First Year Report – DEP Growing Greener
2001 —————————-
February 6, 2001 - $140 Million in Growing Greener Grants Proposed for 2001-02 Budget
April 24, 2001 – Gov. Ridge Receives Conservationist of the Year Award from PA Wildlife Federation and Audubon Pennsylvania for the Growing Greener Initiative
May 8, 2001 - DEP Refocuses Environmental Protection Programs Based On Watersheds in Environmental Futures Initiative
June 26, 2001 – 25 Honored With First Governor's Watershed Stewardship Awards
Accomplishments: This third year $50.1 million was distributed. With the help of these funds:
– 182 acres of wetlands are being restored;
– 51 miles of riparian buffer are being restored;
– 83 miles of streams impacted by acid mine drainage are being cleaned up;
– 500 acres of abandoned mine lands are being reclaimed; and
– 63 miles of stream improvement structures are being built.
– In this third year, $35.7 million in matching funds supplemented the Commonwealth’s investment.
2002 —————————–
April 16, 2002 – 25 Honored With Second Governor's Watershed Stewardship Awards
May 1, 2002 – Growing Greener Wins 2001 Council of State Government's Innovation Award
May 2002 – First Watershed Awareness Month Celebrated - Senate Resolution 224, House Resolution 516
May 2002 – DEP Accepted The 2002 River Hero Award from River Network on Behalf of All Watershed Groups In Pennsylvania Working on the Growing Greener Program
June 29, 2002 - Growing Greener Was Expanded By Adding a $4.25/ton fee on municipal waste disposed Pennsylvania which increased DEP's portion of Growing Greener to $547.7 million from the original $240 Million. The Program was extended through 2012. (House Bill 2044)
August 7, 2002 – Nearly $35 Million in Growing Greener Grants Awarded
October 9, 2002 – DEP Named 2002 Ducks Unlimited Sponsor of the Year
October 31, 2002 – First $3.3 Million in Innovative Nutrient Reduction Technology
Accomplishments: In this fourth year of the program, more than $50 million was awarded. With the help of these funds:
– 810 acres of wetlands are being restored;
– 299 miles of riparian buffer are being restored;
– 82 miles of streams impacted by acid mine drainage are being cleaned up;
– 257 acres of abandoned mine lands are being reclaimed; and
– 19.5 miles of stream improvement structures are being built.
– In this fourth year, $66.5 million in matching funds supplemented the Commonwealth’s investment.
2003 —————————–
May 1, 2003 – Growing Greener Program Receives 2003 Karl Mason Award from the PA Association of Environmental Professionals.
September 18, 2003 - $37.4 Million In Growing Greener, Federal OSM Set Aside Grants Awarded
October 7, 2003 - 443 Growing Greener Projects Completed Statewide
Accomplishments: With the help of the funds awarded this year–
– 330 acres of abandoned mine lands are being reclaimed;
– 460 acres of wetlands are being restored;
– 700 miles of streams impacted by non-point source pollution are being improved;
– 500 miles of riparian buffer are being planted;
– 500 miles of stream banks are being enhanced; and
– 11 new watershed groups are being formed.
– In this fifth year, $103 million in matching funds supplemented the Commonwealth’s investment.
2004 —————————–
February 3, 2004 – Gov. Rendell Announces Proposed $800 Million Growing Greener II Bond Issue Expanding the Original Program Growing Greener Program to Include Alternative Energy and Brownfields Reuse
July 14, 2004 – Growing Greener Funds 64 County Watershed Specialists
November 4, 2004 - $5.5 Million In Growing Greener Watershed Grants Awarded
Accomplishments: In spite of the significant cut in funding, Growing Greener helped:
– 250 acres of abandoned mine lands are being reclaimed;
– 400 acres of wetlands are being restored;
– 300 miles of streams impacted by non-point source pollution are being improved;
– 250 miles of riparian buffer are being planted;
– 500 miles of stream banks are being enhanced; and
– 3 new watershed groups are being formed.
– In this sixth year, $38 million in matching funds supplemented the Commonwealth’s investment.
DEP Growing Greener 1999 – 2004 Accomplishments and in addition:
– 2,881 acres of abandoned mine lands are being reclaimed by DEP;
– 1,616 abandoned oil and gas wells are being plugged by DEP; and
– $14 million in innovative technology grants through Growing Greener.
2005 —————————–
March 2, 2005 – Watershed Stewardship: A Planning And Resource Guide Made Available
April 13, 2005 – Adopted Legislation Putting a Question on the May Election Ballot Asking Voters to Approve a$625 Million Growing Greener II Bond Issue – (House Bill 2)
May 17, 2005 - 60 Percent of Voters Approve $625 Million Growing Greener II Bond Issue
July 13, 2005 - Legislation Approved to Allocate $625 Million Growing Greener II Bond Issue, Expanding the Original Program to Include Alternative Energy, Brownfields Reuse, Downtown Redevelopment, Historic Preservation, Funding for an Energy Efficient Appliance Tax Holiday, Funding for the First Time for the Game and Fish and Boat Commissions and a County-Level Growing Greener Program. Funds will be Spent Over Six years and will End in 2011. (House Bill 3)
The legislation also:
– Transfered $50 Million from the Environmental Stewardship (Growing Greener) Fund to finance the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program over the next two years; and
– Authorized up to $60 Million annually from the Environmental Stewardship Fund for payment of Growing Greener II bond debt service
2006 —————————-
July 10, 2006 – Growing Greener Funds 66 County Watershed Specialists
Accomplishments: DEP 2005-06 Growing Greener II Annual Report
Growing Greener II Reports From Other Agencies
2007 —————————-
August 22, 2007 - $154 Million Investment in 415 Growing Greener II Projects in the departments of Agriculture, Environmental Protection, Conservation and Natural Resources, Community and Economic Development and the Game and Fish and Boat Commissions.
Accomplishments: DEP 2006-07 Growing Greener II Annual Report
Growing Greener II Reports From Other Agencies
2008 —————————
Accomplishments: DEP 2007-08 Growing Greener II Annual Report
Growing Greener II Reports From Other Agencies
2009 —————————-
February 20, 2009 - $21.5 Million Invested in 144 DEP Growing Greener II Projects
