State Senator Lisa M. Boscola has announced that the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has awarded Recreation and Conservation grants through the Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2) specifically for Rivers Conservation and Riparian Forest Buffers .

“Through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Commonwealth is able to partner in local initiatives to improve the quality of life in our community,” Boscola said. “These grants will play an important role in protecting critical watersheds throughout the Lehigh Valley and beyond.”

Northampton County will receive $150,000 for a project focused on the restoration of 0.5 miles of Monocacy Creek in Archibald Johnston Conservation Area, located in the City of Bethlehem and Bethlehem Township.

Wildlands Conservancy was awarded five grants totaling $419,000 for projects impacting Lehigh and Northampton counties, and multiple counties in northeastern and southeastern Pennsylvania. These grants include:

• $50,000 to complete riparian forest buffer related outreach to streamside landowners in the Lehigh River Watershed;

• $88,000, Construction of approximately 15 acres of riparian forest buffers along waterways in the Lehigh River Watershed;

• $131,000, Restoration of Jordan Creek at Trexler Nature Preserve;

• $100,000, Restoration of Oughoughton Creek in Northampton County;

• $50,000, Restoration of Upper Bushkill Creek.

Contributed article