The McKean County Conservation District completes a wide variety of environmental projects to prevent non-point source pollution of local waterways and improve natural resources.
This work is funded by several grant programs, including Growing Greener from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, the Dirt, Gravel, and Low Volume Road program, and other private, state, and federal grant sources.
Examples of recent work include a streambank stabilization project on Skinner Creek in Liberty Township to protect utility infrastructure and reduce future erosion; and a culvert replacement on Dewey Avenue in Hamlin Township to prevent road failure and improve in-stream conditions with a larger bottomless box culvert. Best management practice projects on local farms stabilize animal heavy use areas and fence streambanks to prevent nutrients and soil from reaching streams. These projects benefit local landowners and protect streams and natural resources.
Dirt, Gravel, and Low Volume Road project grants are awarded to and completed by eligible entities through an annual application process. Low volume roads are roads with less than 500 vehicles in traffic daily. The funds greatly benefit local municipality budgets and improve local roadways. It is a water quality program, with projects preventing erosion run-off from entering streams. Stream crossings that are improved also provide better aquatic organism passage through larger crossings allowing the stream to pass through the structure.
Streambank stabilization projects alleviate serious erosion problems that degrade aquatic habitat for fish and other organisms. Erosion is the number one cause of pollution in Pennsylvania, and McKean County has over 1,800 miles of streams.
Development, agriculture, and the absence of riparian buffers — trees and shrubs along streams and rivers — over many years have accelerated the erosion rate. Streambank structures stabilize and build banks to prevent additional soil loss. These projects require general permits through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
One of the easiest do-it-yourself solutions for eroding streambanks is to plant trees, shrubs, or live stakes of native shrubs to establish a root system and cover bare soil. These roots can hold soil and banks in place naturally and inexpensively. Landowners with severe stream erosion problems can contact the District office for assistance.
