HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced funds for a McKean County project aimed at cleaning up water in the McKean County Conservation District.

The funding, in the amount of $382,492, is for the Upper Allegheny Ag. BMP Project of the McKean County Conservation District through DEP’s Growing Greener Plus program.

“Growing Greener awardees help keep Pennsylvania clean,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “It is imperative that communities in Pennsylvania receive the necessary funding to reduce pollutants in area waterways.”

Statewide, more than $18 million has been awarded to fund over 60 projects to clean up waters. Grantees have up to three years to implement their projects from the award date.

DEP announced funding for these seven awards at the Erie County Conservation District Office, which received one of the seven grants and plans to utilize these funds for the Pennsylvania Vested in Environmental Sustainability program (PA VinES).

Growing Greener is the largest single investment of state funds in Pennsylvania’s history to address Pennsylvania’s critical environmental concerns of the 21st century.

Three other state agencies also received funds to distribute for appropriate projects: the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to administer farmland preservation projects, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for state park renovations and improvements, and the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority for water and sewer system upgrades.

Growing Greener projects in the northwest region include projects addressing stream bank restoration and in-stream habitat improvements, assisting farmers to install best management practices to reduce agricultural runoff to streams and rivers, and reducing nutrient and sediment pollution in the Lake Erie Watershed.