The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t stop Bradford County Conservation District’s watershed program. Staff members complete surveyed, designed, and constructed 15 stream rehabilitation projects. With the cooperation of partners, these 15 projects resulted in nearly 1 mile of stabilized streams that prevented approximately 3,400 tons of sediment, 8,500 lbs of N (nitrogen), and 3,400 lbs of P (phosphorus) from entering Bradford County waterways, and subsequently, the Chesapeake Bay. The major funding source for stream work in 2020 was provided by the Environmental Stewardship Fund grants (Growing Greener, which provided funding to complete targeted work in the Satterlee and Wysox Creek Watersheds, as well as for work throughout Bradford County through the County Stream Initiative Program. The Bradford County Commissioners, in partnership with the Bradford County Conservation District were able to complete survey, design and construction of 10 sites where severe stream erosion was threatening a structure or sole access to a residence.
Additional funding for these projects was provided by the DEP Stream Improvement Program, which provides funding throughout the Commonwealth for primary residences or businesses that are threatened by severely eroding streambanks. Watersheds in Bradford County where this work took place included: Sugar Creek, Orcutt Creek, Towanda Creek, Buck Creek, and Wysox Creek.
These projects would not have been successful without the strong partnerships that have been formed between BCCD, Local, Federal, and State agencies, as well as the cooperation of Bradford County landowners.
