Chiques Creek Reenvisioned Project

A collaborative watershed restoration initiative to support Pennsylvania’s pilot alternative TMDL approach.

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Penn State was awarded a Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in 2015 to facilitate a watershed partnership in the Chiques Creek watershed. Drawing from past successes with the “Conewago Creek Initiative”, the AEC team plans to facilitate collaborative work among diverse stakeholders in the watershed. There are many groups already doing great work in the Chiques Watershed, and the AEC team hopes to bring all stakeholders together to increase successes and share resources.

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The project is meant to complement the alternative TMDL approach work that the PA Department of Environmental Protection and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission have been leading over the last year. By bringing together public and private entities, the Chiques Creek Reenvisioned partnership hopes to increase outreach and engagement of landowners in the watershed and accelerate the adoption of land management practices to improve water quality, in support of existing and continued efforts in the watershed.

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Goals of the Project:​

 

1. Development of a watershed partnership and organizational structure to facilitate collaboration and collective action.

2. Development and implementation of a comprehensive monitoring plan for the watershed to establish baseline conditions and measure impact and changes in condition.

3. Development of a strategic watershed plan for implementing actions to achieve water quality goals.

4. Achieving baseline compliance for all farms in the watershed.

5. Increased implementation of BMPs on agricultural lands, leveraging existing funding sources and partnerships.

6. Demonstration of programs for cost effective tracking and verification of BMP implementation.

7. Development and delivery of “Read the Farm” whole farm conservation Extension programming that brings farmers and service providers together in a collaborative, field based learning environment.

8. Development and delivery of professional training on design, construction and maintenance of stormwater best management practices for municipalities and the local landscape community.

9. Increased implementation of stormwater best management practices on urban/suburban lands through an innovative multi-municipal consortium and through best strategies for cost effective use of funds.

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For questions and to get involved in the partnership, contact:Kristen Kyler, Project Coordinator, Penn State Agriculture & Environment Center klk343@psu.edu or 717-948-6609