88 Growing Greener Projects Will Improve the Economic and Environmental Health of Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) announced $16.5 million in Growing Greener funding for projects including cleaning waterways, restoring streambanks, preventing flooding, and reclaiming mine-scarred lands and reducing pollution.  The $16.5 million includes $12.6 million in Watershed and Flood Protection grants and $3.9 million for Non-Point Source Pollution Control grants.

For a complete list of the 2009 grants (announced in March 2010), visit http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/growing_greener/13958/watershed_grants/588895
For a database of Growing Greener grants awarded since the beginning of the program in 1999, visit http://www.dep.state.pa.us/grants/growgreen.asp
PA DEP News Release, April 5, 2010

Report Confirms Growing Greener II Money Is Gone With No Replacement In Sight

The Joint Legislative Budget and Finance Committee has issued a report confirming that nearly all of the $625 million in Growing Greener II bond funds have been committed to projects.  Once the funds are spent, the Environmental Stewardship Fund will drop from $54 million to $15 million.  To make the issue worse, debt service payments will increase from $30 million to $50 million a year.  The report detailed how the funds have been spent.  Out of 1,500 projects, 316 were farmland preservation projects, 66 were community and economic development projects, 441 were conservation and natural resource projects, 685 were environmental protection projects, 9 were fish and boat commission projects, and 29 were game commission projects. 

To view the full report, visit http://lbfc.legis.state.pa.us/reports/2010/44.PDF
To view a summary, visit http://lbfc.legis.state.pa.us/reports/2010/44fs.PDF
PA Environment Digest, March 29, 2010
http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=15246

Monitoring Bridges: Early Warning System for Rust Developed

Concrete bridges can be damaged by road salt used during the winter, and can ultimately collapse.  Salt breaks down into ionic compounds that leach through the concrete to the reinforcing steel rods, causing them to rust.  Experts at the Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems IMS in Duisburg have developed a new sensor-transponder that can continuously measure and monitor how deep the ions have leached into the concrete.  The first field tests are underway. 

ScienceDaily, April 24, 2010
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100421111355.htm

New Report Calls on States to Regulate Water Pollution From Agriculture

A new Report, “Cultivating Clean Water” was released by the Environmental Law and Policy Center and the Mississippi River Collaborative.  It discusses the effectiveness of state-based regulatory programs as they relate to agricultural water pollution from manure, fertilizer, and other agricultural pollutants and management programs to control nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. 

Storm Water Solutions, March 31, 2010
http://www.estormwater.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=showNewsItem&newsItemID=20412

Alternative Turfgrasses Show Potential for Use on Golf Course Fairways

Golf courses can negatively affect the environment by using large amounts of water, fertilizers, and pesticides.  Scientists are working on more sustainable methods, including alternative turfgrasses.  A new study published in HortScience provides four turfgrass species that are healthier for the environment.  In the northern US, golf courses typically grow creeping bentgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, or perennial ryegrass.  These species require fertilization, irrigation, and pesticides.  A research study has shown that sheep fescue, Chewings fescue, colonial bentgrass and velvet bentgrass has potential for use on low-input golf course fairways.

ScienceDaily, April 21, 2010
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100420114233.htm

Rising Water Temperatures Found in US Streams and Rivers

New research published in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment shows significant long-term warming in 20 major U.S. streams and rivers.    Researchers analyzed historical records from 40 sites and found that annual mean water temperatures rose by .02 to .14°F per year.  Warming was typically correlated with increased air temperatures, typically found in urban areas.  Increases in water temperatures can negatively impact aquatic biodiversity, biological productivity, and the cycling of contaminants through the ecosystem.  The most rapid rate of increase was in the Delaware River near Chester, PA. 

ScienceDaily, April 7, 2010
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100406101444.htm