Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Jessica Shirley and Fish and Boat Commission Deputy Executive Director for Administration Laurel Anders stocked brown and rainbow trout in Conowingo Creek alongside volunteers in Lancaster County and highlighted how stream restoration efforts and investments led by DEP are improving water quality and expanding fishing opportunities for angles across Pennsylvania.
The stocking took place in a restored section of Conowingo Creek supported by
Growing Greener and Section 319 funding — programs that reduce pollution, restore
waterways, and support healthier aquatic ecosystems — completed in 2023. The
project reduces pollution in the creek by an estimated 176 tons of sediment, 1,260
pounds of nitrogen, and 386 pounds of phosphorus annually.
“Programs like Section 319 and Growing Greener clean our streams and rivers by
removing nutrient and sediment pollution and making them great for not only the fish but
for all the other aquatic life that depends on clean water,” said Secretary Shirley. “That
clean water is also the source of drinking water for more than 11 million
Pennsylvanians, so it is more than just the fish that are benefitting from these projects
— it is the people of Pennsylvania as well. These projects don’t get onto the ground and
into the water without the support and partnership of county conservation districts, local
watershed groups, and other partners that all help us realize these successes.”
“Trout require cold, clean water, and the improvements we’re seeing throughout the
Commonwealth are resulting in remarkable fisheries,” said Anders. “Whether it’s the
presence of wild trout in thousands of miles of streams across Pennsylvania, or the
ability for us to stock millions of hatchery-raised trout for seasonal angling opportunities,
these fisheries wouldn’t be possible without a commitment to restoration efforts.”
Applications for Growing Greener and Section 319 grants will reopen April 22 through June 22, 2026, supporting projects that restore streams, improve watersheds, and reduce pollution statewide. Growing Greener represents the largest single investment of state funds in Pennsylvania’s history to address environmental challenges. In the 2025 grant round, 77 projects were selected to restore streams, improve watersheds, and address legacy pollution from abandoned mine drainage.
The federally funded Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Grant program
supports projects that implement best management practices in 45 watersheds across
Pennsylvania, with a focus on the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The program also
supports updates to Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs) and, new this year,
includes a Tier III mini grant program offering up to $15,000 per phase for stream
assessment, training, and laboratory analysis.
Nonpoint source pollution — caused by stormwater runoff, agricultural activity, and
abandoned mine drainage — accounts for approximately 53 percent of impaired
watersheds in Pennsylvania.
