Pennsylvania's Clean Water Comeback

In the face of recent headlines about the Chesapeake Bay’s lagging progress, Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna River stands out as proof that strategic, local-first investments can yield measurable results.

In 2022, we created the Clean Streams Fund. This initiative, now backed by a historic $50 million annual recurring investment, is Pennsylvania’s largest-ever commitment to address non-point sources of pollution like runoff from agriculture, acid mine drainage and stormwater and it promotes innovative, community-driven solutions.

One of the Fund’s most impactful programs is the Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP). ACAP empowers local conservation districts to work directly with farmers, sharing costs for practices that reduce sediment and nutrient runoff. These aren’t just theoretical fixes. They’re practical, proven strategies that keep nutrients on the farm and out of our waterways, all while building healthier soil and more resilient farms.

Progress is reflected in the Chesapeake Bay’s health report card from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. The upper bay, which is fed primarily by the Susquehanna, earned its best grade in over 20 years last year and continues to score higher than most other areas of the bay. That’s not a coincidence. It’s the result of Pennsylvania’s deliberate, data-driven approach to watershed restoration. 

We’re also tackling legacy pollution. Just last month, over $5.2 million in new funding to clean up abandoned mine lands and reduce acid mine drainage was allocated to projects throughout the state.

As the Chesapeake Bay Program revises its watershed agreement for the next decade, Pennsylvania’s model offers a compelling blueprint: invest locally, empower the agriculture community and build partnerships that deliver results. 

We still have work do to, but Pennsylvania is proof that real progress is possible.

Sen. Gene Yaw was elected to represent the 23^rd Senatorial District consisting of Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga and Union counties. He serves as chairman of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, vice-chairman of the Chesapeake Bay Commission and chairman of the Commission’s Pennsylvania Delegation.

 Sen. Scott Martin was elected to represent the 13^th Senatorial District consisting of parts of Berks and Lancaster counties. He serves as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and is a member and former chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commission.