Apr 29, 2014 2 min read

Three local watershed organizations recently received nearly $5,000 in grants from the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and Dominion Foundation.

The grants were awarded as part of the groups’ Watershed Mini Grant Program, which provided more than $30,000 to watershed organizations in 13 counties across Pennsylvania this year.

In Washington County, the Chartiers Creek Watershed Association received the largest award of $2,300 to help restore Catfish Creek banks in the city of Washington.

Joan Jessen, a member of that association, said grant money will be used to plant various shrubs and small trees along the creek to help stabilize the bank. Work will likely begin in the fall.

The association already stabilized one bank and “took out some of the junk that had been dumped” into the creek, with help from the city of Washington. A $1,550 grant from the Conservancy and Dominion Foundation in 2012 helped fund the first streambank restoration project.

The Washington County Watershed Alliance received a $1,500 grant for organizational promotion, outreach and general operating expenses.

Donna Riggle, secretary of the Buffalo Creek Watershed Association, said the group will use its $1,000 grant for watershed quality monitoring and general operating expenses.

Riggle said the group focuses on environmental studies, water monitoring, macroinvertebrate sampling and restoration projects.

“We’re going to spread it as far as it can go,” Riggle said of the funds.

The Buffalo Creek association also recently received a $1,000 grant from Pennsylvania American Water Co.

All three organizations received their awards at a reception in Blairsville.

The Watershed Mini Grant Program provides assistance to the region’s watershed groups and helps to cover expenses for operating costs, restoration projects, organizational promotion and outreach.

The organizations will accept proposals for the 2014-2015 season in October.