SUMMARY OF ACTIVE RCPP PROJECTS IN PENNSYLVANIA
Scaling the adoption of adaptive nitrogen management in the Chesapeake Bay watershed
Project Purpose: The partners will use low-cost crop imaging and nitrogen crediting technology to improve nutrient management and cover crop implementation
Fiscal Year: 2023
Lead State: MD
Lead Partner: The Nature Conservancy
Funding Pool: Chesapeake Bay Critical Conservation Area
Project Area: portions of the Chesapeake Bay in MD, PA, and DE
NRCS Funding: N/A
Partner Contributions: $ 16,225,000
Status: Active
Application Periods: contact The Nature Conservancy for application information
Application Ranking Criteria: contact The Nature Conservancy for ranking criteria
Kittatinny Ridge Conservation Landscape
Project Purpose: Four state agencies and five conservancies will work together to permanently conserve agriculture and forest lands in the Kittatinny Ridge landscape
Fiscal Year: 2019
Lead State: PA
Lead Partner: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Funding Pool: Chesapeake Bay Critical Conservation Area
Project Area: Kittatinny Ridge in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
NRCS Funding: $9,928,571
Partner Contributions: $38,982,500
Status: Active
Application Periods: Next round of easement parcel contract applications are due May 15th , 2026.
Application Ranking Criteria:
Buffalo Creek Watershed Conservation Alliance
Project Purpose: The Buffalo Creek Watershed Alliance will conduct land management planning, implement conservation practices, and purchase easements to support a long-term goal of de-listing the watershed
Fiscal Year: 2019
Lead State: PA
Lead Partner: Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania
Funding Pool: State/Multi-State
Project Area: Buffalo Creek Watershed
NRCS Funding: $1,169,618
Partner Contributions: $1,163,815
Status: Active
Application Periods: No more applications are being accepted for Land Management contracts.
Next round of applications for easement parcel contracts are due May 15, 2026.
Application Ranking Criteria:
Healing Mine-Scarred Landscapes via Restoration (Alternative Funding Arrangement)
Project Purpose: This project will plant trees to re-forest land that has been previously mined
Fiscal Year: 2021
Lead State: PA
Lead Partner: US Endowment for Forestry and Communities
Funding Pool: State/Multi-State
Area: PA, KY, OH, WV
NRCS Funding: $2,178,500
Partner Contributions: $3,598,745.78
Status: Active
Application Periods: Visit Bosland Growth to inquire about submitting an application.
Farmland Preservation and Climate Change Mitigation
Project Purpose: Implement climate-smart practices on preserved farms, and fund additional Farmland and Forest easement acquisition
Fiscal Year: 2022
Lead State: PA
Lead Partner: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Funding Pool: State/Multi-State
Project Area: PA - Statewide
NRCS Funding: $7,850,000
Partner Contributions: $12,795,255
Status: Active
Application Periods: Next round of applications for easement parcel contracts or land management contracts are due May 15, 2026.
Application Ranking Criteria: Land Management and Easement
Delisting Ag-Impaired Streams in Central PA
Project Purpose: Land management practices for water quality with intent to help “delist” ag-impaired streams
Fiscal Year: 2022
Lead State: PA
Lead Partner: Chesapeake Conservancy
Funding Pool: Chesapeake Bay CCA
Project Area: Lycoming, Union, Snyder, Clinton, Centre, and Huntingdon Counties
NRCS Funding: $9,996,006
Partner Contributions: $11,495,313
Status: Active
Application Periods: Next round of applications for land management contracts are due May 15, 2026.
Application Ranking Criteria:
SUMMARY OF COMPLETED RCPP PROJECTS IN PENNSYLVANIA
Ag BMP Implementation in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Project Purpose: Berks County Conservation District will an effort to address resource concerns on agricultural operations in sub-watersheds of the Chesapeake Bay portion of Berks County
Fiscal Year: 2019
Lead State: PA
Lead Partner: Berks County Conservation District
Funding Pool: Chesapeake Bay Critical Conservation Area
Project Area: Chesapeake Bay portion of Berks County
NRCS Funding: $2,232,143
Partner Contributions: $2,294,875
Status: Active
Application Periods:
Application Ranking Criteria: Land Management
Buffalo Creek Watershed Conservation Alliance
Project Purpose: The Buffalo Creek Watershed Alliance conducted land management planning, implementation of conservation practices, and purchased easements to support a long-term goal of de-listing the watershed. **Easements are still eligible for enrollment in FY2026**
Lead Partner: Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania
Land Management dollars obligated: $599,865.14
Easement dollars obligated to date: $123,221
Lancaster’s Common Agenda for Clean Water
Project Purpose: The Foundation has taken the lead to implement comprehensive conservation systems needed to achieve stream delisting and Chesapeake Bay restoration on agricultural lands in priority watersheds in Lancaster County.
Lead Partner: Conservation Foundation of Lancaster County
Land Management dollars obligated: $4,793,115.10
Turkey Hill Clean Water Partnership
Project Purpose: This project has expanded the technical and financial assistance available to develop and implement CNMPs on livestock operations to reduce nutrient and sediment loss to surface waters.
Lead Partner: Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
Land Management dollars obligated: $2,524,183.18
Productive Farms and Clean Streams for Berks and Chester Counties
Project Purpose: Partners have conducted conservation planning and implemented various conservation practices combined with riparian forest buffers.
Lead Partner: Stroud Water Research Center
Land Management dollars obligated: $1,208,057
Delaware River Watershed Working Lands Conservation and Protection Partnership
Project Purpose: Partners worked together to implement conservation practices on working lands, and to conserve and protect wetlands in the William Penn Foundation priority Delaware River Watershed Clusters.
Lead Partner: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Land Management dollars obligated: $4,022,000
Easement dollars obligated: $375,000
Comprehensive Watershed Conservation in Dairy and Livestock Landscapes of the
Chesapeake Bay
Project Purpose: Partners implemented high impact, priority conservation practices in targeted sub-watersheds in selected counties in three states in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
Lead Partner: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Land Management dollars obligated: $2,976,000
Project Area Maps:
Mason-Dixon Working Lands Partnership
Project Purpose: The Alliance led an effort to accelerate adoption of priority conservation practices on working lands in Maryland and Pennsylvania
Lead Partner: Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
Land Management Dollars Obligated: $469,126
Cerulean Warbler Appalachian Forestland Enhancement
Project Purpose: The American Bird Conservancy will led an effort to implement conservation practices and enhance habitat for the Cerulean Warbler in multiple states
Lead Partner: American Bird Conservancy
Land Management Dollars Obligated: $2,946,734
Soil Health: Improving Land, Water, and Producer Profitability
Project Purpose: Partners provided education and outreach combined with financial assistance to improve soil health, water quality, and farm profitability
Fiscal Year: 2017
Lead State: Pennsylvania
Lead Partner: Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Funding Pool: State
Project Area: Center, Clinton, and Lycoming Counties
NRCS Funding: $420,847
Partner Contributions: $422,972
Status: Completed
Application Periods: No longer accepting applications
CCCD Partnership for Chesapeake Bay Water Quality
Project Purpose: Chester County Conservation District led and effort to address water quality resource concerns by implementing conservation practices in the Chesapeake Bay portion of Chester county
Lead Partner: Chester County Conservation District
Land Management dollars obligated: $2,500,000
Implementing Conservation Practices and CNMPs on Pennsylvania Preserved Farms
Project Purpose: The PA Department of Agriculture and County Farmland Preservation agencies addressed water quality resource concerns with conservation practices on Pennsylvania preserved farms
Lead Partner: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Land Management dollars obligated: $2,462,222.52
Easement dollars obligated: $785,760