Bellefonte, PA – April 7, 2025– The Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited (PATU) is pleased to announce that Round 30 of the Coldwater Heritage Partnership’s Coldwater Conservation Grant Program is now open. Non-profit organizations, conservation districts, and municipalities are among those eligible to apply. Proposals for planning grants up to $10,000 and implementation grants up to $25,000 will be accepted until June 2, 2025.
CHP grants are made possible with financial assistance from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) through a Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2) grant administered by the Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, and through funding from the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds. The Coldwater Heritage Partnership is a collaboration between PATU, PA DCNR, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds.
Mariner East 2 Settlement Funding – In addition to traditional CHP funds, funding is also available for cold-water conservation projects in eighteen counties that were impacted by the Mariner East 2 and Revolution pipeline construction projects. This funding is made possible through a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General (OAG).
Eligible applicants in the following counties can apply for settlement funding in addition to regular CHP funds: Allegheny, Beaver, Berks, Blair, Cambria, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Huntingdon, Indiana, Lancaster, Lebanon, Juniata, Perry, Washington, Westmoreland, and York.
Successful applications require 1:1 match of cash and/or in-kind services. Mini-grants cannot be used as match toward any other DCNR-funded projects.
Additional information, along with the grant application form, can be found on the Coldwater Heritage Partnership website at www.coldwaterheritage.org. Website users can view an interactive map and searchable list of plans and projects that will aid grantees in locating existing plans and projects and identifying potential new projects in their watershed of interest. Applicants are asked to contact CHP Executive Director Eric Null, to discuss potential projects prior to applying. He can be reached at 724-640-1022, email eric.null@tu.org.
About the Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited
Since our founding in 1963, our mission has been to “conserve, protect, restore and sustain Pennsylvania’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds, especially our wild trout resources.” We restore streams through habitat improvement projects, conduct education and outreach programs related to water conservation and fisheries management, and work to educate the next generation about the importance of clean water and wild trout. Our council serves as a unified voice for the 49 local chapters representing nearly 15,000 members statewide. More information can be found on our website at https://patrout.org/.
Coldwater Heritage Partnership Receives $179,800 from PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
Funding will support the development of planning and implementation projects aimed at protecting and enhancing cold-water resources across Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited (PATU) is pleased to announce that we have been awarded a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA DCNR) to support the 2024 Coldwater Heritage Partnership’s Coldwater Conservation Mini Grant Program. Funding will be utilized to support CHP staff, provide cold-water conservation outreach, education, and technical assistance, and award planning and implementation mini grants to eligible entities across the state in 2024. These grants will be aimed at protecting and restoring important cold-water habitats and ensuring cold, clean, fishable water for all.
The CHP mini grant program is made possible with financial assistance from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources through a Community Conservation Partnership Program (C2P2) grant administered by the Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, AND through funding from the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds. The Coldwater Heritage Partnership is a collaboration between PATU, PA DCNR, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds.
“This funding will allow us to continue to provide funding and support to organizations across Pennsylvania who are working to protect and conserve important cold-water habitat for fish and other aquatic life,” said Rachel Kester, Program Director for the Coldwater Heritage Partnership. “With this funding we are also pleased to support a new position within the program – a Communications Coordinator – who will work to ensure that the successes realized through the CHP program are more widely known and encourage additional projects in areas where they haven’t previously occurred.”
The CHP program will begin accepting applications for the 2024 grant round in January 2024. Grants are typically awarded in March, followed by an 18-month grant period running from April to September of the following year. To view a map of previous plans and projects and learn more about the CHP application process and grant requirements, please visit www.coldwaterheritage.org.