A six-year-old buffer on Lititz run in Millport, Pennsylvania. Photo by CBF Staff

Susquehanna Watershed Restoration

One of the longest rivers in America, the Susquehanna River extends over 400 miles from its headwaters in New York to its confluence with the Chesapeake Bay. The Susquehanna provides over half of the fresh water to the Bay, and along the way it provides drinking water to thousands of people. Unfortunately, the Susquehanna and many of her tributaries suffer from pollution, pollution created largely by the nearly 4 million people living within her watershed. The pollution comes from a variety of sources, some, like our own daily activities, and others that come from industries and agriculture.

CBF's efforts in the Pennsylvania portion of the Susquehanna watershed are focused on helping communities and farmers improve water quality by starting locally. Whether it's working with farmers to implement better farm practices, or with local watershed associations and other groups to plant trees along streams—we work one-on-one with people to make change happen.

Since 1997, CBF has directly invested more than $25 million in helping over 5,000 Pennsylvania landowners, primarily farmers, to implement conservation measures. CBF funds have leveraged well over $100 million in additional funds and modeled effective conservation strategies. Seven field staffers provide technical assistance on forested buffer installation through USDA's Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). Since 2001, CREP forested buffers have leveraged roughly $95 million in state and federal funds and aided over 4500 PA landowners (available to non-farmers & farmers).