The state's Growing Greener grant program will hand out $22.3 million this year to 120 stream improvement, watershed restoration, dam removal and flood control projects.

The Department of Environmental Protection grant awards announced yesterday include first-time funding of $2 million for operating and maintenance costs of existing abandoned mine drainage projects, and a new Watershed Renaissance Initiative to implement restoration plans on smaller watersheds.

This year's Renaissance Initiative funding of $381,000 will go to the Indiana County Conservation District to treat acid mine discharges from abandoned mines in the Bear Run watershed, Indiana County.

R. John Dawes, executive director of the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds, said the establishment of the $2 million fund for operations and maintenance of existing watershed restoration projects is much needed and long overdue.

"That's wonderful news. It shows a commitment from the top that will attract more money," Mr. Dawes said. "It's terrific to start accruing money for operation and maintenance of these systems because those expenses have always been problematic for watershed associations and the state."

The biggest single grant of almost $5.7 million was awarded to the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, to support farm-based stream restoration practices such as riparian buffers, wetlands restoration and stream bank fencing in 59 counties.

"The $22.3 million in grants ... will help undo this damage with effective treatment systems, agricultural best management practices, stabilization work, storm water management strategies and flood protection projects," said Gov. Ed Rendell. "Together, these measures will help restore the health and natural functions of our streams."

Four of this year's grants were awarded to Allegheny County projects. Bridgeville will get $50,000 for stream bank stabilization on McLaughlin Run; Upper St. Clair will receive $140,000 for water quality and habitat improvement on Chartiers Creek; Trout Unlimited, Penn's Woods West Chapter, will get $133,055 for stream restoration on Little Pine Creek; and Jefferson Hills will get $60,000 to stabilize a severely eroded section of Peters Creek.

The Peters Creek Watershed Association will get $59,055 to develop a watershed plan for Peters Creek in Allegheny and Washington counties.

Of the grant money allocated yesterday, $9 million comes from the Growing Greener program, $10.1 million from the Growing Greener II program and $3.2 million comes from a federal Clean Water Act funding program for agriculture-related projects.

Since 1999, the DEP has invested more than $190 million in watershed grants for 1,657 projects. The grants have been used to create and restore wetlands, restore stream buffer zones, eliminate sources of nonpoint pollution, plug abandoned oil and gas wells, reclaim abandoned mine lands and restore mine drainage polluted streams.

The DEP is accepting grant applications until May 16 for the next Growing Greener grant round. For more information or to download a grant application form, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us/growinggreener.