Home > News Bytes > DRBC Helps Announce Grants for Water Quality Improvement Projects in the Schuylkill Watershed
DRBC Helps Announce Grants for Water Quality Improvement Projects in the Schuylkill Watershed

DRBC Executive Director Steve Tambini and staff participated in the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund (SRRF) awards ceremony on September 17, 2014, which announced the distribution of over $330,000 to various water quality improvement projects throughout the Schuylkill River Watershed. The ceremony took place at the Cook Wissahickon School, Philadelphia, Pa., which was awarded SRRF grant monies in 2012 to convert part of its school grounds to a native meadow that would help reduce stormwater runoff from the school property and enhance the habitats of nearby Fairmount Park. The school was also one of the 2014 grant recipients, the funding of which will go towards building a second phase of the meadow project to further enhance stormwater management on the school's property. 

The $337,465 distributed from the SRRF in 2014 will directly support six projects and one land transaction grant, all of which will improve the water quality in the Schuylkill River and its tributaries, a source of drinking water for 1.5 million people. The funded projects will mitigate stormwater runoff and agricultural pollution, while the land transaction grant will assist with costs associated with permanent protection of priority watershed parcels.

Award ceremony speakers included Mr. Tambini, along with Schuylkill River Heritage Area's Executive Director Kurt Zwikl, Philadelphia Water Department's Kelly Anderson, Exelon Generation Limerick Generating Station's Chris Gerdes, and Cook Wissahickon School's Principal Melanie Lewan. Teachers Diane Powers and Jose Ramos and students from Cook Wissahickon, who helped create the native meadow, also provided remarks. The school's project has also drawn strong support from the Wissahickon Sustainability Council, a community group.

Contributors to the SRRF in 2014 included Exelon Corporation, the Philadelphia Water Department, Aqua PA, and MOM's Organic Market. Administered by the Schuylkill River Heritage Area (SRHA), the SRRF was initiated nine years ago with funds from Exelon Corporation, which has participated every year. To date, the SRRF has awarded over $2 million to 62 projects that help reduce pollution entering the Schuylkill River and its tributaries. DRBC approves the projects that are selected for funding using the Exelon funds and is one of several entities that sits on an advisory committee that chooses which projects get funded annually.

  • Click here to view the SRHA press release "Schuylkill River Heritage Area Awards Grants to Improve Water Quality."
  • For additional information on the creation of the SRRF, how it's managed, and its contributors, please click on the link in the "More Information" box.
  • To learn more about SRHA and their administration of the SRRF, please click on the SRHA link in the "More Information" box.
The awards ceremony for the 2014 Schuylkill River Restoration Fund (SRRF) took place on September 17 at the Cook Wissahickon School in Philadelphia, Pa. Photo by DRBC.DRBC Executive Director Steve Tambini (left) and U.S. EPA Region 3 Water Protection Division Director Jon Capacasa chat at the SRRF awards ceremony. Photo by DRBC.Schuylkill River Heritage Area (SRHA) Grants Program Coordinator Tim Fenchel addresses attendees at the 2014 SRRF awards ceremony. Photo by DRBC.SRHA Executive Director Kurt Zwikl addresses attendees at the 2014 SRRF awards ceremony. Photo by DRBC.DRBC's Steve Tambini, along with Cook Wissahickon teachers and students, listen to the speakers at the 2014 SRRF awards ceremony. The students pictured are Amani Terry, Bryanna Willis, Jonathan Rama, and Jacob Espinosa. Photo by DRBC.  DRBC's Steve Tambini offers remarks at the 2014 SRRF awards ceremony. Photo by DRBC.Exelon Generation Limerick Generating Station's Chris Gerdes provides remarks at the 2014 SRRF awards ceremony. Photo by DRBC.Philadelphia Water Department's Kelly Anderson addresses the crowd at the 2014 SRRF awards ceremony. Photo by DRBC.
Cook Wissahickon students provide their perspectives on how they are helping to improve their school's environment, thanks to grants from the SRRF. Pictured with them (right to left) are teacher Diane Powers and Principal Melanie Lewan. Photo by DRBC. Cook Wissahickon students provide their perspectives on how they are helping to improve their school's environment, thanks to grants from the SRRF. Pictured with them (right to left) are teacher Diane Powers and Principal Melanie Lewan. Photo by DRBC.SRHA's Kurt Zwikl provides copies of the 2014 Pennsylvania River of the Year poster for the Schuylkill River to event attendees. Photo by DRBC.This grove of native shrubs and plants helps "green" the school and teach about the benefits of gardening with natives. Photo by DRBC.Following the awards ceremony, attendees had the opportunity to tour the recently completed meadow project and learn about how it is helping reduce stormwater runoff from the school property. Photo by DRBC.Following the awards ceremony, attendees had the opportunity to tour the recently completed meadow project and learn about how it is helping reduce stormwater runoff from the school property. Teacher Diane Powers is pictured. Photo by DRBC.Teachers Diane Powers and Jose Ramos discuss with event attendees potential future projects at the school that are not yet currently funded. One example is improving the playground area by replacing the concrete with pervious materials. Photo by DRBC. Teachers Diane Powers and Jose Ramos discuss with event attendees potential future projects at the school that are not yet currently funded. One example is improving the playground area by replacing the concrete with pervious materials. Photo by DRBC.