Coldwater Heritage Partnership Grant

The Coldwater Heritage Partnership (CHP) offers two distinct grant opportunities designed to promote the protection, conservation, and enhancement of coldwater streams and their surrounding ecosystems in Pennsylvania. These grants serve both the planning and implementation phases of conservation efforts. The CHP is a collaboration between several entities including the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds, and the Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited. The partnership aims to foster community-driven stewardship of coldwater habitats through accessible funding and technical support. The Coldwater Conservation Planning Grant provides up to $10,000 to support the development of a comprehensive Coldwater Conservation Plan. These plans are foundational tools used to identify threats, impacts, and opportunities within a watershed. The goal is to enhance local awareness and develop actionable strategies for long-term stream stewardship. Eligible activities under this grant include gathering existing scientific data, analyzing ecosystem health, identifying problem areas, and formulating strategies for conservation. The completed plan must include several key sections: an introduction and background, watershed description, summaries of previous studies, identification of unique features, areas of concern, proposed actions, and a final summary. The Coldwater Conservation Implementation Grant is intended for projects that bring to life the recommendations established in a completed Coldwater Conservation Plan or similar qualifying documents. Applicants may receive up to $25,000 to carry out conservation activities such as in-stream habitat enhancements, best management practices for stormwater and agriculture, acid deposition treatment, streambank restoration, and educational outreach. Importantly, the implementation work must directly benefit coldwater streams previously studied in approved conservation planning efforts. These projects are assessed based on their alignment with existing plans, ecological impact, and engagement with local communities. Applicants for either grant must be based in Pennsylvania and include nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, municipalities, counties, conservation districts, or educational institutions. Organizations without 501(c)(3) status must collaborate with a fiscal sponsor that holds this designation. A 1:1 match is required, which can be met through in-kind contributions or cash. This match must directly support the development or implementation of the Coldwater Conservation Plan. Additionally, proposals that involve naturally reproducing trout populations, streams located on public land, or significant community involvement are prioritized during evaluation. The application cycle for the 2025 CHP Planning and Implementation Grants (Round 30) is currently open. All applicants are required to submit their proposals by the stated deadline, with 90% of the grant funds disbursed upon contract execution and the remaining 10% released following the submission and approval of the final report and budget. Although a specific deadline date is not provided in the source material, historical patterns and mention of annual cycles suggest a recurring funding opportunity. Contact information for the program is provided for applicants seeking guidance: Coldwater Heritage Partnership, PFBC Centre Region Office, 595 E. Rolling Ridge Drive, Bellefonte, PA 16823, phone number (814) 359-5233. Applicants are encouraged to discuss project eligibility and expectations with the CHP program director before applying. To strengthen the quality and competitiveness of proposals, applicants should also refer to tools like the PFBC Trout Streams Interactive Map Viewer and the DEP Integrated Report Map Viewer for identifying high-priority watersheds.