Press release posted by the Foundation for Pennsylvania Wetlands on 23 April 2026

New grant program launched to support local efforts for environmental and public health

The Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds announces a new grant program to support community-led efforts to restore, preserve, and protect water quality in the Raccoon Creek watershed. This opportunity is a result of a consent decree following a complaint filed by the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), PennEnvironment, and Three Rivers Waterkeeper regarding the discharge of polystyrene pellets (nurdles) into Raccoon Creek. Nonprofit organizations, local watershed and friends groups, conservation districts, municipal or government entities, higher educational institutions, and more can now apply for grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000, depending on the type and scale of the project.

Raccoon Creek watershed

The Raccoon Creek Benefit Fund will fund projects in the watershed that protect and restore water and environmental resources. The Raccoon Creek watershed is located near the western edge of Pennsylvania in parts of Allegheny, Beaver, and Washington counties and flows into the Ohio River downstream of Pittsburgh. There is currently $475,000 available for projects.

“As the steward of these funds, the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds will ensure that the dollars from this settlement are strategically invested directly back into the communities of the Raccoon Creek watershed,” said Deborah Nardone, FPW’s executive director. “These investments are not made in isolation, but instead reinforce decades of conservation work already underway and in collaboration with the numerous organizations and agencies doing excellent work to protect and improve our streams and rivers.”

Funding priorities include projects that:

  • Improve water quality and aquatic habitat in Raccoon Creek and its tributaries.
  • Address pollution sources, including legacy and ongoing impacts.
  • Advance AMD/AML remediation, stream restoration, riparian buffers, and green infrastructure.
  • Support monitoring, data collection, and evaluation tied to restoration outcomes.
  • Strengthen local organizational capacity to deliver and sustain restoration work.
  • Protect land for conservation or public access purposes through acquisitions or easements.
  • Engage stakeholders through outreach, education, and communications that will help protect or improve the Raccoon Creek watershed.

Applications for the Raccoon Creek Benefit Fund will follow the two-step process of FPW’s conservation grants program, with a letter of inquiry (LOI) followed by a full proposal. LOIs will be reviewed on a rolling basis; full proposals will follow spring and fall deadlines.

LOIs are open now and will be accepted for consideration in the fall round of grant funding until Sept. 18, 2026. All applications must be submitted using the grant portal at apply.fpwgrants.org. Applicants are encouraged to discuss potential projects with FPW staff before applying.

To learn more and review the full grant guidelines, visit https://thefpw.org/grant-programs or contact FPW’s Executive Director Deborah Nardone at dnardone@thefpw.org or 814-669-4244.