Watershed Restoration and Protection Program (WRPP)
Forecasted
Watershed Restoration and Protection Program (WRPP) supports municipalities, watershed groups, colleges, and businesses in reducing polluted runoff and restoring and maintaining impaired Pennsylvania streams.
Funder: Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
Due Dates (Anticipated): May 2027 (Annual application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to $300,000 per project; 15% match of total project cost
Summary: Supports watershed protection practices that restore and maintain Pennsylvania streams impaired by nonpoint source polluted runoff.
Key Information: Natural gas producers as defined in Act 13 are excluded from eligible for-profit applicants.
Description
The Watershed Restoration and Protection Program (WRPP) supports restoration and continued maintenance of Pennsylvania stream reaches impaired by uncontrolled nonpoint source polluted runoff. Administered through Pennsylvania DCED and the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA), it draws on the Marcellus Legacy Fund established by Act 13 of 2012. Its ultimate goal is to remove restored streams from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Impaired Waters list.
Supported work includes agricultural and urban or residential runoff-control practices, bio-engineered stream bank and channel stabilization, and repair or maintenance of existing watershed protection Best Management Practices (BMPs). Water-quality monitoring may also track nonpoint source load reductions resulting from BMP implementation. Projects must demonstrate a watershed problem and economically justify costs against their benefits for pollution reduction and stream restoration.
