Pennsylvania has over 117,000 miles of roads. Of that total, over 25,000 are unpaved, predominately dirt and/or gravel. For many years, concern has increased regarding runoff generated from dirt and gravel roads. About 5 years ago, Pennsylvania Trout (a council of “Trout Unlimited”) began to voice collected concerns about sediment pollution originating from unpaved roads causing problems in the state’s premier trout streams. From those concerns, a Task Force comprised of sportsmen and women, environmental resource agencies, local government representatives, private companies, citizen environmental groups, Penn State researchers, and legislative staff was assembled to further investigate those concerns. From that investigation, a locally-based, locally-controlled, cooperative approach to eliminate non-point source pollution occurring from rural roadways was recommended. Long-story-short, legislation was passed to provide money from the motor license fund, through Conservation District’s to municipalities to employ “environmentally sound” maintenance of dirt and gravel roads…to the tune of $4,000,000 a year!!!

The total funding dollars are divided among Pennsylvania’s 66 conservation districts based largely upon the total of unpaved road areas in each respective county. From there, any township that maintains dirt and gravel roads (excluding paved or tar and chip) is eligible to apply for a road maintenance ‘grant’. The only requirements are that the individual who is responsible for the project attends a two-day training session on environmentally sensitive road maintenance, the road is owned by the municipality and is open to public travel. Municipalities make application to the conservation district (1 page!), typically based upon specific site reviews and discussions. Annually, all applications are reviewed by the Quality Assurance Board (QAB), which is made up of a non-voting chairman appointed by the conservation district, a representative of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, a representative of the PA Fish and Boat Commission, and a representative appointed by the conservation district directors. Applications are ranked based upon a set of locally determined criteria, and funded based upon available funds.

The best part of this program is that it is handled completely at the local level. Once a grant has been awarded, the municipality schedules and completes the improvements based upon the time frame and conditions agreed upon in the contract. The project is managed exactly like any other road project the municipality performs. After the job is completed, the municipality is reimbursed for project expenses associated with the grant. That’s IT!!!

The goal of the program is to control the amount of sediment leaving the roadway and entering streams. Since it is a cooperative approach, we try to balance grant funding across the county by maximizing the amount of in-kind donation from the municipality, typically by means of equipment and labor. Any materials necessary for achieving the goal of controlling sediment pollution such as surface/subsurface drainage improvements, driving surface and ditch stabilization, vegetation management, or equipment related costs (that which the municipality cannot perform) are eligible expenses.

Cornplanter $3,750.00                     Cherrytree $8,550.00                   

Jackson $7,000.00                           Mineral $16,000.00                         

Oil City $3,250.00    

Check out project photos at our Photo Gallery