Josh Shapiro, Governor | Pennsylvania Government
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is investing $130,000 to plant 700 trees along a stream at a dairy farm in York County. This initiative aims to improve local water quality and protect the Chesapeake Bay. The project will create a 2.5-acre streamside forest buffer along Orson Run in the Muddy Creek watershed. The buffer is intended to reduce runoff, prevent erosion, and filter nutrients before they reach the Susquehanna River, which is the largest tributary to the Chesapeake Bay.
The event will be attended by DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay CEO Kate Fritz, and Pennsylvania State Forester Seth Cassell. It is scheduled for Thursday, October 23, 2025, at the Druck Farm in Airville, Pennsylvania.
According to the press release, "Under Governor Josh Shapiro's leadership, Pennsylvania has planted 7,700 acres of forest buffers across the Chesapeake Bay watershed in the last two years, adding 1.5 million new trees that strengthen ecosystems, capture carbon, and safeguard clean water across the Commonwealth."
A recent report from the University of Maryland's Center for Environmental Science found that the Chesapeake Bay is in its healthiest condition in over 20 years. The Upper Bay, which receives water from the Susquehanna River, achieved one of the highest grades among areas of the Chesapeake Bay. The report attributes this progress in part to Pennsylvania's efforts over recent years.
The event highlights ongoing partnerships between state agencies and environmental organizations to improve water quality and environmental health in Pennsylvania and downstream regions.
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