Pennsylvanians spend about as much recreation time in the state's waterways as they did two years ago, despite an increase in agricultural toxins trickling into the rivers.
In 2020, nearly 30% of the state's waterways were considered "impaired." Now, more waterways are in some way damaged, according to a biennial water quality report released Thursday by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
The increase hasn't gone unnoticed. This year, more than $3.5 million will be funneled into 14 watershed restoration and protection projects in Philadelphia suburbs and throughout southeast Pennsylvania, where waterway impairment from farm runoff is most severe, a DEP statement said on Friday. The funding is to be included in the state's Growing Greener grants.
