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# Consumptive Use Mitigation Grants

## Consumptive Use Mitigation Grants

Billmeyer Quarry consumptive use mitigation project in Lancaster County, PA

#### Grant Features

#### Who Can Apply?

#### Types of Projects

#### Grant Features

The goal of thegrant program is to fund projects that improve sustainability of streamflows andgroundwater during times of drought, for both water supplies and the aquatic ecosystem.
*Sideling Hill Creek, Juniata Subbasin, PA*

SRBC administers the grant program,which funds projects to improve awatershed’s resilience and ability to betterwithstanddrought conditions.Availablefunding comes from CU mitigation feesand is expected most years to exceed$4 million.Grants may cover a variety ofproject costs including land acquisition,green infrastructure, stormwatermanagement practices, technicalassistance, operations & maintenance, andmonitoring.

For full program details and requirements,including selection criteria, maximumaward amounts, required match, andeligible project types, viewSRBC’s website.

#### Who Can Apply?

The grant program is open to bothpublic and non-public entities: SRBC approved projects,government agencies, municipalities, colleges and universities, and 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations.

#### Eligibility and Priorities

Projects within theSusquehanna River Basinand those in adjacent basins where the mitigation will benefit the Susquehanna basin are eligible.

Overarching priorities include:
        -  Watersheds with high consumptive use and/or limited water availability 
        - Tangible benefits for Environmental Justice areas
        - Improved climate resiliency
View full PDF of map.

#### Types of Projects

*CU Mitigation Project: Lancashire #15 Abandoned Mine Drainage Treatment Plant*

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The grant program supports applications that will mitigate the impacts of CU, including projects that:
        -  Enhance water supply.  Storage and water releaseprojects that improve supply reliability suchas impoundments, inactive quarries , andunderground mine pools.
        -  Modify operations or implement new practices.  Practices that increase instreamflows or improve flow resilience duringdrought, such as conservation releases, aquifer storage and recovery ,and drought response actions.
        -  Modify demand.  Projects proposingchanges to conserve, reuse or recyclewater, or support the resiliency of resources.
        -  Improve environmental and water quality conditions.  Projects involving wetlandand stream restoration, treatment of mine drainage ,stormwater management andfloodplain restoration that will improve improve water quality ,increase water infiltration,and/or reduce localized flooding .

### What is Consumptive Use?

Consumptive use (CU) is defined as water thatis withdrawn from groundwater or surfacewater sources and used but not returned to thebasin undiminished in quantity. Some examplesinclude evaporative cooling at power plantsand industrial facilities, public water supplydiversions, hydraulic fracturing for natural gasextraction, golf course irrigation, and bottlingspring water.
*Bottled water production is a consumptive use.Photo 86346478 © Mark Agnor | Dreamstime.com*

SRBC regulates large consumptive uses andrequires mitigation for that use during criticallow flow periods and drought events. Althoughthere are several alternatives, most approvedprojects elect to pay a mitigation fee for theirannual consumptive use. Consumptive use feesgo into a special water management fund thatSRBC uses to developCU mitigation projects throughout the basinto offset impacts.

The fund also is used to investigate anddevelop other strategies for mitigating impactsand, importantly, funds theConsumptive Use Mitigation Grant Program.

#### Consumptive use fees fundingthe grant program help investin the Basin’s future resilienceto drought.

#### Consumptive Use Mitigation Grants

Managing the risk to water resources fromdrought is an on-going concern for theSusquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC),and one that has only grown due to theincreased threat of extreme climate events,increasing/competing water demands, andaging infrastructure.

In 2020, SRBC adopted aConsumptive Use (CU) Mitigation Policy that clarified its approachto CU planning and expanded the optionsfor how SRBC may undertake and achieveCU mitigation. Traditionally, SRBC relied onacquiring water storage for making targetedreleases to supplement streamflows. Now thepotential portfolio ofprojectscould includeexpanding the use of technology or applyingnew approaches to increasing water useefficiencies, utilizing recycled water/wastewateror improving water quality where wateravailability is constrained and every drop countsfor supporting users and the aquatic ecosystem.

The grant programprovides an opportunity for the Commission to expand partnerships andto encourage the water use sector to join usin bringing more innovative projects to life forimproving localwater availabilityand buildingwatershed resilience throughout the basin.