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Government shutdown looms after Trump-backed bill fails; Environmental groups sue CA Air Resources Board over biogas credits; NY elected officials work to electrify municipal buildings; Need a mental health boost? Talking hot dog is here.

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President-elect Trump repeats his threats to jail Jan. 6th committee members, while also putting a stop-gap spending plan in jeopardy. A court removes Fani Willis from Trump's Georgia election interference case. The FAA restricts drones in New Jersey, and a Federal Reserve rate cut shakes markets.

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Rural folks could soon be shut out of loans for natural disasters if Project 2025 has its way, Taos, New Mexico weighs options for its housing shortage, and the top states providing America's Christmas trees revealed.

PA to plant 10 million trees to improve Chesapeake Bay water quality

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Friday, January 12, 2024   

The Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership is helping to get Pennsylvania on track for its 2025 Chesapeake Bay pollution reduction goals.

So far, the partners have tracked more than 5.9 million trees planted.

Joe Hallinan, manager of the partnership for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation said they plan to distribute 100,000 trees each spring and fall, to reach the goal of 10 million new trees in the state by 2025.

They worked with more than 300 direct partners in distributing about 500,000 native trees and shrubs in 2023. He expects through other resources to see even more trees planted.

"Beyond just distributing trees, we also work on education, community outreach and resources," Hallinan explained. "Many of our partners have other grants funding sources and places that they're getting additional trees that are helping us reach that goal of 10 million."

He added the Foundation's restoration team prioritizes projects in vital "riparian zones," the buffer zones between land and water. The partners work directly with landowners and community groups to plant trees along rivers, streams and shorelines, and in urban neighborhoods.

Hallinan noted the bay watershed is 64,000 square miles. Its health depends on having cleaner rivers and streams, and Lancaster County and south-central Pennsylvania stand out as crucial areas for action. He added trees reduce the amount of polluted runoff, which in turn reduces erosion and flooding, and results in cleaner water.

"Trees help the water infiltrate into our groundwater reservoirs and therefore, the runoff events are less severe," Hallinan pointed out. "And we also know that trees use nitrogen to grow. And that's one of our other, what we consider [to be] a pollutant when it's in a high volume. Every plant needs that to grow."

He emphasized planting native trees and shrubs near waterways can keep excessive nutrients from reaching the bay. They act as natural filters, ultimately sending cleaner water downstream.

Disclosure: The Chesapeake Bay Foundation contributes to our fund for reporting on Energy Policy, Rural/Farming, Sustainable Agriculture, and Water. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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