The rivers and communities of the Potomac Highlands region across Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia have realized a wide variety of benefits from an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant program, according to a report from American Rivers.
The report details seven projects, measuring benefits including acres of land protected, number of trees planted, and numbers of threatened and endangered species aided by habitat preservation and restoration.
In total, the projects protected or restored more than 5,000 acres of sensitive lands, planted more than 65,000 trees, and helped more than 50 rare, threatened, or endangered fish and wildlife species.
Other significant benefits include community engagement, public education, and mobilization of hundreds of volunteers for environmental restoration projects.