Stewards of Twin Lakes Awarded $8,000 PEC Mini-Grant for Rainscaping Initiative

We are thrilled to announce that the Stewards of Twin Lakes has been awarded an $8,000 Mini-Grant by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) through the 2024-2025 Pocono Forests and Waters Conservation Landscape (PFWCL) Mini Grant Program. This funding will allow us to expand our efforts in protecting the Twin Lakes. When combined with matching cash and in-kind support, the total impact represents over $28,000 worth of effort and value which will be put towards improving Twin lakes.

Rainscaping refers to any combination of plantings, water features, permeable surfaces, and other green infrastructure practices that help manage stormwater where it falls rather than allowing it to wash pollutants into our lakes.

Building on the success of our 2024 program—which focused on community education about stormwater runoff and the completion of two pilot remediation projects—this next phase will empower homeowners and residents to address runoff issues right in their own backyards.

Rainscaping image courtesy SeaGrant Illinois-Indiana

What the Grant Will Support

This grant will enable the Stewards to launch a multi-faceted residential education and training program that includes:

·       A full-color, professional-quality “Rainscaping for Homeowners” booklet with practical, do-it-yourself solutions for managing stormwater runoff.

·       A digital Rainscaping Resource Center on our website with easy-to-follow instructions, photos, diagrams, and videos.

·       Hands-on workshops where residents can learn how to plan and build real Rainscaping projects on their properties. And we are already talking to some homeowners and looking for additional potential spots.

Our goal is to raise awareness, provide actionable tools, and build a strong culture of community engagement in protecting the watershed.

PEC and Penn State’s Continued Support and Recognition

We are incredibly grateful to PEC for their continued belief in our mission. Following the success of last year’s projects, PEC invited the Stewards to present at their 2025 PFWCL Stakeholders Meeting, where we were recognized as the “gold standard” of mini-grant recipients.

Jim Vogt, Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward Coordinator for Pike and Monroe County, further noted that “this team is doing some of the best work statewide.”

Why This Matters

Twin Lakes is a spring-fed mountaintop ecosystem, uniquely sensitive to pollutants carried by stormwater runoff. By helping residents address runoff issues at the residential level, this program will further safeguard water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and the natural beauty we all treasure.

Stay tuned for updates on how you can get involved with our Rainscaping workshops and be part of this exciting next chapter for Twin Lakes! As well we are always looking for folks to join us in our work, and discussions.

If you are interested, in helping and being a part of this important work please reach out to info@stewardsoftwinlakes.org.