Chesapeake Bay Foundation

The Fight for Cuff’s Run

 

BJ Small

CBF is proud to stand with a broad coalition of conservation, recreation, and environmental organizations to oppose the proposed hydroelectric pumped storage facility at Cuffs Run in York County.

In 2024, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) granted York Energy Storage a preliminary permit to study the project, despite major concerns about:

• flooding of preserved farmland and family homesteads;
• damage to one of the last remote, untouched stretches of the Mason‑Dixon Trail;
• harm to the health, habitat, and recreational value of the Susquehanna River; and
• long‑term uncertainty for landowners and local communities.

CBF and our partners first filed a petition for rehearing with FERC, which was denied. Now, we have taken the next step: filing a petition for review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit to challenge the permit and seek stronger protections for the region.

If successful, this appeal could delay or permanently halt the project, and protect Cuffs Run for future generations.

Advocacy in Action: Elevating PA’s Clean Water Priorities

 

Julia Krall

Every Pennsylvanian deserves clean water at home, in their community, and downstream in the Bay. Our advocacy team works year‑round to ensure state leaders understand the importance of Pennsylvania’s rivers, streams, and farms in the Bay’s recovery.

This November, CBF’s Pennsylvania team joined partners, Council members, volunteers, and student leaders for the PA Clean Rivers & Streams Legislative Day of Action in Harrisburg. Together, they held 12 meetings with House and Senate members to:

• thank lawmakers for continuing dedicated funding for the Clean Streams Fund($50M);
• highlight the impact and high demand for the Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP);
• share priorities for clean‑water action in the second half of the legislative session; and strengthen relationships and build champions for clean water.

These conversations are essential for charting Pennsylvania's path Beyond 2025 towards a more resilient, people-focused watershed future.

Restoration Partnerships in York County

CBF

CBF works closely with York County landowners and partners to restore waterways, strengthen farms, and improve the health of the Susquehanna River. Through our Watershed Resiliency Program, we help implement conservation practices that reduce pollution, improve soil health, and build long‑term resilience.

CBF has provided over 65,000 trees to York County residents through the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership and regularly participates in community meetings to discuss sustainability and local clean‑water priorities.

Looking ahead, we’re working with local, state, and federal partners to expand support for Forested Riparian Buffers and Best Management Practices in priority watersheds—programs that help offset the costs landowners face in building a more sustainable future. We’ll continue collaborating with the community and promoting CBF resources to meet local needs and protect York County’s waterways.

Education: Inspiring the Next Generation of Bay Stewards

 

Kassie Fenn

For more than 50 years, CBF’s award‑winning environmental education program has been at the heart of Bay restoration, reaching over 1.5 million learners and counting.

Each year, tens of thousands of students, educators, and school leaders participate in hands‑on field experiences and professional learning that build lifelong connections to local waterways.

Through our PA Rivers & Streams Environmental Education Program, students explore central Pennsylvania waterways by canoe, conducting macroinvertebrate surveys and water chemistry tests to see firsthand how land use, and human choices, affect water quality.

Your support fuels education, restoration, and advocacy across Pennsylvania and the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Together, we’re not just protecting what we love, we’re building what comes next.

Learn more at CBF.org.