In 2022, the Jefferson County Conservation District was awarded a PA DEP Growing Greener Grant to continue the improvement of the Rattlesnake Creek watershed by installing structures to stabilize eroded streambanks and provide fish habitat. Streambank stabilization will help to reduce erosion within the stream channel and prevent scour of the stream bank so property owners will no longer lose property, minimizing risk to nearby structures. Stabilization of streambank erosion through the construction of structures that provide habitat to fish and macroinvertebrates, and construction of fish habitat structures will continue to provide protection to life and improved properties over time. Rattlesnake Creek is a wild and stocked trout stream, and construction of the instream structures will provide a benefit to adjacent property owners by increasing stability of the stream channel and provide a benefit to fish by improving habitat within the stream.
The PA DEP Growing Greener grant allowed for the installation of 61 streambank stabilization and fish habitat structures along 720 linear feet of streambank along Rattlesnake Creek. This PA DEP Growing Greener grant has allowed for great improvement to the Rattlesnake Creek watershed, additional worksites will be identified for project completion in 2025
