By Donna Kohut, CDRW PA State Lead, Campaign Manager – Delaware River Basin, PennFuture
Devils Hole, Credit: Donna Kohut
Pennsylvania's state budget is more than two months overdue. The House is not expected to return to session until September 26, which is when they will review House Bill 1300 - the fiscal code bill passed by the Senate earlier this summer.
Unfortunately, as currently written, HB 1300 proposes to transfer $150 million in funding from the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) to the Clean Streams Fund (CSF) for fiscal year 2023-24.
CDRW and our friends at the Choose Clean Water Coalition advocated for the passage of the CSF and the creation of the Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP) last year because it is long past time for the Commonwealth to establish a source of funding dedicated to clean water. However, while substantial, consistent, and sustainable funding for the CSF is a top priority of ours, this should not come at the expense of other vital conservation programs. State Game Lands are essential to protecting water quality across the Commonwealth and contain some of its most pristine waters, including High Quality and Exceptional value creeks, streams, and wetlands that make up the headwaters of the Delaware River Basin.
It is worth noting that the PGC is an independent agency that functions without the benefit of tax dollars or general funds. Disinvestment of PGC funding threatens its staffing and expertise, placing both conserved lands and water quality at risk, which would ultimately create a new threat to water quality.
Preserving clean water is essential for the well-being of society and the sustainability of the natural environment. It is also critical to supporting the Commonwealth's economy. The PGC supports a key economic driver for the Commonwealth - outdoor recreation. According to a 2020 economic analysis completed by the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, outdoor recreation, including hunting and fishing, generated $58 billion in revenue for the commonwealth. Diverting funds away from this agency undermines economic growth and stability across the state.
The Aquashicola taken by Jim Vogt of the Aquashicola Pohopoco Watershed Conservancy
Federal funding is also at stake. This disinvestment could trigger the loss of access to crucial federal dollars that make up a large portion of the PGC's budget. In 2023, Pennsylvania received $41 million from the Pittman-Robertson Fund, ranking third among all fifty states in the amount of funds received this year. The source of this fund is the collection of excise tax dollars from hunting and shooting equipment by the Federal Government, which is then disbursed to states as matching grant money to state wildlife agencies. Eligibility for these funds is dependent on revenue derived from both hunting and fishing licenses. Revenue from hunting licenses funds the Game Commission's administration and management, as well as the management of the resources under its purview. Any diversion of Game Commission funds would likely render the state ineligible to receive federal funds through Pittman-Robertson.
While both the Game Commission and Clean Streams Fund provide critical investments for clean water and public access, they are distinct and serve adjacent, vital roles within a statewide clean water strategy. Pennsylvania should fully fund these programs and agencies to protect all of the Commonwealth’s public natural resources, rather than take from one to pay for the other.
In order to preserve Pennsylvania's eligibility for federal funding, and safeguard the water quality within the Delaware River Basin's headwaters, as well as public accessibility to these areas, we are asking that our elected leaders reject HB 1300 as written.