A Carbon County stream restoration project is one of seven projects in northeastern Pennsylvania that will benefit from state funding announced Friday.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection awarded $128,130 to the Wildlands Conservancy, which is overseeing a dam removal project on the headwaters of Indian Run in Lehigh Gorge State Park, through its Growing Greener Plus Program.

“We’re excited about the DEP grant news and we are currently working with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, who owns the property, to develop design plans,” Kristie Fauch, Wildlands Conservancy director of ecological restoration, said.

Indian Run, a tributary to Buck Mountain Creek located approximately one mile from the confluence of the Lehigh River, is included on the state’s list of approved dams for removal, but Fauch said funding was needed to implement the high priority restoration project.

“The dam is in disrepair and a safety hazard for the thousands of people who visit the park,” according to a project description provided by Wildlands Conservancy. “It is made up of a patchwork of repairs of concrete, rock, and gabion baskets and impounds the high quality springs within the headwaters of Indian Run. The dam and pond do not serve as a recreation feature, and instead degrade the diverse habitat and water quality flowing through the Park to the downstream Rockport access site.”

Construction will involve removal of the dam to address non-point source pollution and restoring four acres of critical wetland and headwater habitat in a high quality cold water fishery.

Wildlands Conservancy said the project will:

• Address flooding (expanding flood capacity); decreasing sediment; nutrient reduction, fish passage and aquatic habitat enhancement.

• Restore a high quality wetland and headwaters of Indian Run which is now currently impounded with sediment caused by the dam.

• Enhance aquatic and wetland habitat.

• Create a native buffer to protect the health of the stream, filter runoff and stabilize stream banks.

• Provide a model for environmental stewardship.

• Enhance recreational opportunities in Lehigh Gorge State Park.

Growing Greener is the largest single investment of state funds in Pennsylvania’s history to address critical environmental concerns. Entities eligible for Growing Greener grants can be watershed groups, local or county government, municipal authorities, county planning commissions, county conservation districts, council of governments, educational institutions, or nonprofit organizations. Grantees have up to three years to implement their projects.

Other projects included in Friday’s funding announcement are the Glenburn Pond Dam Modification in Lackawanna County ($113,550), Trout Creek Watershed Improvement in Lehigh County ($111,360), Forest Hills Run Stream Restoration Project in Monroe County ($60,000), Fry’s Run Stream Restoration Project in Northampton County ($125,000), Good Spring Creek Headwaters Stream Restoration in Schuylkill County ($81,000), and Twin Brook Farms and Livestock Conservation Enhancement Project in Wayne County ($299,995).