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Wissahickon Stormwater Mitigation and Sediment Reduction Project Underway
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Work currently underway by the Friends of the Wissahickon and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation as part of their Wissahickon Stormwater Mitigation and Sediment Reduction Project reinforces the Philadelphia Water Department’s Green City, Clean Waters Plan, says Water Commissioner Howard M. Neukrug.
“This program dovetails perfectly with the vision of our Green City, Clean Waters program—fishable, swimmable, safe, attractive, and accessible rivers and streams,” says Neukrug. “In particular, the repair and restoration of eroding gullies within the Wissahickon Watershed is another example of our joint commitment to control stormwater runoff while improving the ecological habitat within the Fairmount Park system.”
Both PPR and PWD have long maintained a list of projects in Wissahickon Valley Park that need to be completed in order to limit erosion and sedimentation into the Wissahickon Creek. In 2008, PPR decided to work with FOW to meet some of the objectives already set with PWD.
The organizations identified stormwater intrusion sites from a list of projects that were adding to the sedimentation load of the Wissahickon Creek and subsequently developed the Wissahickon Stormwater Mitigation and Sediment Reduction Project.
In 2009, Merck & Co., Inc., awarded FOW $780,656 for four of these project sites, which are being undertaken in connection with the settlement of an enforcement action, United States & PA DEP v. Defendant Merck & Co., Inc. PPR received funding to repair another four sites, and together, these eight project sites constitute the stormwater gully repair project.
“The combined efforts of Parks & Recreation, Philadelphia Water Department and the Friends of the Wissahickon to undertake environmental restoration at eight sites is unprecedented in the Fairmount Park System,” notes Mark A. Focht, First Deputy Commissioner, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. “To commit over $4 million dollars to these projects demonstrates the strength of the partnership and each organization’s commitment to the Wissahickon Valley.”
Construction on these sites began in 2010 and the projects will be completed by the end of 2011. All the sites include stormwater gullies and degraded trail corridors, and the projects involve eliminating these gullies by closing and re-routing trails. Many of the gully closures are considered part of FOW’s Sustainable Trails Initiative because they often intersect with the trail system.
“We are entering into a new era of partnership with the Parks & Recreation and the Water Department,” says FOW Executive Director Maura McCarthy. “All of these projects coincide with PWD’s Green City, Clean Water plan and will help us meet a single, important goal—to control erosion and sedimentation in the park, and protect the Wissahickon Creek as a drinking water source."
For more information, visit the Philadelphia Green City, Clean Waters Plan and the Friends of the Wissahickon websites.
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10/24/2011 |
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