By Jodi Sulpizio, York County Master Watershed Stewards Coordinator

Stormwater basins are engineered structures that capture stormwater from nearby development. During storm events, stormwater runoff moves across impervious surfaces such as streets, parking lots, sidewalks, etc., and is usually directed into stormwater basins in urban areas.

Historically, the purpose of these stormwater structures was to channel the runoff into streams quickly.

The current thought is to "slow the flow" to keep water in the basins longer, increasing infiltration. This will help filter pollution and recharge groundwater. Slowing the flow can also help prevent flooding and erosion downstream.

Retrofitting and naturalizing these stormwater structures can help improve water quality.

This fall, Master Watershed Stewards in York County set forth to retrofit a stormwater basin to make it function more naturally. They worked together to design and develop a native planting plan.

The basin was formerly turfgrass, which did little to improve water quality.

The team replaced the turfgrass with a more diverse mix of native plants, including flowering perennials, grasses, sedges, and rushes.

Some species planted include great blue lobelia, little bluestem, New England aster, blue flag iris, golden ragwort, beardtongue, common rush, and bee balm.

The native plants are aesthetically pleasing and will help filter pollutants, improve infiltration, provide wildlife habitat, resist drought and pests, and will not require frequent mowing.

On an unseasonably hot fall morning, the team of Master Watershed Stewards planted the basin along with North York Rotarians who funded the project.

They planted and watered over 2,500 native plant plugs that morning.

 It was an amazing accomplishment from such an enthusiastic group of volunteers! It will be exciting to see the new vegetation grow next spring!

The project is located along the York County Heritage Rail Trail (a York County Park) at the Louck's Mill Road parking lot along Codorus Creek.

It will help educate the public about stormwater and the benefits of implementing green infrastructure to help improve water quality.

Educational signage will help educate park visitors about stormwater and the benefits of naturalizing stormwater basins.

A key strength of the Master Watershed Steward program is collaborating with other organizations and agencies like North York Rotary and the York County Parks.

Together, we can leverage resources to offer more education and implement more on-the-ground restoration projects in the community.

See more information about stormwater, more information about the Master Watershed Steward Program in York, or contact Jodi Sulpizio, Natural Resources Educator at jrb143@psu.edu  or 717-840-7408.

Click Here for all Master Watershed Stewards County Programs.

Visit the Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards website to learn more about this program.

Upcoming Extension Events

-- November 24: In-Person: Meadow Seeding For A Hands-On Stormwater Solution. Rose Tree county Park, Media, Delaware County 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

-- November 26: Webinar: Do On-Lot Septic Systems Impact Water Quality?  Noon

-- December 10: Webinar: On-Lot Septic System Questions And Answers. Noon

-- Penn State Extension Water Online Courses

Other Extension Articles

-- Master Watershed Steward Jane Cook Leads By Example In Lehigh Valley

-- Master Watershed Stewards Naturalize Stormwater Basin In York County

-- Master Watershed Stewards In York Introduce Urban Youth To Fishing

-- Private Water Supply Education, Water Testing In 2024

-- Managing Your Well During A Drought

-- Septic System Basics

-- Celebrating World Toilet Day [November 19]

-- Novel Stream Restoration Method For Wild Trout, Ecosystem Health: Replenishing Dead Wood

-- Algae In Pennsylvania Ponds

-- Why Are You Thankful For Water?

-- Discovering Your Local Watershed, A Guide To Available Resources

(Reprinted from the latest issue of the Watershed Winds Newsletter from Penn State Extension.  Click Here to sign up for your own copy.)

Related Articles This Week - Watersheds:

-- DEP Awards $2.55 Million In Federal Funding To Support 5 Local Abandoned Mine Reclamation Projects   [PaEN]

-- Fish & Boat Commission Accepting Application For Stream Habitat Improvement Projects In Lancaster, York Counties  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Center For Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training Seeks Input On Shaping Agenda For ACAP Ag Conservation Con 2025 In April  [PaEN]

-- DEP Briefs Water Resources Committee On Proposed Changes To PAG-13 General Permit For Small Municipal Stormwater Dischargers; Latest Emerging Contaminants Sampling Results; Microplastics Study  [PaEN]

-- DEP Publishes Updated Non-Regulatory Agenda Showing Technical Guidance Documents In Development  [PaEN] 

-- Berks Nature: New Data On The Annual Economic Value Of Nature Documents $853 Million In Savings, $938 Million In Outdoor Recreation Benefits To Citizens of Berks County  [PaEN]

-- Delaware River Basin Commission Meets Dec. 5 To Consider Resolution To Preserve And Protect Water Supplies During Persistent Dry Conditions  [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Meets Dec. 12 On New Fee Schedule; Water Withdrawals, Including 4 Shale Gas; New General Permit For Into-Basin Diversions  [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approved 42 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In October; 274 General Permits So Far In 2024  [PaEN]

-- PA Emergency Management Agency, Delaware River Basin Commission: Nov. 26 Hazard Mitigation Grant Funding Webinar, 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

-- PUC Highlights National Critical Infrastructure Security And Resilience Month With A Focus On Utility Resilience And Security

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation Will Fight Preliminary FERC Permit Granted For Proposed Susquehanna River Hydroelectric Project In York County  [PaEN]

-- EPA Accepting Comments On New Draft Framework To Advance Consideration of Cumulative Impacts On Communities  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- National Review: Northeast Pennsylvania Needs Natural Gas - New Congress, New Federal Administration Should Overturn Delaware River Basin Commission Moratorium On Shale Gas Fracking - By Jason Adams  [PDF of Article]

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Karl Blankenship: Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Improved In Latest Assessment

-- Chesapeake Bay Program: Chesapeake Bay Dead Zone ‘Near Average’ In 2024

-- Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards Accepting Volunteer Applications For Spring 2025 Training  [PaEN]

-- Master Watershed Stewards Naturalize Stormwater Basin In York County  [PaEN]

-- Master Watershed Stewards In York Introduce Urban Youth To Fishing [PaEN]

-- Lancaster Clean Water Partners Newsletter: Our Values In Action; News Around The Watershed; Recreation Access For All; Opportunities For All; New Podcast; Upcoming Events 

-- WTAJ: ClearWater Conservancy Receives $99,000 Grant To Install Forested Riparian Stream Buffers In Centre County

-- The Allegheny Front: New ClearWater Conservancy Conservation Education Center In Centre County Lands Federal, State Funding

-- Reading Eagle: Berks Nature Emphasizes Community Planning During State Of The Environment Breakfast

-- Delaware RiverKeeper Nov. 22 RiverWatch Video Report

-- Penn State Extension:  Private Water Supply Education, Water Testing Accomplishments In 2024  [PaEN]

-- Spotlight PA: Flood Damage That Destroyed Antietam Middle School Reveals Deep Divisions Between Berks County Communities Over How And Where To Continue Schooling Students

-- WHYY: Philly Launches Flood Alerts For Eastwick Neighborhood: ‘A Long Time Coming’

-- Appalachian Voices: Statement On Request For $98 Billion In Federal Disaster Funding

-- Citizens Voice: Cemetery Headstones Washed Away In 1972 Flood Found In Forty Fort

-- Post-Gazette/AP: Climate Change Increased Hurricane Wind Strength By 18 MPH Since 2019, Study Says

-- WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: Delaware River Basin Managers Could Take Conservation Efforts If Drought Worsens

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: Delaware River Water Levels At 60% As Salt Front Increases Amid Drought

-- MCall: How Recent Rains Impacted Lehigh Valley’s River, Drought Status

-- KYW: Officials Eyeing Delaware River Salt Levels As Philly-Area Drought Worsens

-- Courier Times: Part Of Bucks County Enters ‘Extreme Drought’ This Week Amid Worst Dry Spell In 22 Years

-- WNEP: Aqua Pennsylvania Issues Mandatory Water Conservation Notice In Northumberland, Columbia, Schuylkill Counties

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: Drought Conditions Have Caused Aqua PA Water To Suddenly Stink, But Safe To Drink In Abington, Montgomery County; Using Different Source Of Water

-- Managing Your Well During A Drought, Tips From Penn State Extension  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: Youghiogheny River Level Remains Low After Relatively Dry Summer, Fall In Westmoreland, Fayette Counties

-- New York Governor Declares 15 Counties In Drought Warning, Drought Watch Statewide

-- MCall: Plans For Route 512 Warehouses, Landfill Expansion Raise Traffic, Environmental Concerns

-- Spotlight PA: Local Leaders Want To Help State College Borough Water Authority Take Over Small, Troubled Rock Spring Water Company

-- The Derrick: Aqua Pennsylvania Lifts Boil-Water Advisory For Fryburg Water Customers In Place For Six Days [One Of The Companies Involved In Venango County Conventional Well Spill Incident]

-- WNEP: PA American Water Finishes Dredging Silt Released From Dam Rehab Project Into Roaring Brook

-- Scranton Times: PA American Water Dredges Silt Released From Dam Rehab Project Into Roaring Brook

-- Penn State Extension: In-Person Workshop Nov. 24 Meadow Seeding For A Hands-On Stormwater Solution. Rose Tree County Park, Media, Delaware County 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. 

[Posted: November 21, 2024]

11/25/2024