The Chester County Conservation District has created eight, unique mushroom shaped wetlands on the property of William Webb in Avondale, Pa to help manage stormwater and thermal impacts to Trout Run, a tributary to White Clay Creek.

The District is also looking for volunteers to help plant the wetlands in September.

Trout Run in Avondale has received many upstream efforts to reduce residential, highway, and industry run off and thermal pollution with the creation of forested riparian buffers and constructed wetlands, installation of Filter Soxx, and other best management practices (BMPs). However, the lower end was without conservation measures and funding for this project was granted in 2005 to provide the missing link.

The idea to create the wetlands is not an original, but borrowed from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, which has created wetlands in the shape of frogs, turtles, and even the mascot Blue Hen.

So, Chotty Sprenkle, Watershed Coordinator for the District, thought "what better way to promote water quality in a manner that will draw attention of the public, advertise the mission of the District, and promote the signature agriculture industry of the region?" She added, "I must admit, everyone was quite surprised when the funding was granted. Some people laughed, others just couldn't believe it was approved."

With the excavation completed, the site will be stabilized with riparian grasses until September. Then, the Conservation District will invite the public and other community groups to join them in planting the wetlands with over 2000 native herbaceous plants, like swamp milkweed, duck potatoes, and soft rush. The plants will utilize the nutrients in the runoff and overflow from Trout Run.

The second phase of the project is to construct a BMP that will direct the flow of the water through the wetland expanse to allow for greater NPS and thermal reduction and ground water recharge. Among the many other benefits, it is hoped that with cooler and cleaner water, the trout may just return to Trout Run.

The original design was created by LandStudies, Inc, Lititz, modified and constructed by Rettew, Lancaster, and excavated by Flyway Excavation, Lititz.

The wetlands construction was funded with a Department of Environmental Protection Growing Greener Grant ($100,000), and were constructed to provide non-point source reduction and thermal reduction in Trout Run before it enters the exceptional value waters of the White Clay Creek.

For additional information and to help plant the wetlands in September, contact Chotty Sprenkle, 610-925-4920 ext. 103 or send email to: csprenkle@chesco.org.

Link: CBF, Fair Share Coalition Fight for Clean Water Funding in State Budget

7/25/2008