Schuylkill River Greenways NHA contributes thousands for water quality
The Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area recently distributed grants totaling $378,671 to nine projects that will improve water quality in the Schuylkill River.
The Schuylkill River Restoration Fund grants were awarded to six projects that will focus on stormwater runoff, abandoned mine drainage and agricultural pollution. Also awarded were three land transaction grants that will help preserve critical open space.
The grant fund is administered by the Schuylkill River Greenways. This year, funds were provided by Exelon Generation’s Limerick Generating Station, the Philadelphia Water Department, Aqua Pennsylvania and MOM’s Organic Market.
About 35 people attended the grant announcement at Sunny Acre Farm in Centre Township, Berks County, a 2017 Schuylkill River Restoration Fund grant recipient for the Irish Creek Project.
The project includes streambank stabilization, increased riparian buffer along the creek, and cattle fencing. Following the announcement, attendees toured the farm and witnessed firsthand the developments that have been made to promote restoration.
Speakers included Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area Executive Director Elaine Paul Schaefer, Delaware River Basin Commission Exec-
utive Director Steve Tambini, Exelon Regulatory Assurance Manager Bob Dickinson, Kelly Anderson with Source Water Protection of the Philadelphia Water Department, Aqua Pennsylvania Environmental Specialist Krista Scheirer, as well as Christine Griesemer and Kent Himelright of the Berks County Conservation District.
“The work that the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund and our partners are doing is exponentially important in today’s legislative and regulatory environment,” said Schuylkill River Greenways Executive Director Elaine Paul Schaefer. “It’s now more important than ever to show communities and government officials the need for public investments and policies that protect water quality as well as preserve our natural resources.”
Schuylkill River Greenways Deputy Director Tim Fenchel announced “In the 13 years of this program there have been over $3.6 million of contributed funds to the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund. Of the 75 or so projects that have been completed, we’re almost at the $5 million leverage mark.”
Grant recipients were carefully selected by an advisory committee consisting of: Exelon Generation, Delaware River Basin Commission, Philadelphia Water Department, Environmental Protection Agency, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Schuylkill River Greenways and Aqua Pennsylvania.
Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) Executive Director Steve Tambini said local rivers and streams such as the Irish Creek and Schuylkill River have an impact on the entire basin.
“The Irish Creek Watershed flows into the Schuylkill River which is 2,000 square miles of watershed serving about 1.5 million people in water supply. What happens here in the Irish Creek Watershed impacts the Schuylkill and what happens in the Schuylkill certainly impacts the Delaware River Basin and the almost 15 million people who get water from the Delaware,” Tambini said. He added, “Since 2006, over 100 projects like the Irish Creek Project have been implemented in the river sub basin to improve the water quality.”
The grant recipients are:
• Berks County Conservation District, $47,250, for the Chavous Equestrian Ag Project to help implement best management practices on an equestrian boarding operation. The goal is to reduce accelerated erosion, sedimentation and nutrient runoff caused by overgrazed pastures and insufficient stormwater management.
• Berks Nature, $90,000, to install agricultural best management practices on a steer and sheep farm in the Maiden Creek watershed. The goal is to remediate excessive nutrient concerns and address local and regional drinking-water issues.
• Berks Nature, $50,000, to implement agricultural best management practices on a farm in the Saucony Creek watershed, including installation of a manure storage facility.
• Fairmount Park Conservancy, $23,393, for enhancements to Concourse Lake and surrounding wetlands, including improving stormwater runoff.
• Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy, $98,000, to complete stream bank improvements along the west branch of the Skippack Creek in Lower Salford Township, Montgomery County.
• Schuylkill Headwaters Association, $59,325, for removing coal refuse from a previous settling basin in West Brunswick Township, Schuylkill County, and restoring the area to its natural flood plain.
Areas receiving grants for land conservation are:
• Berks Nature, $4,000, to preserve the 32-acre Meister property in the Hay Creek Watershed.
• Green Valleys Association, $4,000, to preserve the 22-acre Graham property on the Welkenweir Preserve in Chester County.
• Natural Lands, $4,000, to preserve the more than 100-acre Terada property, which will be added to the Buck Hollow Preserve.
This year, fund donations came from Exelon Generation ($177,253), Philadelphia Water Department ($100,000), Aqua PA ($64,000) and MOM’s Organic Market ($2,867). All funds not distributed this year will be rolled over into 2019. The Land Transaction Assistance Grants program provides matching grants of up to $4,000 per project to pay for costs associated with property purchases and conservation easements on high priority lands for water quality and habitat protection.
Exelon has provided over $2.6 million to the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund since it was founded in 2005; the Philadelphia Water Department has contributed $900,000 over the past nine years. Aqua PA has donated over $100,000, and MOM’s Organic Market has donated approximately $6,000.
The Schuylkill Action Network and the Schuylkill River Greenways continue to seek additional contributors in an effort to further expand the fund.
The fund was originally created under a Delaware River Basin Commission docket approved in 2004 and Exelon Generation’s desire to support restoration efforts in the Schuylkill River and its tributaries.
The Philadelphia Water Department’s contribution to the fund is leveraged by other watershed partners and is directed toward addressing stormwater management and pollution mitigation projects upstream of the city’s two drinking water intakes on the Schuylkill River.
The Schuylkill River Greenways NHA is a non-profit organization with the mission of connecting residents, visitors and communities to the Schuylkill River and the Schuylkill River Trail (SRT) by serving as a catalyst for civic engagement and economic development.