Grants Awarded to Implement Watershed Improvements

The Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership, Inc. (TTF) and its partners--- Abington School District, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University (ANS), the Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great and Abington Township—recently received grants to implement watershed improvement initiatives in Montgomery County communities. PA Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) Growing Greener grants and a Department of Community and Economic Development (PADCED) Watershed Restoration and Protection grant will allow TTF to continue to collaborate with its partners and address issues and ameliorate conditions that negatively impact water quality.

“TTF is pleased that three important projects in our watershed have been funded. We are thankful to the funding agencies and grateful to be working with partners whose long-term commitment to environmental protection, clean water, and community are raising awareness and improving water quality,” said TTF Executive Director Julie Slavet.

The School District of Abington

Abington School District, in conjunction with ANS, will use the Growing Greener Grant to create two rain gardens and enhance the existing stream buffer at East Baeder Creek, which originates on the Abington Junior High School campus. The project will minimize non-point source pollution that is contributing to the degradation of the Baeder Creek, a headwater tributary to the Tookany Creek, which flows into the Delaware River as the Frankford Creek south of the Betsy Ross Bridge. The Delaware River is a valuable source of drinking water and serves 15 million people. ANS representative Stefanie A. Kroll, Ph.D., said, “The Academy of Natural Sciences is so excited to work with our partners to restore and protect the Tookany-Tacony-Frankford Creeks.”

This proposal is the third phase of ongoing restoration activities on the district’s property. Commenting on the project, Dr. Jeffrey Fecher, Superintendent of Schools for Abington School District said, “We are proud to have had a longstanding partnership with the TTF. Not only will these rain gardens have an eco-friendly benefit, but they will also serve as a useful resource in teaching students about the environment through firsthand lessons and experiences.”

Abington Educational Foundation (AEF) Executive Director Erin McKenna Zimmerman said, “AEF would like to congratulate the TTF on their award of a Growing Greener Grant. We are grateful for their commitment to watershed improvement efforts throughout Abington and look forward to partnering with them on this project, which presents a unique opportunity for innovative and hands-on education for Abington School District students.”

The Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great

The Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great, another institution with a longstanding partnership with TTF, also received a Growing Greener Grant for water quality improvements on the Sister’s 130-acre property in Abington Township. The site is adjacent to the East Branch of the Jenkintown Creek, a tributary to the Tookany Creek. This project will diminish polluted stormwater runoff, restore wetlands and creekside areas and reduce erosion and minimize excess nutrients from the heavy goose presence. TTF will coordinate with multiple landowners to identify project opportunities and provide technical support.

"Once again we are pleased to partner with TTF and Susan Harris of Cerulean, LLC in addressing environmental issues on the property of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great. This particular project will not only serve to enhance our property but will have a positive impact on water quality in the watershed." Said Sister Dorothy Ann Busowski, OSBM, Provincial Superior.

Abington Township

Abington Township’s Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development grant will fund the installation of green stormwater infrastructure features to reduce runoff velocity, promote groundwater recharge to replenish base flows, and improve the water quality in the Jenkintown Creek at Alverthorpe Park, located in Abington Township.

Commenting on the impact of the project and the grant, Abington Township Commissioner Drew Rothman said, “Stormwater management is of the utmost importance to our community and Township. This grant will enable the Township to build on efforts to improve Abington’s water quality through the strategic installation of stormwater infrastructure and best management practices. We are proud to work with TTF and PADCED to improve the quality of life of residents in Abington and neighboring communities while protecting the environment.”

The 116-acre municipally-owned park consists of athletic fields, a golf course, tennis courts, and multiple large parking lots. The Jenkintown Creek passes through the park where it is impounded in Alverthorpe Lake. In Abington Township, high levels of urbanization and poor stream bank stability deeply influence the watershed. Many sections of the creek have been redirected through storm sewers and replaced with impervious surfaces. The result of these changes to the landscape has increased the volume of stormwater runoff and non-point source pollution impacting the health of the watershed.

PADCED Executive Director of the Commonwealth Financing Authority Scott Dunkelberger said, “Any time we can support the improvement of stormwater management and water quality in our creeks and streams, it’s great news for the area. This project will do just that. We’re excited about this project, and the Wolf Administration will continue to support critical infrastructure projects like this across Pennsylvania.”

Cumulative impact

These projects build on previous initiatives that have harnessed the participation of multiple partners to improve water quality in areas where high levels of urbanization and poor stream bank stability deeply impact the watershed. The grants are a major investment that will enable partners to work together to help protect and improve the TTF Watershed and strengthen local commitment to the environment for generations to come.

About the TTF

TTF is dedicated to improving the health and vitality of its watershed by collaborating with its municipalities and leading its communities in education, stewardship, restoration, and advocacy. From the headwaters in the upstream communities of Abington, Cheltenham, Jenkintown, Rockledge, and Springfield in Montgomery County – to downstream neighborhoods in North, Northeast, and Northwest Philadelphia – TTF implements programs that educate neighbors and stakeholders about clean water issues and how we can all make a difference in our own backyards, parks, and communities. For more information, go to https://ttfwatershed.org/