West Norriton Gets $50K For Stormwater Improvements

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — A series of new grants awarded by a local nonprofit will aim to improve water and stream quality throughout the Schuylkill River watershed.

The 11 Schuylkill River Heritage Area's Restoration Fund grants total $364,193 and are scattered throughout Philadelphia, Berks, Chester, and Montgomery counties.

The projects focus on issues that range from stormwater runoff and abandoned mine drainage to agricultural pollution.

“Over the past 12 years, the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund has distributed $3.3 million—and leveraged another $5 million—for 95 projects that improve water quality in the Schuylkill River watershed,” said Schuylkill River Heritage Area Executive Director Elaine Paul Schaefer. “The success of this fund is the result of a combined effort from non-profit, government, and private sectors working together to protect the Schuylkill River, which is a source of drinking water for 1.5 million people and an important driver for the economies of the communities in its watershed.”

While the projects are scattered throughout the watershed, the health of the river upstream is always important to the health of the river locally.

The grants are funded by Limerick Generating Station, the Philadelphia Water Department, Coca Cola, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Aqua PA and MOM’s Organic Market, the Heritage Area said.

The projects include:

• Berks County Conservation District Irish Creek stormwater project ($19,800)
• Berks Nature Younker and Kunkle Farms, installment of best agricultural practices to improve riparian buffers ($96,000)
• Berks Nature Youse Farm ($50,000)
• Lehigh County Conservation District, Bennecoff Hog Farm ($23,393)
• Montgomery County Conservation District, Perkiomen Creek Improvements ($18,000)
  • Partnership between Trout Unlimited and Upper Perkiomen HS to improve a portion of the Perkiomen in East Greenville, including bank stabilization, riparian buffer restoration, aquatic habitat enhancement, and more
• Schuylkill Banks Bioswale Project, Philadelphia ($15,000)
• Schuylkill Headwaters Association Dyer and West Creeks Project, ($80,000)
• West Norriton Township, Jeffersonville storm water management ($50,000)
• Berks Nature Love Property ($4,000)
• Natural Lands Trust Buck Hollow Preserve ($4,000)
• West Pikeland Township, Ker Feal Property, purchase of conservation and trail easement on 138 acre parcel ($4,000)

Image via Commons courtesy Rebecaluvsbirds