Final Report 10.6.2003
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Acknowledgements i Acknowledgements Tookany Creek Watershed Management Plan Steering Committee Official Members: Barbara E. Duffy, Chair, Cheltenham Township Arthur Bernstein, Vice Chair, Jenkintown Borough Tom Johnston, Cheltenham Township Lorna Rosenberg, Cheltenham Township Frank Campbell, Abington Township EAC Cathy Gauthier, Abington Township EAC Scott Marlin, Abington Township Judith Bishop, Jenkintown Borough Ralph V. McDermott, Jenkintown Borough C. Bernadette Ivy, Rockledge Borough Charles Aungst, Rockledge Borough Participating Members: Hal Krieger, Cheltenham Township Debra Marburger, Cheltenham Township Andy Rudin, Cheltenham Township Nathan Walker, Watershed Coordinator, Montgomery County Conservation District Drew Shaw, Senior Environmental Planner, Montgomery County Planning Commission Monica Burcik, Environmental Planner, Montgomery County Planning Commission Katherine Ember, County Planner, Montgomery County Planning Commission Dorothy Pulcher, County Affairs Manager, PECO Energy Company Brian Sladky, Senior Project Manager, PECO Energy Company Joanne Dahme, Watersheds Programs Manager, Philadelphia City Water Department Dr. Mildred M. Wintz, Old York Road Historical Society Other Participating Members Visual Assessment Task Group Richard Allen Tom Maclockey Karen and Harry Bower Debra, Jacob, and John Marburger Tock Conarroe Bill Michaels Alysse Einbender Eve, Steve and Sarah Monheim Kerry Krieger Gary San Pietro Municipal Staff Abington Township Staff Thomas B. Conway, Township Manager Michael Powers, Township Engineer Cheltenham Township Staff David G. Kraynik, Township Manager Bryan Havir, P.P., AICP, Assistant Township Manager David Lynch, PE, Township Engineer Tookany Creek Watershed Management Plan September 2003 ii Acknowledgements Charles D. Gray Jr., Director of Health Rudy Kastenhuber, Public Works Coordinator Jenkintown Borough Staff Ed Geissler, Jenkintown Borough Manager Rockledge Borough Staff Troy Madres, Rockledge Borough Manager State Liaisons The Honorable Ellen M. Bard The Honorable Lawrence H. Curry The Honorable Allyson Y. Schwartz PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Victor Banks, PA DCNR, Rivers Conservation Grant Coordinator Terri Hough, PA DCNR, Rivers Conservation Program Fran Rubert, PA DCNR Regional Recreation and Parks Advisor Don Gephardt, PA DCNR, Regional Recreation and Parks Supervisor Project Consultants NAM Planning & Design, LLC Nancy Minich, HTR, ASLA, Project Manager Heritage Conservancy Gary Bowles, GIS Manager Michael May, Historic Preservation Sharon Yates, VP Planning Special Thanks to Eileen Bradley and Anne Clayton while working with Rockledge Borough. Gratitude is also expressed to Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Philadelphia Earth Force, Friends of High School Park, Glenside Green, the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Partnership and the Wyncote Audubon Society for their efforts in periodically attending some of the Tookany Creek Watershed Steering Committee meetings and providing technical assistance. Officials from Abington and Cheltenham Townships, along with Jenkintown and Rockledge Boroughs look forward to partnering with these environmental organizations and groups in future collaborative efforts to implement many of the recommended projects outlined in the Management Options chapter of this plan. Also, the Steering Committee expresses much appreciation to the elected officials from Abington and Cheltenham Townships, and Jenkintown and Rockledge Boroughs who held office during the formation of the plan. Their support of this watershed management planning effort was invaluable. Tookany Creek Watershed Management Plan September 2003 Tookany Creek Watershed Management Plan Goals iii Tookany Creek Watershed Management Plan Goals (These are the goals that were developed for the PA DCNR grant application and later presented at the September 2000 public meeting.) Improve coordination of river-related activities and ordinances. ? Improve public education to promote stewardship of river resources. ? Improve environmental and land conservation efforts by preserving open space, sensitive environmental areas and habitats by promoting concepts such as riparian buffer preservation and restoration, reforestation, floodplain preservation, water quality, streambank maintenance, and improve water quality by reducing non- point source pollution. ? Design non-engineering best management practices and techniques aimed at reducing flooding and improving soil and sedimentation controls. ? Design methods for improved communication among local, county, state, and federal governments. Photographs taken by Nancy Minich during the community streambank restoration planting of the Tookany Creek in June 2003. TOOKANY CREEK WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN SEPTEMBER 2003 Table of Contents v Table of Contents Acknowledgements .........................................................................................i Tookany Creek Watershed Management Plan Goals.......................................... iii Executive Summary ...................................................................................... ix I. Introduction............................................................................................. 1 Project History..........................................................................................................1 Study Area...............................................................................................................1 Regional Context ....................................................................................................................1 The Watershed Planning Process.................................................................................1 II. Public Comment and Participation.............................................................. 5 Initial Project Meeting ...............................................................................................5 Steering Committee...................................................................................................5 Community Survey ...................................................................................................6 III. Resource Inventory................................................................................... 9 Mapping..................................................................................................................9 Natural Resources.....................................................................................................9 Physiographic Provinces and Topography ................................................................................9 Geology................................................................................................................................10 Soils ....................................................................................................................................10 Land Cover...........................................................................................................................15 Vegetation............................................................................................................................15 Wildlife ................................................................................................................................16 Birds.................................................................................................................... 16 Fish..................................................................................................................... 16 Herpetology ......................................................................................................... 17 Deer and Geese .................................................................................................... 18 Water Resources...................................................................................................................19 Stream Network................................................................................................... 19 Overview of the Watershed................................................................................... 19 Floodplains.......................................................................................................... 23 Riparian Corridor ................................................................................................. 23 Wetlands ............................................................................................................. 27 Hydric Soils ......................................................................................................... 27 The Tookany Creek and Its Tributaries .................................................................. 28 Stormwater Systems ............................................................................................ 29 Non-Point Source Pollution .................................................................................. 30 MS4/Phase II Stormwater Regulations .................................................................. 31 Other Stormwater Implications............................................................................. 31 Water Supply ....................................................................................................... 33 Sanitary Sewerage System.................................................................................... 33 Tookany Creek Water Quality ..............................................................................