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PhillyWatersheds.org
NOTICE: PhillyWatersheds.org has been archived.

The archive will be available at http://archive.phillywatersheds.org for approximately one year (through September 2020). If you use or are responsible for content here that is not yet available elsewhere, please contact the PWD Digital Team.

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PARK(ing) Shots

Sep 20, 2011
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Meetings were held. Lunches were eaten. Books were browsed. PARK(ing) Day 2011 was a huge success throughout Philadelphia, as approximately 30 organizations installed temporary parks in metered parking spaces on Friday. The Philadelphia Water Department joined with Duffield Associates to construct a park at 12th and Arch with a mock green roof, native plants, a rain barrel and some patio furniture. The theme of our park was Slow Down—Save Our Waterways, a demonstration of how rain barrels and green roofs can slow stormwater runoff from entering our sewers and impacting the health of local rivers and creeks. After the jump, more photos of people simply enjoying the open green space.

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Porous Repouring At Waterview Rec Center

Sep 20, 2011
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A portion of the porous concrete sidewalk in front of East Germantown's Waterview Recreation Center was replaced yesterday; the surface of the sidewalk was spalling, or breaking apart. The porous pavement at Waterview Rec Center is designed to absorb stormwater from the walkways and surrounding land and infiltrate it through a gravel bed (shown in the photo above) beneath the sidewalk surface.

Why was the sidewalk breaking apart in the first place? PWD's materials testing lab is currently analyzing specimens of the old concrete to determine the cause. One theory is that an excess amount of deicing salt was applied to an area of the sidewalk during the winter, damaging that portion of the concrete. (Deicing salts can have damaging effects on conventional concrete and asphalt as well—not just porous paving.)

Click here to learn more about porous paving. After the jump, a photo of the porous concrete surface being installed over the gravel infiltration bed.

 

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There Used to Be An Aquarium at the Fairmount Water Works?

Sep 19, 2011
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Image: Library of Congress

It's true—Philadelphia had one of the largest and most technologically advanced aquariums in the country. Opened in 1911, the Fairmount Aquarium exhibited local freshwater fishes, amphibians, reptiles, seals and sea lions. Join us at the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center on Wednesday, September 21 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. as guest speaker Samantha Muka (a PhD candidate in the History of Science Department at the University of Pennsylvania) presents From Turbines to Tanks: The Early Days of the Philadelphia Aquarium at the Fairmount Water Works. The presentation draws from local archives, including photos and videos. The event is free—please RSVP by calling 215-685-0723.

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German Engineering: Tempelhof Wasserpark

Sep 19, 2011
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Image: Johanna F. Barthmeier

Last week, the American Society of Landscape Architects announced the winners of the 2011 Student Awards, and a conceptual design for Tempelhof Airport in Berlin, Germany, caught our eye. The site's water management design is based on the folds of a paper airplane; stormwater and groundwater (Berlin lies close to the water table and gets a lot of rainfall) is moved, absorbed, filtered and collected through a zig-zag series of pools, plantings and contoured landforms. In effect, the space would be transformed into an urban water park with swimming areas for recreation and treatment pools for ecological education. Click here for more details on the plan by University of Pennsylvania graduate Johanna F. Barthmeier and a fascinating slideshow—again, this is a design project rather than an actual plan, but it's interesting to see innovative ideas in stormwater management.

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Reminder: Last Day to Register for the Fishing Fest

Sep 16, 2011
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Registration for the 2011 Philly Fun Fishing Fest closes at 5:00 p.m. today. Thanks to all the registrants for accommodating the date change—once again, the Fishing Fest is on for Saturday, September 24 from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Click here to register.

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Free PARK(ing) at 12th and Arch

Sep 16, 2011
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Image: REBAR

Happy PARK(ing) Day—today, nearly 1,000 metered parking spaces in more than 30 countries are being turned into temporary open public spaces. The Philadelphia Water Department is transforming a parking space into a communal space at 12th and Arch from 9-4. The green spot has patio furniture and is lined with native plants; it also features a mock green roof and a rain barrel. Stop by to chat with us about our rain barrel program, green roofs and the upcoming CitiesAlive conference, or just come and sit, read, have lunch or take an outdoor meeting.

For more info on PARK(ing) day and events happening worldwide, visit parkingday.org. If you can't make it out to our park today, check back here Monday for photos.

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This Saturday: Cradle of Birding Festival

Sep 15, 2011
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Visit the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum this Saturday, September 17 for the Cradle of Birding Wildlife and Conservation Festival. From 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., enjoy a free day of activities at the refuge, including live music, exhibits, animals, a bird-a-thon (that's a Snowy Egret above, a common species at John Heinz), food, games and workshops for fly-tying, fishing and photography.

Call 215-365-3118 or visit the refuge's website for more information; we can't stress enough how close and accessible the refuge is from I-95 and Center City Philadelphia—click here for directions via public transportation or car.

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Watershed History: South Philadelphia Tidal Marshes

Sep 14, 2011
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From the desk of Philadelphia Water Department historical consultant Adam Levine:


Image: Temple University Urban Archives

Most people don't realize that much of the lower part of South Philadelphia was once covered by tidal marshes. South Philly was once called “the Neck” because of the shape of the area (look at a map of the city if you cannot picture this easily), and about six square miles of the neighborhood were covered by marshland laced by both natural tidal creeks and man-made drainage canals.

Besides the canals, miles of dikes were built along both the Delaware and Schuylkill riverfronts, beginning in the 18th century. The dikes kept the land out of reach of the high tide, which allowed it to be used for growing hay and other crops well into the 20th century. Millions of cubic yards of fill were used to raise these lowlands, a process that began in the early 20th century and continued for more than 50 years. Material used for the filling came from various sources, including city refuse, dredge spoils from the Delaware and Schuylkill river dredging projects, and material excavated during construction of the Broad Street subway.

In 1920, Christopher Morley painted a vivid verbal picture of this area in his wonderful essay. The accompanying map and photographs are used by permission of Temple University Libraries Urban Archives Bulletin Collection.

Click here for a 1927 image from the Evening Bulletin with photos and captions of Stonehouse Lane and the canals that once wound below Oregon Avenue.

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