PhillyWatersheds.org

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You're Invited: We Are Our Water

May 19, 2011

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Events

Join us at the Urban Sustainability Forum tonight from 6:00 to 6:30 at the Academy of Natural Sciences' Main Auditorium for We Are Our Water: How to Protect Our Health, Communities, and Pocketbooks by Using Water Wisely. The Philadelphia Water Department's Chris Crockett will be speaking, along with Sean Byers (Brandywine Realty Trust), Shanta Schachter (New Kensington Community Development Corporation) and Heather Blakeslee (Delaware Valley Green Building Council). More on the discussion topic:

Not managing water wisely can have grave public health consequences, cause havoc in our homes, and affect the bottom line of businesses and consumers alike. It’s one of the most powerful elements on the planet, capable of mass destruction but also necessary for life. Why is it that we take it for granted? Who is protecting our water quality? Who is responsible for us having enough of it? What are we supposed to do when we have too much? What does it cost and why? Join representatives from the Philadelphia Water Department, major builder owners and operators, and community groups to find out how Philadelphia is leading the way on water, and what you can do to help.

Registration for the event is free.

Race Street Pier Opens Today

May 12, 2011

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The Race Street Pier—a one-acre public park that extends into the Delaware River near the Ben Franklin Bridge—debuts today at 2 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Mayor Michael Nutter. A project spearheaded by the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, the Race Street Pier provides open space along the waterfront and should attract both Philadelphia residents and visitors to views of the Delaware River. Additional photos and videos at PlanPhilly.

For more information on potential projects and planning initiatives for the Delaware River, check out the recently completed Delaware Direct Watershed Rivers Conservation Plan.

You're Invited: Philly's First Porous Street

May 10, 2011

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Join us for the unveiling of the city's first porous green street¹ today on the 800 block of Percy Street. This green infrastructure project is a collaboration between the Philadelphia Water Department and the Streets Department; the porous asphalt allows stormwater runoff to infiltrate the surface and is stored in a stone bed until it can be absorbed by the soil. Preventing runoff from entering our sewers during rainstorms alleviates combined sewer overflows and protects the health and quality of our rivers. It's all part of PWD's Green City, Clean Waters plan to manage stormwater with green infrastructure, an approach that maximizes economic and environmental benefits to all parts of the city.

Skeptical about porous paving? Come out and toss a water balloon; you'll see firsthand how the paving soaks up water.

Date: Tuesday, May 10

Time: 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Location: 800 block of Percy Street (between Christian and Catharine, between 9th and 10th)

Those attending the unveiling include Mayor Michael Nutter, PWD Commissioner Howard Neukrug, Streets Department Commissioner Clarena
Tolson, Deputy Mayor of Transportation and Utilities Rina Cutler, and Councilman Frank DiCicco. Check back here tomorrow for photos of the event and the complete, green and porous Percy Street!

¹ You might be wondering: Is this really Philadelphia's first porous street? What about cobblestone? Traditional cobblestone such as the type that is found in Philadelphia is not porous, as the stones are mainly set in impervious mortar.

Stream Restoration: Whitaker Ave

May 4, 2011

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Before stream restoration	After stream restoration

Our green works aren't confined to stormwater infrastructure such as tree trenches and rain gardens. PWD's Office of Watersheds recognizes the need to preserve and restore our remaining streams to ensure a high-quality water supply and provide a healthy environment for recreation and wildlife. Last year, a 2,200-foot stretch of Tacony Creek just south of Roosevelt Boulevard was given a natural makeover. Like many urban streams, the Tacony is "flashy"—large volumes of stormwater runoff quickly enter the creek and erode its banks—and suffers from a degraded habitat for fish and other aquatic life. Trash and abandoned automobiles littered the creek banks, which were being overtaken by Japanese knotweed, an invasive bamboo-like plant species.

The Ecological Restoration Unit designed a plan to remove abandoned railroad abutments and stabilize the banks with specially placed stones and the planting of more than 3,000 new trees and shrubs. Rock vane structures were placed at bends in the stream and boulder clusters were placed in the stream center; both redirect flows and improve habitat for aquatic life. As a result, this portion of the Tacony is not only healthier and more attractive, but the creek's restoration also saves taxpayers money when compared to traditional structural solutions.

Learn more about degraded waterways and PWD's other restoration projects.

Life Aquatic: American Shad

Apr 28, 2011

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Life Aquatic

What's living in your rivers? Each week, we describe a species found in Philadelphia's waterways.

PWD's Joe Perillo with an American shad caught near the Fairmount Fish Ladder

In honor of Shadfest—Penn Treaty Park's annual celebration of arts, music, food, craft beer and the Delaware riverfront's past and present—this week we're featuring the American shad. Alosa sapidissima is a Philly fish through and through: Known as one of the hardest-fighting freshwater species, author John McPhee dubbed the American shad "the founding fish" in a book of the same name, highlighting massive spring migrations in the 1700s.

Pollution in the Delaware decimated the shad population in the early 20th century, but the fish began its comeback in the 1980s. Check out the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center's Fish Cam to see if you can catch a glimpse of some shad during their spring run.

Cobbs Creek 5K Run/Walk

Apr 24, 2011

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Rain didn't dampen the first annual Darby-Cobbs 5K Run/Walk on April 23rd—approximately 150 participants and mayors from three municipalities (including Philadelphia's own mayor, Michael Nutter) showed up for the event. The runners and walkers were able to enjoy the scenic setting of Cobbs Creek Park and experience the unique, trail-like nature of the course. The Philadelphia Water Department was proud to co-sponsor the event, held to raise awareness of the resources of Cobbs Creek Park. All proceeds from the 5K go directly toward revitalization of the park. Learn more about the park here or check out the activities and resources available at the Cobbs Creek Environmental Education Center. Thank you to our friends and co-sponsors:

The Big Green Map

Apr 15, 2011

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The mayor's goal of transforming Philadelphia into America's greenest city is happening one project at a time. With PWD's Big Green Map, you can now locate and learn about our green infrastructure projects—from rain gardens and tree trenches to porous paving and downspout planters—in your neighborhood and around the city.

You'll need Google Earth to view this map. Download and install it here.

Green Streets: Hunting Park Tree Trenches and Planters

Mar 31, 2011

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Hunting Park 1

Hunting Park 2

Hunting Park 3

Hunting Park 4

Green City, Clean Waters 5-Year Accomplishments

Unpublished

The stormwater tree trenches and stormwater planters near the intersection of Hunting Park and Castor Avenues are nearing completion. PWD broke ground last summer and expects to complete the project by planting 13 new trees in May. The two tree trenches and seven planters are designed to capture up to 40,000 cubic feet of runoff from surrounding streets, or an estimated total drainage area of 40,000 square feet.

Stormwater planters and tree trenches are soil-water-plant systems that intercept runoff, infiltrate a portion of it into the ground, evaporate a portion into the air, and in some cases release a portion of it slowly back into the sewer system. Reducing or slowing the amount of stormwater that enters our sewers helps protect the rivers and streams that supply Philadelphia's drinking water by preventing combined sewer overflows.

Locate this project on our Big Green Map.