PWD's Green City, Clean Waters plan isn't just about the city installing porous paving and constructing stormwater tree trenches—you can get involved with the effort by undertaking projects on your own property. Join us at the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center on Wednesday, July 20 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. for a screening of the 30-minute Green City, Clean Waters video and a panel discussion on how you can green your home. Representatives from PWD and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society will be on hand to discuss stormwater management tools for residents and hear your ideas for projects you'd like to see in your community. There will be cocktails, the opportunity to post ideas on a graffiti wall, and an artist station where an artist will materialize your ideas through sketches.

The event is free to attend but please RSVP to delresea.huzzy@phila.gov or 215-685-0723

Can't make the event? Be sure to check out our Residents page for green home project ideas, tips and how-tos.

Philadelphia's rivers and streams provide ample opportunity for recreation; events in the coming week suggest it's hiking season in the parks and refuges near the water:

At the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge in Tinicum, there's a Summer Bird Walk on Saturday, July 9 and a Birding By Ear Walk on Sunday, July 10. Check here for the full summer schedule of events.

The Friends of the Wissahickon are sponsoring a three-mile hike on Wednesday, July 13. The hike is guided by a trail ambassador and begins at the Valley Green Inn: "Experience caves, trek the famous Fingerspan Bridge, cross Devil's Pool, discover The Spring House, Shakespeare's Rock, learn about major improvements to the trails, the history of the Livezey Mill, and other areas of the park and hopefully, spot some local wildlife." Click here to register for free.

The Lower Merion Conservancy has hula hoops and butterflies on Sunday, July 10 and a free Summer Evening Hike on Wednesday, July 13 in Gladwyne: "Hike from the lush creekside trail in Turtle Hollow, past the Henry Foundation, to Riverbend and back through the Philadelphia Country Club. A lovely way to complete the exploration of bridlepaths that connect Rolling Hill Park to Riverbend."

Photo: Delaware River Waterfront Corporation

This Saturday, July 9, board the sailboat Northwind for a free two-hour (9:00-11:00 a.m.) tour of the Delaware River. Learn about the river's history and ecology; the tour will also focus on Washington Avenue Green, the recently constructed public park along the Delaware. The photo above depicts a rain garden in the park that collects stormwater runoff from the nearby parking lot. Other ecologically friendly features of Washington Avenue Green include floating wetlands that provide habitat for aquatic life and depaved portions of the parking lot that allow stormwater to infiltrate the soil below.

RSVP by tomorrow, July 6 by sending an email to DelRiverEvent@gmail.com. Again, the tour is free but space is limited; all sailors must be at least 16 years old. Visit the event's Facebook page.

"Root for the home estuary" doesn't have quite the same ring to it—but if you attend the June 25 Camden Riversharks game against the Pennsylvania Road Warriors (5:35 p.m. start), you can support the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary. Purchase tickets for the game online and use the word "Estuary" as the group password, and $5 from each ticket will benefit the PDE. The total price of a ticket is $11.

Read our recent post about some of the projects the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary is proposing.